We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bailey Murrell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Bailey, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
At the very center of my core, I created amuse to honor Black women. With amuse we are amplifying visual storytelling of the Black Experience. Womanism, and cultural motifs are visible through the images and creative projects I output. As a visual artist, I am passionate about working with people whose values align with amuse. I cannot name a specific project that I would weigh to have a greater meaning above various others I’ve created or worked on. However, I can say that creating a space where creatives can show up as their authentic selves and feel safe to create without judgement or bias is a win in my book. amuse residing at an intersection where culture, fashion and beauty is anchored is my lane.
Through hosting our creative socials – now referred to as our “Butter Pecan Creative Social,” we are fostering an open community where creatives can network, commune, create and build portfolios while gaining experience in the creative industry. A space where people are enabled to narrate/share their own organic visual story is a true testament to community. Sometimes in life we have doors that are barred shut, and we either force them open or build our own. I am not worried about a seat a table I’ve built because my table is never ending – those who choose to eat – will be fed. Wading through a brown paper bag industry can be discouraging, specifically within an industry that display darker-skinned models as a special segment of fashion society or a mascot for “inclusivity.” Allowing Black cultural grace, pride, and homage to build from the creative experience amuse has curated is something to note. Allowing knowledge to spread by tearing down the notion of a gatekept industry builds a strong creative community, where people aren’t thinking about competition but rather strengthening relationships as artists.
Alice Walker once said, “If you deny people their own voice, you’ll have no idea who they were.”
With amuse, I want to amplify those voices, I want the images and art created from our photographs to speak to people, to transform those stories, emotions- those words. When people look back at those images, I want to evoke something powerful that reaches all five senses.
I want amuse’s images to show who those captured were.
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?
Amuse is a space where creatives are empowered, it is a space where our creative team uplifts and guide people who are wanting to gain experience and display their talents. I created amuse the agency for that very purpose – empowerment. Photography is a distinctive art which through a lens can liberate those in a very powerful way. That’s why I center my work around meaningful concepts and intentional curation. While working with clients I set time aside to consult, storyboard, and pinpoint signature poses that flow with desired garments and align with the silhouette of the model.
Pose work is an art unto itself. In model photography the relationship with photographer is like composing, the work should be as a partnership – both working to translate a three-dimensional object, the model’s body, into the two-dimensional space of a flat image. For many clients model posing may not come naturally, it is a learned skill, something that must be learned. As a photographer I work alongside my clients placing clear concise communication at the forefront. Creative direction from amuse at best is to ensure everyone is performing at their maximum potential; the relationship between a photographer and a model is like seamless confluence creating art.
Amuse is a house that offers various photography services, creative consulting, but ultimately an experience.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I carry as I navigate the industry and just life; is to know my worth and the value of the art I create, I am my biggest advocate for myself and amuse. I’ve learned discernment on which direction I strive for. You are never too old to learn, and I am a student of the craft. I must take pride in my work because I mean, if I don’t, then how am I supposed to convince my audience they should invest in the experience and services.
I am very serious about my craft, and I know within time the community and niche built around amuse, referrals and my work will trickle where it’s supposed to land. As an entrepreneur, you are taking a risk when you step out and starting to market and run a business. Yes, business can be financially risky – but it is my belief that the greater risk can be more of an emotional and mental one. The battles fought silently and internally within someone as they fight to breakthrough in the industry or bring in visibility to what they have to offer and why people should support and follow their brand. Retaining clients is not for the weak! It is a constant job, and at amuse I work with clients and market to my audience in a transparent authentic manner.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
amuse represents authentic raw potential, by fostering a supportive community like atmosphere there is space where growth is encouraged, and boundaries are pushed. A safe space is birthed as I meet my clients or creative team where they are – we walk together on a path to creative and cultivate a visual story. I am a firm theorist on learning people and once you have an opportunity to learn people and really study or observe their behavior and mannerism you can cater their experience. Learning people can break down awkward interactions and by simply communicating in a timely manner, having contracts, intake questionnaires, reminders – tools and behaviors that will send a message to the receiver which translates into a positive experience. By meeting the desires of clients and creating an experience specifically catered to the client, I am able to conclude the appointment with clients walking away wanting to not only feed their passions, but my clients are more confident when they walk out of a session and also reaching out to book or work with amuse again.
Post follow up with clients, asking about their experience and also encouraging them to leave reviews are also important to strengthening working relationships and retainment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/amusetheagency
- Instagram: amusetheagency
Image Credits
amusetheagency, Enida Linnie, Tanaisia Eugene