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

Alright, Audrey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

My life isn’t just luck. If I had never said “f*ck it” I wouldn’t have the career I have today. I’d always wanted to live in NYC but life was leading me down a different path, so I went along with it but one day I didn’t want to go along anymore. My lease was ending so I sold everything I owned, packed my car with the essentials, and moved to New York City, alone, with enough money for 3 months’ rent. I told myself I’d stay until my money ran out and if I didn’t make it life would go on. With that much at stake I wasn’t going to squander my time and got to work networking and looking for work. I took graphic design jobs, video editing, and random photo gigs and learned new skills along the way. I didn’t “fake it til I made it” I stepped up and showed people what I was capable of instead of waiting for them to ask. In 18 months I’ve been able to stop taking jobs I have no passion for and have begun the process of scaling my business.

Audrey, 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?

Sure, I’m a branding photographer who’s a space-bun-rocking, colorholic, weirdo that loves helping brands elevate their visuals for their marketing campaigns. I use fresh color palettes, graphic design, and animation to bring a brand’s online presence to life.

I’ve always been an artist and used to steal my mom’s camera any chance I got to take on explorations. I knew I enjoyed taking photos but I never thought I’d get to do it as a job until I won an award at the college I was attending. It wasn’t a noble prize but it showed me that I was capable of more and that people valued the art I was creating. I applied to SCAD and got in, which blew my mind. Through trial and error, I found that I loved working with fashion brands and dialed in my focus to start curating a bold portfolio. The main reason I love branding photography is that it’s where I get to be creative and playful.

When I think about my failures and wins I’m most proud of my persistence. I’ve made it a point to show up and deliver, both professionally and personally and I believe this to be why my clients appreciate the work I do. I don’t just work for a brand, I work with them.

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

Early in my career, I scoured the internet for ways to find clients. I tried Facebook groups, online platforms, and in-person events but wasn’t getting a lot of traction. I’d take jobs I didn’t like and was getting paid less than I wanted or needed to be. It wasn’t until I moved to NYC that I found communities that didn’t exist where I was before. I was meeting like-minded people who shared similar goals and were also searching for meaningful connections. As I navigated the world of networking I found online communities that allowed people from around the world to connect. This was impactful in many ways and I wish I had known about it sooner. I highly recommend In Creative Company, Like Minded Collective, and Freelancing Females.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I showed people what I was capable of and made myself present in a number of groups that eventually began crossing over. I made intentional connections and joined any free virtual call I was available for. My most used methods, both virtually and in person, are co-working sessions, networking events, and virtual coffee dates with like-minded creatives to plant seeds.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.audreytappan.com
• Instagram: @audrey_oh_art
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/audreytappan
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AudreyTappan
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JClofQCn3wk&t=697s

Image Credits
Audrey Tappan