We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kadeem Stewart. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kadeem below.

Hi Kadeem , thanks for joining us today. 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 am currently earning a salary, with full benefits, as a photographer for the marketing department at one of the largest Universities in the country. Before landing this position I had been earning a living as a full-time freelance photographer. I picked up photography as a hobby during my undergrad at the University of Central Florida, I quickly learned that I could charge for documenting moments for others, probates, events, milestone moments, etc. I started earning money from photography a couple month after purchasing my first camera. The biggest challenges in the beginning were understanding business and finding my voice as an artist. I have been an artist my entire life but “art” as a product and business is a different ball game.

Consistency in researching the practices of others allowed me to evolve into a professional creative with better business sense, while consistency in the realm of self exploration and discovery helped my set myself apart in an oversaturated field. All these things combined and not having a ‘plan b’ abled me to turn a hobby into a career that has granted me endless opportunities.

Kadeem , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Im originally from the Bronx, New York, growing up I had a deep love for drawing and graffiti. As a kid I thought I was going to be a Cartoonist for Disney. I picked up photography when I was in college as a hobby and quick I realized I had discovered my life’s calling. While I am a creative by profession, I consider myself a specialist in the field of “Moments”. The problem I am most often tasked with solving is, how best to create or recount the moments that matter most in life. From weddings, conferences and protests to fashion, product and brand photography, I am tasked with capturing the moments that make the difference from both personal and commercial vantage points.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

I am in a bittersweet relationship with NFTs I think they are super innovative and are really a glimpse into what the future may hold for valued commodities. I also think it has and will created some dope opportunities in the art space and with artists ability to rethink how consumers interact with their works.

On the flip side, I think NFTs challenge an already declining world of tangible art. Especial because I the visual art space. I know photographers the tens of thousands of followers that have never printed a photo they captured and the makes me sad. We went from seeing how images lived in physical spaces, Museums, Galleries and photo albums, to these same images living on the timeline, often to be forgotten in the same amount of time it takes to scroll past it. I believe there is still a high value in printing, framing, touch the images the have captured.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

The biggest resources I wish I really took more advantage of early in my creative career, are are my peers in my field. In the beginning I did a lot of things alone. learning how to edit, build sets, direct shoots, flesh out creative concepts all by my lonesome. Im am blessed to have succeeded to my current point, but I often wonder if certain milestones and accomplishments could have happened sooner if I trusted others with similar aspirations earlier in my career. I have noticed that in many creative spaces, especially minority occupied creative spaces there is this “There can only be one” mindset that places an unhealthy level of competition amongst people you could learn and collaborate with, and I wish in my early days I wold have pushed against that mindset more. There is more than enough money and opportunities for us all. No one can take something that is meant for you.

Contact Info:

• Website: shotby3dphotography.com
• Instagram: @kadeem.stewart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kadeemstewart/