We were lucky to catch up with Rena Alraee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rena, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve known that I needed to have a creative career in order to be fulfilled. I never really dreamt of being a doctor or an astronaut like most children. I always knew that I had so much to offer creatively. While other kids my age were playing sports or joining school clubs, I was taking acting classes. My passions are a big part of who I am. They all get to play a role in my business with photography. Running my business allows me to get a bit closer to my dreams each day!

Rena, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Rena Alraee & I am a creative portrait photographer based in Clearwater, FL. From a very young age I have known that I am meant to take a creative path. Luckily, I did! I have consistently been behind the camera since I was just a teenager & now at almost 25, it is my career. While running my photography business, I also get to utilize my other passions like modeling, fashion & influencing. When I’m working, I look at it as so much more than “just taking photos”. I view it as an opportunity to be creative, to make my subject feel confident & to show the individuality of each client. I cherish all of the memories I’ve been able to capture for so many people. I am proud of all of my hard work & the bonds that I have created with each person I’ve had the honor photographing. I hope to do this forever!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think something that may be hard for non-creatives to understand is the risk that you take when stepping into a creative career. As a creative, you are not technically “essential”. We put our whole hearts into providing a service or creating a product that people don’t actually NEED but will ideally find value in. You create with the hopes that people will relate to your work or just simply enjoy it. There is no guarantee in this line of work. There are times when business is slow & money is tight. As a creative, our work doesn’t stop even in the slowest of times. It is up to us to keep the ball rolling. We are constantly brainstorming the next idea, product, project etc. and praying that people feel something when they experience it. Adding in the aspect of being a independent business owner, we play every role. In my case, it is more than just taking photos. I am also in charge of scheduling clients, editing, advertising & so much more. Pursuing a creative career is not just about having a vision, but also having the drive to execute it when all odds seem to be against you.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

In my opinion, the most helpful thing that society can do for creatives is show support. Small things like interacting with their social media & connecting others with their business can do so much for creatives. Something I see a lot with small businesses like myself is people expecting free or discounted services/products. I find that a lot of society would rather spend their money with large corporations or celebrity owned businesses rather than local businesses with better intentions. Feeling respected as an artist holds so much value.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://photosbyre.square.site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xxphotosby.re
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xxphotosby.re/

Image Credits
Self photo: @von.co All other images: @xxphotosby.re