We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jana Astrouski a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jana, appreciate you joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

For me, success has meant creating a business that works for me, rather than forcing myself into a system that doesn’t. That means setting up workflows that match how my brain works, giving myself space to rest when I need it, and trusting that my process, though unconventional, is valid.

Beyond that, I believe success comes down to one thing: you have to keep going. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve felt like giving up and getting “a real job,” but I kept moving forward, even if it was just one small step at a time—with plenty of breakdowns along the way. And community plays a huge role in that. One connection leads to another, and the support of others can truly make all the difference.

Success isn’t a straight path, and it doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. Sometimes it just means taking the next step, even if you can’t quite see where you’re going.

Jana, 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?

I’m a photographer and creative based in Indianapolis. My journey into photography wasn’t traditional—it began during one of the hardest times in my life. After high school, my dad became ill, and I dropped out of college, feeling completely lost. At the time, I suffered from severe panic attacks which made it difficult to function in social settings or hold a job. In a moment of impulse, or maybe instinct, I spent my entire savings on a camera. Suddenly, I had a way to engage with the world that felt calming instead of overwhelming. Photography became my anchor. I immersed myself in composition, learning through trial and error, and eventually, people started noticing my work and hiring me.

Over the years, I’ve worked in a lot of different areas, but have sort of settled into art, interiors, food, and travel. I shoot exclusively with natural light—not by design at first, but out of necessity. I never had the budget for expensive lighting setups, so I learned to work with what was available. Over time, it just became how I see and capture everything and I’ve grown to prefer the organic and authentic feel.

I never set out with a perfect plan, and I still don’t have it all figured out. But I’ve kept trucking, adapting as I need to, and finding ways to make this work for me. It hasn’t been easy, and there have been plenty of times I’ve questioned everything. But I’ve been lucky to connect with people who align with my style and trust me to do what I do, and that’s made all the difference.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

There are a lot of things I’ve had to unlearn in life and work, but mostly the idea that success has to look a certain way. For a long time, I thought I was failing because my life didn’t fit the traditional version of success—climbing a corporate ladder, making a certain amount of money, or working in a way that seemed effortless for other people. But success for me was never about wealth in the traditional sense. It was about creating a life that gives me peace because my physical and mental health depend on it.

I was late diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and PMDD, and until that point, I had no idea why I couldn’t just be like everyone else. I spent years pushing myself to keep up, thinking I just needed more discipline or willpower. But the truth is, I wasn’t built for the same systems that seem to work for most people. Unlearning that shame and giving myself permission to do things differently has been one of the hardest but most important lessons of my life.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, one of the most rewarding parts of being a creative is the freedom to do things on my own terms. I don’t thrive in rigid systems, so having the ability to structure my work in a way that actually works for me is something I don’t take for granted.

But more than that, I love capturing someone else’s work with as much integrity as they put into it. I work with artists, makers, curators, restaurants, and interior designers who pour their heart and soul into their craft, and it’s an honor when I get to document that.

And honestly, the best part is when something I create resonates with someone else. I don’t always know how my work will be received, but when someone connects with it in a way I didn’t expect, it reminds me why I keep going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.janaastrouski.com
• Instagram: @j.astr

Image Credits

Food: Warming tea & treats by Grace Seibert for Wintering: Exploring Ritual in this Season at COMPANION, Indianapolis, 2023

Gallery wall art: Installation view of Expanded Chainmaille by Angela Eastman at COMPANION, Indianapolis, 2023

Interior w/ checkered pillow: captured for Lake Shore Resort Cottage

Book + chair: captured for Read Write Books

Architecture: captured for Lake Shore Resort

Table + cloth: captured for Cory Robinson Studio

Luggage: captured for Monos

Fashion: captured for Laura Walters of The Style Riot