Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Claire Wu. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Claire, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I have always been drawn towards a creative and artistic path. As a child, I loved singing and acting, though it wasn’t the conventional route in my household. While my parents were supportive of my taking lessons, they viewed it more as a hobby. Over time, I became convinced that my talent wasn’t sufficient, and that I should pursue a more traditional path—attending a reputable college and securing a job to support myself. However, early on in my school years, I realized I wasn’t happy and that my true talent didn’t lie in that direction. Ultimately, I pursued a journalism degree, hoping it would satisfy both my parents’ expectations and my creative aspirations. Nevertheless, I always engaged in various creative projects on the side, one significant example being my food Instagram account. I harbored hopes that it could eventually become my means of support, although doubts lingered. While my initial full-time job was moderately enjoyable, the onset of the pandemic made me reluctant to spend all day in front of a computer screen. Intending to enhance the content I produced, I discovered a photo studio based in Brooklyn and have been working in the photography industry ever since.

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?

In the past, I never saw myself as a visual artist; rather, I identified as a performing artist. Discovering this pathway for creative expression felt like a stroke of luck, albeit different from what I believed was my destined path. Nonetheless, my journey wasn’t without its challenges. Transitioning from a non-artistic background meant I had to overcome a steep learning curve. It took time for me to fully grasp the intricacies of the craft. However, through dedicated effort and guidance from the studio, I underwent a transformative journey, honing not only my technical skills but also reshaping my artistic perspective.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that still-life photography wasn’t my lifelong passion. I’ve wrestled with the question of what exactly I want to pursue for quite some time. Although I’m interested in certain fields, I’ve hesitated to limit myself to just one, yearning to explore other avenues as well. I’ve faced fears of appearing inconsistent and doubting my ability to excel in artistic pursuits I’ve yet to fully embrace. Consequently, I’ve delved into various fields—photography, videography, event planning, podcast hosting, voice acting, and most recently, AI art. Through this journey, I’ve discovered that each role is a vital part of who I am. I perceive myself as an interdisciplinary creator, seamlessly transitioning between being a photographer, social media content creator, podcast host, or event planner, and applying my diverse skills and knowledge to any task.

Perhaps it’s my journalistic instincts, but I find immense satisfaction in crafting experiences and sharing compelling narratives. I’ve realized that each of these fields is simply another way to tell a captivating story—whether it’s creating unforgettable moments for clients or capturing them. My ultimate goal is to make a lasting impact on those I work with, leaving them with cherished memories.

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

As someone deeply immersed in creating social content, I’ve struggled to find an equilibrium between producing content that resonates with the public and staying true to my own passions. For years, my focus has been on “food” – exploring local eateries and spotlighting new menu offerings, you name it. However, over time, I began to feel like I was just going through the motions, solely driven by the numbers and losing that genuine spark. This internal conflict left me feeling morally conflicted and trapped by the pressures of chasing numbers.

So, I decided to shake things up a bit and delve into other interests that had been tugging at me. I’ve always had this burning desire to sing, to pour my heart out in videos, and to share my own personal stories in the hopes of connecting with others who might be going through similar experiences. Despite this desire for authenticity, I’ve grappled with the pressure to conform to the polished image often showcased by creators on platforms like YouTube or TikTok. The fear of rejection and the uncertainty of whether my vulnerability would be appreciated have frequently hindered me from fully embracing my creative vision. Thoughts like “Am I good enough?” and “Will anyone even care?” incessantly plague my mind.

Yet, amidst these doubts, I’ve come to recognize that moments of self-doubt are inevitable for any creator. While putting oneself and their work out into the world can be daunting, I’ve learned that these fears are often unfounded and self-imposed. In an era where anyone can become a creator, I’ve realized the importance of silencing these doubts and taking the leap. If I don’t pursue my creative endeavors, someone else will, and remaining stagnant in this cycle is simply unbearable.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One key lesson I’ve had to learn (and I’m still working on) is ditching the idea that everything has to be perfect right off the bat. I grew up with this motto I heard on TV: “If you don’t want to do it, then don’t do it. If you’re gonna do it, do it right.” But for the longest time, I took it to mean you had to nail it perfectly from the get-go, or else why bother? So, I’d spend ages trying to perfect my projects before sharing them online, often ending up not posting anything because it never felt quite right. It took seeing other creators at work go through the same thing to realize that aiming for flawless right out of the gate is a bit of a pipe dream. I learned that even if I didn’t think my work was perfect, it might still connect with someone else. Now, I see mistakes as lessons to learn from, not reasons to hold back. Recently, I stumbled upon a quote that pretty much sums it up: “Pessimists might always be pointing out what’s wrong, but optimists tend to be the ones actually getting stuff done.” So yeah, while it’s easy to get hung up on what could go wrong, focusing on the positives is what really moves you forward.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: clairewu.cyw
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairewucyw/

Image Credits
the 2 digital artworks are AI generated*