The Journey Behind the Lens

I’m Precious Drew aka Winter, a Minneapolis-based photographer with roots in Indiana and Illinois. My creative journey started earlier than I realized - back when I was a pre-teen making lyric “sing-along” videos for up-and-coming artists on YouTube under the name WinterTimeShawty. What began as a fun hobby turned into a channel with over 78,000 subscribers, 28 million views and "paid partnership" status, and it taught me how much I enjoyed creating things people could connect with.

As social platforms evolved, so did my interests. I found myself filming full-length concerts of my favorite artists on my iPhone for my own memories and sharing them with the world on the same YouTube channel. Those videos pulled in over hundreds of thousands of views, and that response gave me the push to take the next step.

About eight years ago, I finally invested in my first professional camera - an entry-level Nikon. At first, I kept things close to home, capturing family events, reunions, and the everyday moments that mattered most to the people around me before expanding to government events. Looking back, those early shoots helped me understand timing, emotion, and what it really means to document a moment that holds value for someone.

As my skills and confidence grew, I transitioned to Sony equipment and continued expanding the type of work I take on. Today, I blend my love for music, storytelling, and community into everything I create. I capture concerts, church services, corporate & government events, sports, family portraits, lifestyle shoots and of course, the family gatherings that first taught me how meaningful this work can be.

No matter the setting, my goal is simple: to honor the moment, highlight the energy, and create images that feel true to the people in them.