We recently connected with Jordan Thompson and have shared our conversation below.

Jordan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

Growing up, I always had a deep love for music. However, I never mustered the courage to join the school band or learn to play an instrument during my high school years. Finding my place in high school was a struggle; I wasn’t the popular kid or the top achiever in class. Adding to the challenge, I am legally blind in my left eye and have low vision in my right eye, which made me stand out. In 2021, a turning point arrived when I landed my first full-time job. With newfound financial stability, I promptly invested in my own camera. The name “Visually Inspired Photography” stemmed from an enlightening moment in my 11th-grade english class. When tasked with creating a photography essay, I proposed various storytelling techniques using images. My teacher was taken aback, remarking, “I don’t understand. You’re visually impaired, yet you have all these visual ideas.” I replied, “It’s because I am visually inspired.” This moment resonated with me deeply, becoming the perfect encapsulation of my journey. My ultimate goal in life is to demonstrate that despite disabilities, one can still pursue their dreams.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I got into photography because I love telling stories with a camera. Photography, for me, is more than just a job; it’s an art and a lifestyle. It’s about conveying emotions through a picture. Growing up, I was often told that I wouldn’t be able to do many things, like drive, and that I would always be confined to a limited existence. However, deep down, I knew that wouldn’t be my reality. I believed that one day I would pursue my dreams, and for me, that meant capturing moments through photography.
It’s ironic that glasses and contact lenses don’t work for me, but a camera lens does wonders. The amount I can see through a camera is truly remarkable. For me, this was a sign that I’m meant to pursue photography as a career. But more importantly, it’s about showing that a disability can’t hold me back, and it shouldn’t hinder any disabled person.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to become the best blind photographer in the Midwest, emphasizing the phrase “blind photographer.” The photography industry is highly competitive, with nearly everyone having a camera in their pocket. However, there’s much more to photography than simply capturing an image; it’s about focus, lighting, and emotion. Rather than striving to outcompete others, my aim is to learn from photographers of all backgrounds, whether they’re established professionals or newcomers to the industry. I firmly believe that having a diverse array of creative minds in one space fosters the greatest growth and innovation.
While my ultimate goal is to turn photography into my full-time profession, I see myself primarily as a student of the art. There’s always room for improvement, and the best way to achieve that is through collaboration and learning from others.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being able to say I’m proud of my work is incredibly rewarding, and having people express their love for it is equally amazing. I particularly enjoy capturing photos of clients and witnessing their excitement when they see the final results. It has taken me a long time to reach this point of pride in my work. I’m always critiquing myself, thinking about what I could have done differently. However, over the last six months, I’ve truly started to feel proud of what I create.

A significant moment for me was in July of 2023 when I had the opportunity to photograph Papa Roach. It was during this assignment that I realized my work was truly taking me places. Additionally, having the creative freedom to photograph Coldsaint has been an incredible experience. Since early 2022, I’ve been his full-time photographer, and the collaboration has been invaluable. I often come up with creative ideas and bounce them off him, leading to exciting outcomes. .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://visuallyinspiredphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visuallyinspiredphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iVisuallyInspired

Image Credits
Visually Inspired Photograghy Photo of me was taken by -Blair Nichols