We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Greg Conn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Greg below.
Greg, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
Everyone wishes, or hopes to be remembered, in some degree when they pass on, I don’t necessarily feel like I need to be remembered, but I hope my love for nature and the beings on this planet spreads to those who see my work. I want a place where my children, and distant generations have a place to flourish and grow cohesively with the earth around them. Our planet is our healer, both mind and spirit, it us up to us to remember where we came from and where we live.
Greg, 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?
My name is Greg Conn, and I grew up in a small town in Michigan. My life has taken many twists and turns, but in the end I’m content with where I am. I ended up serving in the United States Marine Corps after high school which brought me to the west coast. After serving in the military in 2009 I moved to Arizona, I attended college and ended up meeting my wife soon after, two children later our family was complete. I worked in the hospitality industry for a total of 11 years up until the Pandemic. A big part of me feared that working in corporate America was my end game. Just like everyone else life slowed down when the Pandemic started. what also slowed down was my drive, motivation, and overall joy for life. I ended up being furloughed from my job and my two young children sent home to do school virtually, while my wife worked full-time in our home office. Over the course of weeks/months I could feel the tension growing in the home. I decided I needed to get the kids out into nature and free our minds from the hectic life at home. Tonto National Forest and the Apache Trail became my families escape from the crazy pandemic life we were all sort of forced into. It was during this time my love for the Arizona landscape flourished, obsession like, I just kept wanting to see more and explore new places. I clearly thought to myself at one point I need to be documenting these adventures with my family. I went out and bought my first digital camera, and the rest was history.
I have since started focusing my attention on nature and wildlife as I find the most peace and adventure combined in those two. my webpage www.gregconnphotography.com has also launched and I have started taking on clients full time. My long term goal is to work for an international Nature/Widlife publication ,and take my talents to different regions of the world. On top of that I enjoy working with people so I also do an array of lifestyle photography as well. I hope that my joy for the craft of photography, nature, and helping others grows to all new heights in the coming years. I love creating memories for not just myself but for everyone, in this life, and the next.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Social media has been a key component in growing my audience and sharing my art. I find that consistency and engaging with your audience is key in keeping things genuine and the momentum upward. Im a firm believer that if everyone in your corner is winning, then so are you. Support those around you and it always comes back around. We are all on one mission, and that’s to find happiness, competing with others only creates negative energy. Social media also gives us that free reign to express ourselves through our art/craft. Artists thrive on one thing and that’s creating, show the world what you are made of.
Have you ever had to pivot?
My Pivot is happening as we speak. my life is taking a major shift to what I believe in the right direction. Ive held onto fear for far to long to allow my joy for the craft of photography implemented with my love for the outdoors to just go away because I’m scared to follow my dreams. I refuse to wake up one day still working a 9-5 and not absolutely loving it. I can’t and I won’t waste any more time wondering, what if? If we could all just do what makes us happy and not be forced into a path created by the energies of those around us, I believe we would all be much happier. In my case this pivot in my life have been nothing but uplifting and humbling. I may not be making what I use to, but I’m happy. That is the path and legacy I wish to leave behind for my children. Do what makes you happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gregconnphotography.com
- Instagram: @gregconnphotography
- Facebook: Greg Conn Photography