We were lucky to catch up with Cody Stallings recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cody, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I absolutely love every minute of being a freelance business owner. It comes with it’s ups and downs but I can confidently say I wouldn’t trade in the work I do for some boring desk job. Although photography is my full time career, I think I can relate to other creatives when I say I still work a weekend serving job to have that extra bit of income to help fund my personal and professional life. That serving job is at a drag brunch venue so I’m thankful to have found a way to blend my career work with my “for fun” work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My photography journey started in December of 2012 when I attended the Art Institute to pursue my creative education. Upon receiving my Bachelors in Photographic Design, I entered the working world through internships, assistantships and cultivating relationships with those who had been in the industry. I started working with drag entertainers in 2016 and haven’t turned back. Since then, with hard work and the help of Nashvilles LGBTQ+ community, I have built up the reputation of being Nashville’s Drag Photographer!
Even though I run a business, It never really feels like work. I enjoy what I do because I get to work with clients who become friends and I get to watch them grow professionally as entertainers.
Besides drag, I enjoy shooting and shining light on all aspects of the LGBTQ+ community such as events, musicians, designers and more.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative in what I do is the relationships I’ve built and the support I’ve gained in pursuing my craft. If you had asked 19 year old me where I would see myself in 10 years, photographing drag entertainers and LGBTQ+ life wouldn’t even have made the list. I’ve met people from all walks of life and through those experiences, it’s given me the confidence to unapologetically be myself and express my love for the art of drag and the community through my work.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I think one of the biggest lessons I learned was to not be a “yes man” all the time. It’s okay to say no to something that doesn’t feel right. It’s okay to take time for yourself to especially work on your mental health and well being. It’s so easy to feel burnt out and I think people forget to put up personal boundaries when it comes to business. I’ve found that making time for myself to simply watch tv, play a video game, go grocery shopping, or catch up on laundry make a world of difference to my mental health and in return helps me to focus on the needs of my business more clearly.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.codystallings.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/codystallingsphoto
• Facebook: Facebook.com/Codystallingsphotography

Image Credits
Queens Featured: Carmen Triple C, Arsyn, Cairo, Vidalia Ann Gentry, Cya Inhale, Aura Mayari, Justine Van de Blair, Ivy St. James, and Jorgeous