Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bridget Dorr. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bridget, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

This summer I took my pottery and photography business full-time. Over the past 10 years, I have worked a variety of ways to grow my small business into a full-time job. I started working full-time as an art teacher for a non-profit, and this is where I found the headspace to work on my pottery since I graduated college. I was able to use my work’s facilities to make and fire my work once I clocked out at 5 pm. I slowly worked this way, nights and weekends until I was able to grow my business so that I could afford my own studio space. Once I had my studio space I was able to make enough work to start doing shows and selling wholesale. All the while, I was slowly booking weddings and other lifestyle photoshoots on the weekends, which helped me develop my creative photography business. I did this for about 8 years. There were a few spots in between jobs where I felt that I wanted to pursue my creative businesses full-time but ultimately had to find steady work for income. This summer I officially made the leap and have found that I am able to sustain myself financially, which has been so exciting. I think I could have sped up the process if I had other financial means to support me (financial support from family, etc.). I don’t regret building my business the way I did, over time and by bootstrapping. I’ve found that taking a step back from my business, at times, has made me have a much healthier relationship with it and has established resilience within me.

Bridget, 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?

I started studying ceramics and photography in college. It took me a few years after graduating, but I finally started making ceramics on my kitchen table until I grew into a pottery studio of my own. I create functional ceramic wares for my clients, as well as teach workshops on the topic of ceramics. I also work as a wedding and lifestyle photographer. I mostly shoot weddings, engagements, family, and product photography. Both my ceramics and my photography are inspired by slow living and simple pleasures. My ceramics encourage others to slow down and be present while using my wares. Handmade pottery has a way of bringing people together over food, tea, and even wine and invites people to be present with one another and have meaningful conversations. Similarly, my approach to photography is quite laid back. I encourage natural movements between couples and families to highlight their natural chemistry. I’m most proud of the way I approach my craft with excitement and curiosity. I feel like I will always want to learn more about pottery and photography and I’m excited to make them a lifelong journey.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I would love to be able to produce larger quantities of my work while keeping the process very hand touched. Becoming a Production Pottery is a big goal of mine. Creating molds of my original work and then being able to hand pour slip into the casts to create a bigger quantity of the pieces.

As far as photography, my goal is to travel more and work with clients all over the globe. I think travel and time away from home are so refreshing and very much needed for creative people. I’d love to travel the world learning about different kinds of pottery and taking pictures of new and incredible landscapes.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I have had to unlearn that grind culture should be celebrated. For most of my early career, I measured my success by how exhausted I was and how much work I could crank out. My work started to feel uninteresting and I started to dislike being in my studio and making work. I have unlearned and continue to unlearn, if I’m being honest, how to honor and respect my needs while I work. The irony was not lost on me, when I made art in the name of slow living, but ran myself into the ground, especially during the holiday season. Each winter is a really nice reflective period for me to reconfirm the belief that rest is important for my creativity and my business. I’m enjoying slow mornings, many cups of tea, and cold winter walks. It is so refreshing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bridgetdorr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetdorr/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bridgetdorrceramicsandphotography
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmh1QMU9joEryo3TFPkWa6w

Image Credits
All photos can be given credit to me, Bridget Dorr. Rebecca Caridad can be credited for the photo of me placing dishes on the table in the field. Thank you!