We recently connected with Blair Ballou and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Blair thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
Being misunderstood and mischaracterized, where do I even begin haha. People are so eager to project their insecurities and tell you what you can and can’t do and who you can and can’t be based on how you talk, what you look like, the color of your skin, your religion, what ever. If you haven’t heard it yet or you forgot, let me remind you that you can do anything you want to do and be anyone you want to be. For every clown that wants to put you “in your place” there are 5 others waiting to support you and your dream.
Being a black southerner in the creative field, it is so easy to be overlooked and not taken seriously. Having a southern accent is often associated with the negative stereotype of ignorance or a lack of intelligence and being a black male in the deep south nets you a whole array of different obstacles. In my experience I’ve often had to prove myself and my abilities/potential in remarkable ways before being awarded the bare minimum of mutual respect and a fighting chance. I saw this especially in the film industry in MS where I often had to fight to be awarded the jobs that were being handed to people from outside of the state, even with the same amount of experience and skill set.
Being misunderstood and mischaracterized gave the push to venture across the country and find out how the best of the best do what I like to do and establish something back home in Mississippi to ensure a creative safe space and job pipeline for mischaracterized people like me who want to follow their dreams.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
For folks who may not have read about me before, my name is Blair Ballou and I am a portrait photographer and cinematographer. I was a photo journalist and news reporter before I started doing what I do now. I shoot commercials, music videos, portraits, album covers, events, you name it. My background in journalism and storytelling gives me a unique set of skills that perfectly meld with my current discipline. One unique way I approach each session is revealing what are we trying to say and why? I feel as though when you clearly define the why, the what and how become much easier. I start each session with an open conversation and get to know my subjects in hopes to bring out that potential and portray it on still or video with a great performance.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
If you know me or read my previous articles you’ll hear this a million times but I mention this part of my creative journey because it is what gets me out of bed in the morning. My main goal in my creative journey is learning the ins and outs of Photography and Filmmaking so I can establish a creative safe space and creative industry job pipeline in my hometown of Mississippi for creative youths. Im leaning more on Filmmaking because that is my main passion, but I came to California to learn how the best of the best do it so that I can create something a long the lines of a bootcamp for film industry jobs. I was rarely able to find work within the film industry in Mississippi because it is so small and so gate kept, my goal is to create something so that other that are like me won’t have to struggle to find creative work within Mississippi.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
Trash.
Contact Info:
- Website: blairballou.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballouboy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blair.ballou/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-ballou-043ab1197/