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

Baby, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I would simply say that the fact of me is that i don’t make safe decisions. I think life is a risk and your choices should be based in experimentation as you grow and learn. Educated choices and profitable risk can be hand in hand with one another. Becoming a photographer was the first huge risk I truly took that made sense to me. I have a history of bad decisions to my personal well being. Grew up in a small Oklahoma town filled with substance abuse and poverty. A dying town. I found a job in Texas as a paralegal at a certain point and had finally found stability but not happiness. I was never not creative and someone had bought me a semi professional camera after my interest was revealed to them. I took that and learned everything i could until i quite all of my jobs, paralegal included and just dove into photography as my career. I moved to Seattle from Texas knowing nothing and no one. I still didn’t even have direction. I sold everything but my camera and a bag of clothes and just moved to an entirely new place with no savings. that was 10 years ago and i just celebrated 12 years of a successful photography career, moved back to Seattle after a stint in Los Angeles, then Vegas, New York CIty for a year back to my art home, Seattle. I just started my official LLC overseeing my photography and clothing line I started in 2018 and am looking at store fronts to open a brick and mortar and studio. I’ve lived all over, made my entire own way, make my own rules and live with humble pride. I think the real risk I took here was trusting myself to be capable of figuring it out and its one we should all take.

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

I am half cinematic photographer and half Clothing brand. I have been systematical lacing the two together to reflect the duality of my own existence. I would say what i do is in part experimentation in existence. On the photography side I focus heavily on the simple act of authentic representation of the individuals Infront of my lens in a way that makes them fall in love with themselves. I always say I am not here to build an incredulous image but capture what truly is in the essence of the humans I photograph. I also have a heavy hand in circus and sideshow focused photography as often as I can. That is my happiest space as a photographer. On the clothing brand side we focus on a little less social politeness. Its the bratty 1990s raised heathen sibling of Deevolutionary Photography. I link the two together through the cross over usage of my photography in my brand via hand made patches among other things.
A little human connectivity, a little low brow they articulate two sides of one human and have morphed into one as For Humans Not People.
the entire point at the end of the day is providing space to experience the human condition and present a different perspective, a different way of viewing the world. certainly consider myself more than a brand or a business. I make art to show people that existing is art.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I absolutely am on a mission to be a person that people can rely on to help them love looking at themselves. I have seen a bad photo completely discourage someone and make them hate themselves. A photo has the power to make or break some ones image of themselves. On the other side with my clothing line I aim to provide space for those sordid souls that want to be loud in their fashion. Authentic expression in all its forms.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being someone that people feel comfortable with. Creating has provided a bridge of connection to myself and other humans. Its given me growth as a whole human. Without it I would still feel disconnected from society. That helps me help others feel more comfortable existing and connecting and letting down walls.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.forhumansnotpeople.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/deevolutionary_photography / instagram.com/bleachfcked

Image Credits
Maggie Mcmuffin, Reign Darling