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

Beau, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

I’ve been very fortunate with being surrounded by kindness and love throughout my life, but especially during the times I most needed it. Around 2017, I realized that something wasn’t normal with things I was feeling. Mustering up the gumption, I went to the doctor and discovered that I have severe depression and anxiety. I began treatment and it’s just such a process to find out what really agrees with you. During this time, I had unhealthy thoughts and did things that felt right at the time, but I deeply regret.

I remember being at rock bottom that Christmas. I isolated and my mother came over. She helped me clean up the house, gave the best hug, and gave me this little sign that said, “Believe in Yourself.”. I hung it over my kitchen and must have stared at it for 2 hours while reflecting. That was a very important turnaround for me and the start of a healing process. It still hangs in the same spot to this day.

Beau, 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 passion lies with portrait photography, but I’m an artist at heart. Since I was old enough to hold a pencil, I would sketch things on manilla paper at school while the other kids were talking. In 2015 I transitioned into digital art and mentored under an artist named Xia Taptara, who is renowned for his concept art in PC games. We studied portraits together and it directly influenced a curiosity for photography.

When creating with others during a photoshoot, my goal is to have both parties fully express themselves artistically. One of the industry issues is trust; models feeling comfortable and confident is priority. Trust begins before you solicit a client and should never end throughout your professional relationship. These things may seem like a given but unfortunately sometimes the craft is tainted with creators with ill intentions. By telling a model “Hey, wear whatever you are comfortable with on the shoot. If there is a look you have been wanting to have captured, let’s do it!”, it lends a hand to calm those first meet nerves that can happen on both sides. In my opinion, that is when the best results happen artistically.

Natural lighting is my favorite thing. We are surrounded by beauty outside in all conditions. It’s funny, when I first started photography I would try to setup shoots during golden hour, or optimal scenarios for natural lighting. So much can happen with scheduling conflicts though, so I started challenging the shoot by going against the grain. I’d intentionally do shoots at noon, when everyone has raccoon eyes from the sun being directly above. You have to learn to make it work no matter what. It forces you to be creative and I’ve had some of my favorite photos from what others would probably deem a suboptimal scenario.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Stop and take the time. Every day we are introduced to something that moves this world at a faster pace. People get caught up in their day to day lives, it gets difficult to stop and remember that there are millions, if not billions, of hard-working artists that have spent countless hours mastering their craft so that others can enjoy it. I also believe that admiration should come from a place of sincerity. You don’t always have to purchase something to help out a creator that you support. Support can extend a social media “like”. That thing you spent just a few extra seconds looking at before you scrolled past…what made you stop and look? Let them know in a personal message or comment. Those non-monetary gestures go a long way in showing that you appreciate the work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

With photography, there is this immediate gratification when you start shooting and just know that you have captured something special. I remember drawing dragons or portraits of women for hours and hours. I’d think afterwards “Oh, this is cool!”. When doing photoshoots, you just click and it’s just instant art. It sounds a little silly but coming from an art background this notion just connected with me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @beaucaptures

Image Credits
Model: Chloe Juniper IG: @girl.with.the.dragonair.tattoo