Never Sell Out
It’s very rare that you find someone as likeminded as you are or someone that understands how passionate you are about your business and life work. As an entrepreneur I’ve gone through the endless rigmarole of partners, clients, and friends who either just don’t get it; or have been conditioned to not understand the entrepreneurial spirit. The inconsistencies of “work” or whatever they consider as a “job”. The randomness of hours and pay. The beauty of creating something and the bravery of standing on your own. Family can sometimes be your biggest pessimist. Not knowing their “harmless” questions can sometimes come off as disrespectful to your craft. The “why don’t you apply for this “desk job” it’s easy and pays!” or “Why do you work so hard at this (whatever your craft is) when you could work (wherever they think is safe)” conversations. Demeaning your craft as if you have a choice in the matter when it comes to what your passionate about. Those who sacrificed their passions for whatever reason long ago expect you to do the same for the same reasons they were forced to, but in this day and age you don’t have to, and they don’t really grasp that concept. They think there’s a lack of control and stability, a reckless decision or not smart to love what you do and not work a job you hate to survive. Degrading your work even after you’ve proven you can create and free yourself from societal pressures.
The internet and technology has evened the playing field dramatically making creatives more and more accessible, and more importantly much more of a lucrative career path. Now obviously there’s always risk and hassle with being a creative and freelancing. But as a creative mind those are the struggles we take on gladly in exchange for the glorious feeling of creating our own lives thru our craft. As it is our lives to create not our moms, or dads, or whoever thinks we should be focusing on something else they deem worthy.
This week I got reminded of how beautiful the creative process is as I tagged along with Ash and her team to New York for an editorial shoot in which I had the pleasure of shooting some Behind The Scenes work. Seeing Ash in her element literally glowing with talent and assisting with every detail as they created flawless looks and countered every issue with positive results from having a headlight out on our 4 hour trip, leaving the backdrop home, the car breaking down in NY, models being late, and clothes being delivered literally in the Nick of time. Nobody sees all of that in the magazine picture but so much goes into these photo shoots that someone outside looking in would never know. It’s never a pull up, do the makeup, take a pic, and leave, there’s thousands of nuanced bullshit situations to work through that honestly most people aren’t built for. Dealing with Agencies, Magazine editors, getting the right team together, having the right model, stylist, clothes fitting, lighting, cameras, and action. All for the love of their crafts and sometimes a check or acknowledgment that may not come for months. We deal with it, and if that’s not stress enough you have to deal with people questioning why as if passion isn’t a good enough answer. Why have I written in a blog for fifteen plus years? Why have I had my brand for almost ten years now? Why haven’t I worked a 9-5 in ten years? Why did I switch from Electrical Engineering major to the first Fashion and Consumer Science Program in Morgan State history? One word…
PASSION.
Now that Phoenix is here this is my LEGACY to leave to him and I continue to do so to support him and my family. I implore you all to continue to support creatives, because we need it, and without us this world would never be as beautiful as it is. Respect our art and crafts as you respect your lil 9-5 bosses, and please don’t forget to acknowledge the entire team when creating, we hate that.
To my fellow creatives
NEVER SELL OUT
Enjoy some of the BTS shots from the shoot and look out for the upcoming magazine placements. so proud of Ash, Mimi, and Cat they were literally making magic before my eyes!
