We recently connected with Jacquelyn Trezzo and have shared our conversation below.

Jacquelyn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I’ve mostly been able to earn a living as a full-time creative, the path of an artist/entrepreneur is windy, to say the least. My career as a photographer began with a focus on fine art film photography. I showcased my work through self-produced exhibitions and galleries, and my pieces sold quickly, which made me believe this would be my continuous path as an artist.

While majoring in photography in college, the rise of the DSLR era presented a challenge. I resisted the digital shift, valuing the unique qualities and process of analog photography. However, I eventually recognized that to sustain a full-time career in photography, adapting to digital was necessary. This reluctant transition, was driven by my entrepreneurial spirit allowing me to expand my offerings often shooting headshots, food photography, magazine editorials, events, and the ever-so monotonous e-commerce.

Years of this hustle helped me build a reputation for my good taste and collaborative abilities. Over time, my interests evolved, leading me to focus more on producing and curating parties, art events and exhibitions. I became passionate about pushing boundaries around taboo topics like human sexuality, and showcasing artists with diverse practices and shared perspectives. Aside from production and curation, I expanded my skill set into graphic design, making myself a full-service creative hire. This diversification was crucial, but in retrospect, I wish I had focused more on nurturing my interns and acquiring more clients, brands, and artists. Building a business that brings in more money requires continuous hustle and expansion through hires. I sometimes got distracted by what I thought would be easy-out opportunities that promised stability. However, I learned that as a creative entrepreneur, it’s essential to stay true to the path you create for yourself—there are no “easy-outs.” However, every step, even the compromises, contributed to my growth and success as a full-time creative.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My career as a creative began as a photographer, where my artistic style focused on moody, artificially lit scenes with narratives unfolding frame by frame. I have always preferred to control my environments and subject matter. As I progressed in my photography career, I began working with artists, shooting album covers and promotional photos. This led to a symbiotic working relationship with one artist in particular (Vinyl Palace), who gave me the opportunity to direct a music video for them.

After directing and editing my first music video, I discovered that I enjoyed working with motion more than stills. The process was much more involved and allowed me to utilize my skills in production, creative direction, and design. It also provided the perfect platform for collaboration with other artists. I must say that doing creative direction for artists and directing music videos is what I enjoy most.

As a self-taught auteur, my approach to working with motion is boundless. I feel free to take risks and do things that most seasoned professionals in the film industry might not attempt without a proper production budget. I can do a lot with a little, and there’s a tremendous satisfaction in that.

Aside from photo and video, Inspired by 19th century artifacts I am embarking down a new entrepreneurial path to launch my own brand, designing and producing high-end homewares and accessories in an attempt to fill a white space in the cannabis industry.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am driven by the desire to create images, videos, and objects that will live on beyond my time. Bringing something visual or tangible to life from pure imagination is incredibly rewarding and inspires me to continue on this path as an independent creative. The mission behind my high-end accessory brand is to craft objects of value meant to be cherished as heirlooms. My love for antiques and objects from past centuries goes beyond aesthetics; I believe that the accessories people owned during the 18th and 19th centuries were truly loved and respected by their owners. That energy becomes imbued in the objects and lives on through them, rippling out into the universe perpetually.

When something is made with care and intention, it holds more value, and the more it is valued, the more it is cared for. I want my brand to be the antithesis of throwaway consumer culture, creating beautiful and functional accessories that embody that same enduring value.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Transitioning from a salaried job to freelancing was the first step that truly pushed me to believe in myself and my ability to carve out a path aligned with my goals as a creative with big visions and dreams. I sacrificed health insurance, a bi-weekly paycheck, friends, and structure. Working every day to serve someone else’s dream or business is a valuable way to learn and grow as a professional, regardless of the field. However, for a creative, it can quickly become draining and diminish the passion behind your talents.

In 2013, I left a retail job where I was the photographer and creative director for all visuals, and I’ve been living and working as a freelancer ever since. This path has allowed me to explore new mediums, travel, meet and work with people from all walks of life, and granted me the freedom to create art for its own sake and truly dream up a unique life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jackietrezzo.com
• Instagram: @jacqtrezzo

Image Credits

Personal image by LA photographer Sean Behr. All other images are by me, Jacq Trezzo, i’ve included screen grabs of my music videos. The first video i ever did are the “jesus saves” image and the two that follow it, the green ones, and the braid around the neck are screen grabs from my most recent music video “Slither” i did for my sister, Miss Trezz, along with the album cover that I shot and designed.