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

Hi David, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.

Education in America seems to completely disregard the nuts and bolts of being an adult. It feels like curriculums were built assuming that kids will someday become employees of large companies that take care of details like health insurance and retirement savings or even just structuring their time. No one even tried to explain what it looks like to start a business. It is staggering to think how much brain power I put into memorizing advanced mathematical equations, yet no one taught me how to file my taxes. We really do miss the forest for the trees.

I see an opportunity to re-prioritize. We need to start at the foundation and work our way up. What does it mean to be a healthy and happy human and what are the resources to help you find this balance? What are the basic skills that you need to survive in modern society? What does becoming a successful creative look like?

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?

There were only two things I liked about high school – skipping class to go surfing and film photography. I don’t think I willingly stayed on campus after the 3 p.m. bell for anything except the darkroom. But I would develop photos until the teacher kicked me out hours later.

I wish I had listened to that calling, but I didn’t. I ended up on a number of paths that never really fit – an engineering degree, applying to medical school, and then 8 years piloting airplanes and helicopters. It felt like a journey of discovering things that I didn’t enjoy or want to spend my life doing, and when it was all over, photography was just sitting there waiting for me to finally remember it.

The Enloe Creative began and remains focused on family photography. But I see the actual taking of pictures as only a part of my job. Yes, I want people to love my art and value the pictures we make together, but I also want them to enjoy the entire process of working with me.

And family life in San Francisco can be a grind. Parents are working high-stress jobs just to earn enough money to make ends meet in this city, and they are often spread really thin. At the same time, they are looking for something a little different, a way to express themselves. There is a struggle there, and that’s exactly where I fit in.

A big part of my job is about minimizing stress. What I offer is something that is simple but unique, efficient yet inspiring. My process is streamlined for busy parents, but my sessions are long and carefree so there is no pressure.

I also offer handcrafted picture frames. At the end of a session, these same busy parents can easily commission me to build them a frame out of locally upcycled wood – lumber from trees that fell in San Francisco parks and neighborhoods, often just a few blocks from their home.

This streamlined journey of going from that first inquiry email to a framed family photo hanging in their living room – every step of the process collaborative and every piece crafted with intention. This is what I am most proud of. It is what sets The Enloe Creative apart.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My years working as a pilot had a huge impact on my values. Flying the uber-wealthy around in private jets brought my attention to the importance of sustainability. And not just environmental, but also as it relates to business and lifestyle. Is constant growth and ever-increasing consumption sustainable? Does it lead to happiness? I don’t think so. My passengers on those jets didn’t make me think so.

The ethics of sustainability drive every decision I make at The Enloe Creative. In practice, that means investing in 1% For The Planet and becoming a certified California Green Business. It also means offering picture frames that I craft from start to finish of the most sustainable materials I know of. It means treating each and every client as if they are likely to come back next year. It also means maintaining a schedule that gives me time to be with my family and go surfing.

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

The internet is full of people who tell you that they have discovered a guaranteed path to rapid success. Early on I became convinced that a sales-based mini session model was going to grow my business fast. I bought a class, then I spent weeks creating elaborate pricing schemes, building my sales system, and crafting email templates and Instagram marketing captions.

Turns out, I don’t like mini sessions. I don’t like pushing people to buy things. I don’t like working with a high volume of clients. Basically, I put this vision of instant success on a pedestal right between me and what I love. It was a huge waste of time and I had to unlearn it all.

My sessions today are the opposite of mini sessions. I take the time to get to know my clients and I work hard to curate and edit their photos in a way that makes them feel the way they felt during this season with their families. To ignite those memories. To make them nostalgic. This is how I work best, and this is the way I should have approached my work from the start.

The creatives who stand the test of time are those who have adopted the long view. Take your time as you envision a creative business. Explore and experiment. Learn your niche, learn your craft, and learn what you love. Once you have that figured out, grant yourself the space to build it in a way that feels true to your values. The sooner you commit to this way of being, the sooner you start moving towards the fulfilling career you are dreaming of.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theenloecreative.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theenloecreative/
• Other: Join my email list at https://the-enloe-creative.myflodesk.com/general-signup

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