We recently connected with Ben Straily and have shared our conversation below.

Ben, appreciate you joining us today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.

When I was in high school I had an uncle who ran a catering company. I worked for him for 4 years just a few times a week, but every time I went in to work I saw how much he put into his own business and how passionate he was. I don’t think I knew at the time, but I want to say he’s one of my inspirations to start my own. I stopped working for him in Covid and when I got my 2nd job I saw how many people were doing something they didn’t get any fulfillment from. I knew I wanted to do something I loved for a living and not just collect a paycheck from a job I dreaded to go to for 40 years and I also hated my time in college. So I took the time to go back to some of my hobbies that I also learned in highschool and after doing my first photo shoot, photography stuck.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into photography in high school as an elective. I also went to a small homeschool charter school with only 50-100 other students in high school at the time. Everyone was very talented at some form of art at this school whether it was some form of painting, drawing. music, you name it and everyone had their thing. Me being a naturally competitive person, I wanted to be the best at photography and videography, but quickly learned that I really enjoyed it. I also had the ability to rent one of the schools old cameras throughout the year so I quickly found myself becoming good.

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

In my particular avenue of I really love that I get to create images that couples will look at for the rest of their lives to revisit their wedding day. I also find it fulfilling creating an emotional connection with couples to better tell their story and providing something for them to better remember and cherish.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think no matter what you chose to do with your time you have to enjoy the end result or process or you will burn out. Some days will feel like work and you will have to push through, the end result is what will do that and if you cant find yourself in love with the end result you will end up dreading the rest of the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://benstraily.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benstrailyphotography/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyyJ_v9OTjZjMAmc1FBNMw