We recently connected with Jordan Tallent and have shared our conversation below.

Jordan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

From a very young age I’ve always been a “creative”. My medium as a child was primarily drawing. I’d draw anything from anime characters to just about anything interesting that I had a reference to. My upbringing was heavily influenced by film, tv, and video games. I kept telling myself I’d be a video game designer, which don’t get me wrong I’d still love to do that. It’d be an amazing experience for sure, but the ambition for that career didn’t last past high school. High school was a hard time for me creatively honestly. I selected to take Art class every semester, but my freshman year I was removed from the class because I was behind in math. Then the same followed the rest of my time in High School. This was discouraging, because I was still doing creative things on my own and this was what I wanted to do with my life.

Fast forward to meeting my wife who was a photographer, I was immediately drawn to create with a camera. She helped me understand the tool, and my creative flow came out naturally from there on. At this time I was known for my illustration and graphic design skills, but the camera had a much harder pull on my soul than design so it slowly began to take over. Knowing what I know now, I wish I would have stuck with the creative stuff more often when I was younger. When you’re young you don’t really know what’s best for you, and honestly nobody really does. The possibilities for our lives are endless and any decision can steer it in any direction. That’s a beautiful thing to me.

The most essential skill in the creative field, and honestly life is time or experience. Hands on experience is the best teacher. The greatest to ever do it didn’t start that way, and time with the craft is key. That means you have to get out of your own way. Something I wish I would have done a long time ago. The world itself is a gigantic obstacle, but our own mind can stop us from moving forward even if the path is clear.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For the longest time I’ve been all about film, and the art of capturing life/stories with cameras. When I watch a film the “shots” stick with me, the composition of a great scene speaks to my inner creative. I believe God gave me the eye for this craft, and my goal in life is to use the gifts blessed upon me to tell stories. Having vision is essential to life. It’s essential to the creative process. The thing about vision though is that we don’t all share the same ones. No one will see it how you see it. The way an idea can just eat you alive. That’s why I do it. It’s a part of me, and something like that deserves to be shared with others. So that’s what I hope my work represents. Every photo has a story, a mood, a purpose.

Right now in my career I’ve established myself as a photographer, but my heart is calling me towards filmmaking. I’ve been taking the steps I need to take to do that, and that comes with a lot of learning ahead. My version of being a content creator isn’t exactly the same as the majority. The grind mentality is just not me. I’m not doing this for the money. Money is something I’m used to lacking, but what I don’t want to lack is time. Time with my wife, my kids, my family, my circle, my community, and my life. Fully embracing your gift/calling can be a difficult action, but it’s more than worth it. I see nothing but freedom and hope in my future on this path. So if I’m doing what I’m supposed to, lacking in anything should no longer hang me up. Press on, and move out of the way of the ultimate creator within us and around us.

If I was to speak on anything in this realm that sets me apart, I guess I could list a few things. I’ll start with one of the main shockers about my photography process that people question. I shoot Nikon! “Wait, you shoot Nikon”? If you are familiar with photography, you know the scene has a certain stigma towards Nikon shooters. I embrace it. I prefer the colors, the build quality, and honestly the branding. Being a creative isn’t about using what everyone else uses, but using what brings your vision to life in the best and most natural way possible. For me that’s using an 11 year old Nikon DSLR as my primary camera for photo. I recently picked up a Sony for video, and I enjoy bouncing around the different systems. It’s like owning an old Volvo, and a newer sports car. It’s got all the bells and whistles, the sleekness, but it’s missing heart. The way the camera feels in my hand, and the process of taking photos with it speaks for itself. I could go on and on about the camera stuff though so we’ll table that for now, but I am open to the conversation anytime.

Many know about my branding adventures, but some do not. In 2018 I started my first clothing brand called Mighty Clothing. It was a great start to what I do now, but it mainly served me as a lesson to be learned. We’re not always ready for our visions. Our timing isn’t always going to work. Often we rush into things, and that ultimately never works out. Fast forward a few years and a few more branding projects later I have two main brands on my heart. Vagrant and 865 Shootas. These are not only brands that I have envisioned for a long time, but they are also communities of real people. People willing to grow, and challenge each other. My focus hasn’t always been fully on these projects, but will never leave my heart. I’m going to push as much as I can with these, and if that’s one season at a time, then that’s just how it is. My main thing though is that I never intended for these things that I create to be completely about me. I need people too. I need individuals to lean on to accomplish these things. We all need a solid community in life. Whether it’s through time invested or money. If it’s about moving forward then we’re in the right place.

I really do hope to bring these things more to life in time. Gonna need lot’s of love and support along the way, but come rock with me if you want. I welcome you to join me and the vision I have. Let’s tell stories out here! Big or small there’s impact, and it’s worth it.

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

Stories. Stories are the main thing we exist for. From the TV series we binge, Video Games, Films, Books, and our very own lives. It’s all a story. My main drive as a creative is to do that very thing, and it’s not always easy. Mainly because it feels like I haven’t got to that point yet. I have big goals and massive dreams. They seem so close yet so far away at the same time. One of the biggest struggles for me is finding people to help you tell these stories. Seems like they don’t hold the same weight with others as it does you. That seems to be the way it all works though. Something that drives my very being, and tears at my heart means absolutely nothing to the next person. That’s the struggle and beauty of art.

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

The struggle is the reward. Whether it’s a photoshoot that was just hard, and even the editing process. Once it’s done, and the finished product is produced and published it feels amazing. I’d say you know you are doing the right thing if you can push through the hard times, continuing to create project after project without giving up. For me I have had to learn photography, how to work different cameras, software, and now my focus is more on filmmaking which is a whole different world in itself. The struggle to learn never ends, but creativity is a broad part of our inner workings so be creative with all things. Embrace the struggle.

Contact Info:

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