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

Delaney, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I believe that the key to being able to make a living through your art is to find a way that doesn’t kill your joy. Since beginning my career, I’ve heard advice from countless people (solicited or not), that all proclaim that they know “the way” to succeed and the pitfalls to avoid. I was told that if I pursued a job in the arts I wouldn’t make money, or that I would have to choose between passions. I heard so much conflicting advice early on that I realized there is no one way to success, and anyone telling you so is likely insecure about their own path. There are countless, variable routes that have just as much enrichment in their journey as they do in the reward. While our egos may proclaim our worth is more (true), we are also in a constant state of growth and can forge a path that leads us to our dreams.

Part of my journey was experimenting— what content did I want to explore? Did I like working at a desk or outside? Did I like the hustle of playing music gigs in the city or getting somewhat stable film work? After climbing the ladder in post production, I switched careers to focus on camera and lighting. While I chose not to actively pursue music gigs for money, I still played around Los Angeles while working camera jobs. Some jobs I had— like being a Production Assistant or an Assistant Editor— did not have intrinsic value to me, but I also saw them as opportunities to get paid to learn. I could absorb knowledge from surrounding departments, observe etiquette, and most importantly, make connections. Ultimately, I fell in love with the fast paced environment of being on set, and the creative high of making the images in my head come to life. For anyone in this line of work that takes 12+ hour days from you, I think loving your job is essential to doing it well.

Every day that I show up on set or for a show, I try to be the best version of myself I can, because ultimately, our performance as creatives and the connections we make under those terms are the best ways to secure future jobs. Your attitude and performance at work that day is your resume. I always try to be someone I’d want to work with: kind, compassionate, hard-working, collaborative, and fun. I believe that’s why my phone rings. I am very good at my job, but most importantly, I’m fun to work with because I’m happy and grateful to be there.

The struggle of a freelance career is inherent to its nature. It’s not easy to make a living doing what you love, but there is no one way to accomplish this goal. What’s important is not to follow some playbook or anecdote to carve your path, but to do what brings you joy. I am able to work on high level creative projects while still recording albums and playing shows. No compromise- just doing the hard work to make it happen the way I dream it to be.

Delaney, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Delaney- a working Camera Operator, Director of Photography, and Musician. I’m here to create and interpret vision and make the world more connected and kind.

My main art form is camera work, and that’s a lot of my “bread and butter” as a true freelancer. Most of the year I’m on set with Netflix, Bravo, Food Network, etc. but I also work on independent films, documentaries, commercials, music videos, instagram content– you name it. I am particularly well versed in handheld operation and often gravitate towards filming documentaries and docuseries. Though I do love thoughtful camera and lighting plots for scripted content.
I am particularly attracted to the spirit of collaboration and as a Director of Photography, I can interpret the vision of fellow creatives and visually bring it to life. It’s a dream making something with a team of talented people and to see the finished product and say “we did that.” I am also proud to be a woman in a typically male-dominated job. Not only do I think it’s important that images are crafted from a feminine gaze, I also want to show future generations of young women that they really can do anything– including jobs that are both physically and technically demanding.

My secondary art form is music, and I play music and sing live for events, TV shows, or local bars. I have released an EP and am in the process of recording an album at my home studio. Playing musical also appeals to my love of collaboration and I often perform with my husband, Trevor Marcotte, who is also an accomplished musician. With heavy jazz, rock, and R&B influences, my music is genre-fluid but catchy, and usually vocally complex.
Songwriting is a cathartic art form for me, it feels like therapy to pen out your emotions and process through it, but also to share it with strangers who say they’ve been through it too. The hope is to elicit the same response in others as my favorite music did for me– to listen and think, “I feel that too.” Ultimately, the empathy we have for others is what helps our communities grow, and through my music, I hope I can help the feelings of being human feel a little easier and less lonely.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is loving your job and truly feeling that you’ve put yourself in the work. So many people hate their jobs and are drained by the work they do. I don’t feel that way–I am creatively fulfilled by my work and feel challenged and accomplished in what I do. The choices I make in the composition of my frame, the contrast of the lighting, the songs and stories I share on stage–these are all parts of me, reflected. I love that I am able to live a life that allows me to give myself creatively to every project.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My ultimate goal as a creative is to cultivate a life that centers joy, collaboration, kindness and creation with others. The highest iteration could look like filming a narrative feature and working with all of my favorite artists and professionals. It could be going on tour for a year with other performing artists and experiencing the world on stages, together.

To be at a level of driving projects and creating work for our community is the bigger vision. I can’t wait to make it to the level where I am funding projects that I am invested in creatively. In the meantime, I am still accomplishing the goal of creating with others, traveling the world, and doing a job that brings me fulfillment, but more importantly, joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.delaneymog.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delaneymog/

Image Credits

Trevor Marcotte, Arianne Ribeiro, Daniel Gatsch, Dan Elswick, Delaney Moghanian