We recently connected with Jackson Gray and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jackson, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Originally, I wanted to be a comedian, and although I can be pretty funny, I realized I didn’t want to be funny ALL the time. Then I realized I just wanted to be an actor, but I eventually fell in love with the entire filmmaking process rather than just the acting part- which led me to picking up a camera in the first place. I quickly learned I enjoyed taking pictures as much as I enjoyed cinematography.
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.
So what made me start doing photography professionally was my background as a music artist. I understood the importance of telling your story visually along with telling it musically, so I decided to pick up my nikon that was collecting dust and go out and capture artist in their element. I mainly work with artists and I think what sets me apart from other photographers is that I simply know what it’s like to be a music artist and need a good photoshoot. Whether it’s to keep the content going, to promote a new song, new apple music profile picture, or if it’s for something big like an album cover art or magazine shoot, I get it. I know what it’s like to want a simple picture help tell the same story a song tells. I think that’s what i’m most proud of, that ability to really make the two correlate- if the song feels “eerie” then the cover art should feel “eerie”. I want my clients to know that when they work with me, i’m an expert at capturing emotion.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I want to make movies. That’s the goal, that’s my endgame. I want to keep investing into and practicing my craft as a photographer that likes to tell stories and capture emotion, then move to making short films and have that same essential skill amplified on a cinematic level, all the way to the point where i’m making feature length, Oscar winning films.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Stop trying to get things for free! The tools we use to create this art cost money!! Plus, even when we do actually do things for free, it’s not without our own terms and conditions. I learned that lesson the hard way. Either pay artist what they are asking or learn how to barter, if you can’t do either of those things, beat it! Also p.s.- ain’t no family/friends discount, you should want to support your family and friends like real customers, so they can make a real profit!
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