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

Bea , 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.

Learning your craft(s) is a rewarding part of the journey! To become a full-time photographer/ creator I decided to choose a journey of self discovery. After years of trying to create a life in Corporate America after college, I felt defeated. I felt that my journey wasn’t true to what my heart and soul was calling for me.

I chose to take a different direction. To start to work on learning and growing my passion for photography and being an artist on my own. The transition was for sure challenging for me and in this present moment, I still work through the challenges. I am learning that my life experiences can be my teacher and I will be okay with taking charge, while dedicating myself to my talents. With no professor, no job description or someone telling me how I should do what I love. It is just me, and my passion to keep me going, along with my faith to work through my fears.

Through Learning my craft(s) I am also learning what it truly means to be free. I am learning that I can choose my own direction and with that comes mistakes, but it’s okay! From my experiences I am learning to build my self-esteem, to not give my power away and embrace being true to me and my craft. Learning my crafts has not just helped me grow my talents with photography, but also helped me to discover who I truly am and want to be. I am learning that I can create the world I want for myself. If I am capable of learning my crafts and talent in life, I am capable of creating limitless possibilities for myself with resilience.

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.

My name is Saibrea Bogan and I am the owner/creator of Bea Photography Studios. I have been doing photography for about 12 years now. Since I could remember, I have always considered myself a creative person. Photography has been a part of my life since high school. I love taking photos of my friends, family and myself. Photography was my way to capture memories for me to cherish for as long as I wanted.

When I started college, I took a few photography courses and began to collaborate with other artists. At this time I still didn’t have the confidence to pursue my passion for photography/art full-time or even take it seriously; however I am grateful for my journey because it led me to where I am today. I have officially been a business owner / photographer for 3 years now. I made the choice to take a journey of self-discovery, which led me to pursuing my dreams of working for myself and truly embracing being a creator.

Bea Photography Studio is not only my studio where I photograph my clients, but it is also a place I created based on my beliefs to service my community with kindness, integrity and fairness. I am grateful to have created a studio that creates a safe place for my clients to feel comfortable, inspired, and accepted. To also feel open to create magic through photography.

I think what sets me apart from other artists is the courage and bravery to follow my own path. I don’t try to pay too much attention to the latest trends. I choose to focus on allowing inspiration to take over when I am working with my clients and photograph images that are true to both our nature! Also what is true to my creative abillities. I value the experience I have with each of my clients and treat everyone the same, and honor their values. Sometimes my clients help me level up with my craft, they may present me with a visual concept that challenges me to explore different perspectives or techniques that I am not used to. It helps me recognize that growth is important and that I am capable, even when I may not trust in myself. We all matter and it is important that we know that. I don’t think I would be where I am now with my craft, if I didn’t recognize my talents mattered.

I am proud of my journey. Took a journey to self-discover myself and learn to teach myself my crafts. My journey has allowed me to find things about myself that my heart desires and work through my fears. Pursuing my photography business allowed me to see the value in myself, without external validation. Pursuing photography allowed me to acknowledge other things that I am passionate about, for example, teaching myself videography and starting my own YouTube Channel (@FEARLESSEXPRESSIONADVENTURES). Lastly, finding other ways to express myself through painting! I want my community to know my work is inspired by me and being open to collaborating with others. My work is fueled by heart and passion to be an Artist/ Creator of my own world.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe that society needs to accept Artists/Creators more in the academic community. I remember growing up, it was always this part of me that just loved to create stuff. I didn’t believe I could do anything with my abilities growing up. School always promoted being a teacher, a doctor or finding a “socially norm” career to be successful. There were no vocational or programs often available while I was in school to help me pursue my creative side, unless I had the finances to join a club, which was not always the case.

I always had this idea that more after school programs should be provided to middle school kids. I believe this is the age where I started trying to figure out what I was into. Also I recognized this in my peers as well. I believe if the program’s mission is to help kids to explore their creative side, and educate them that being an Artist can be a choice as an adult, besides academics or sports. People in society will believe a little bit more in their abilities to truly explore possibilities that society makes us believe is impossible as adults.

I remember right before high school, I was asked to be a part of an artist internship during the summer. They encouraged young artists to create all over my hometown and paid me $500. I was lucky, because the program found me, I didn’t even know it existed! However, taking this opportunity planted a seed in me at such a young age, that maybe I could be an Artist and get paid. I am grateful for that opportunity.

With more support from society, I believe Artists will not have to seek so much external validation to feel that our work matters and we belong!

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an Artist/Creator is being able to express myself. I can choose to not agree with society norms and find a way to show the world the real me! With being able to express myself, I am learning how to be free. To move away from unhealthy habits that I created with myself when I was in college and a part of Corporate America. I used to put so much pressure on myself to get things right and overwork myself. Sometimes I didn’t even believe I could do it.

Currently, I am choosing a healthier path to showcase my craft. I don’t want to always over push, procrastinate or feel that I am not doing enough for my craft and business. I want to just be. To understand myself, to know when I do need to put in the effort and when I need to just take a break and do nothing. I believe being an Artist is helping me to create a positive mindset for myself. I am learning how to trust my own abilities. I am also learning how to be more open to growth, to change my perspective about life. Being an Artist/Creator is rewarding because I believe you can’t make mistakes, it just gives you more room for growth!      

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beaphotography.net
• Instagram: @beaphotographyohio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeaEmpirePhotography
• Youtube: @fearlessexpressionadventures
• Email: [email protected]