We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joshua Carter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joshua below.

Alright, Joshua thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One project I feel has become meaningful to me has to be my Therapy Shoot with E.N.D. (@everyniggadeserves). It was a risky shoot for me at the time to release or even come up. The statement “Every Nigga Deserves Therapy” is a bold proclamation, but my interpretation of the message was one of empowerment and awareness for mental health. It inspired me to become a beacon and testimony for young men like myself to invest in their health. I am no stranger to unfortunate times and circumstances that have certainly weighed or affected my mental in perhaps not all the best light.

Nonetheless, being in therapy in 2022 encouraged me even more to create the project. It was “exposing” to show myself, as that is something I am still getting used to, and on top of revealing such personal information, which gave the audience a small glimpse of my life, it terrified me honestly, but the reward for creating and showing such openness was beyond my imagination.

My audience was enamored by my story/message and the images that came with the creation, being one of my top projects on my page/portfolio and leading to a partnership with the team of the E.N.D. brand. I never expected all that would come from sharing my story and being vulnerable at the moment to help my audience understand who I am to some extent.

Joshua, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been attracted to cinematography and photography ever since I was a child. I used to play with LEGOs, creating stop-motion videos on Windows Movie Maker with those. I want to say that was also the first time I got into video editing, which is another profession of mine. But that was certainly one of my first introductions into that realm; I later grew more fascinated with filmmaking primarily, DP (Director of Photography) and Gaffing; contrary to the portrayal, I had always been interested in filmmaking; photography was something I would discover as an affinity and with that I managed to see filmmaking and photography as “two sides of the same coin”; blending factors and concepts with the two that I feel has created a unique genre for itself.

I am mainly self-taught in this art form, with a few past mentors and colleagues who have steered me in the proper course along my growing path. I don’t feel I fall into one specific category regarding photography. Still, I notice strong alignments in Fashion, Beauty, Portraits, E-Commerce, etc., and any other creative projects I feel more compelled to do. This art can be complex at times, but the difficulty makes it all the appealing, as I work to find innovative and often unorthodox methods when creating. My style has changed over time, but in no way do I feel my craft is perfect. It is that of an adapting phenomenon that attracts its respected and interested audience/clientele with soft, dreamy, cinematic lighting and eye-catching visuals.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Sun Tzu, the Art of War and 48 Laws of Power

Universal lessons in approaching people, situations/scenarios, and learning your own mentality on life concepts/functionalities. These books have helped shape how I engage in business with people and my overall approach when engaging with anything or anyone new. I feel communication is an essential factor in this industry, as networking is something you constantly and consistently have to do; with the aid of those books, I have been able to apply lessons and facts learned from them to my business when engaging with colleagues and clientele alike.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For sure, the results. I love seeing my ideas start as thoughts and come into real life. It is rewarding to know that my efforts and talents brought together something that only began as an idea.
From casting to post-production, any time I can get closer to my goal or final vision, I have a sense of self-sufficiency and confidence that I am more than capable of putting forth what I wish to show to an audience or myself.

Even if the results aren’t in my favor, any loss is just experienced and wisdom gained.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshgotacanon/