We recently connected with Donaven Doughty and have shared our conversation below.

Donaven, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

This topic is always easy for me to address. First, success is subjective; it always has been and always will be. So, you really need to understand what success looks like to you, not what society thinks. Once you grasp that, I suggest making a list of things you want to achieve that will genuinely bring you happiness from within. From there, set realistic dates for when you want to achieve them, and then chip away at them little by little with the intention of improving each day.

Now, for those who seek clients or recognition as part of their success, while you’re chipping away, tell the world about it. Post it on social media, connect with people in similar circles, attend networking events, and so forth. The more people who know you and your work, the more success will come with that. You can’t go at it alone.

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

Before I get into what I do, I believe it’s important to share how and why I started taking photographs and making films.

I grew up in Bridgeport, CT, a place that, at the time, was considered off-limits, nothing was there for people, and there were plenty of abandoned buildings. It was often in the news in a negative light. So, when I began taking photos on my cell phone in 2013, it was to capture my home from a different perspective. I didn’t understand storytelling then, so this was just for me. My homie Gary Judkins (@garpivot) and I would roam the streets, exploring the abandoned buildings, documenting the various communities and cultures, and uploading on the gram.

Fast forward to 2015/16, our group of friends expanded to include those who would become our brothers: Brandon Smith (@whiskeyandoxfords) and Daniel Recinos (@daniel.recinos). That’s when things started to take off. Instagram was gaining popularity, and #bando became one of the most popular hashtags. We began to establish a presence and reputation for ourselves. People not only saw our work but also viewed the city as a welcoming place for outsiders. We eventually started leading tours of our abandoned buildings, attracting visitors from Massachusetts to as far as Washington, DC. In short, we played a role in reshaping the city’s artistic landscape.

Now, fast-forward to the present. I run a creative agency called Another Story Acknowledged, with a mission to ensure that your stories better the lives of others. What I mean by that is that we are all posting and sharing stories, and every story posted on the internet influences someone, for better or worse. So when you work with us, we produce another story that inspires people to better the lives of others in some way. That’s what makes us proud to create.

Our services for clients encompass creative ideation, corporate, commercial, product, food, fashion, and documentary campaigns.

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

The overlooked and underserved are really what drive my creative journey. I believe there are many great people and businesses in the world that can improve the world, but unfortunately, they aren’t talked about enough or just need a helping hand to change their lives.

I see what I do—creative ideation, photography, and filmmaking—as an opportunity to bring attention to you, your business, product, service, etc. If I can just get a few more people to recognize what you do, that means you have a chance to help one more person.

That’s what drives me, and I hope more people consider telling their stories. Your story is your marketing.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Oh boy, I’m currently going through the journey now. Moving to a new state where the work environment and the view on marketing are different. As I’ve mentioned, I’m from up north where marketing, storytelling, and content are important to businesses. Here in SC, not so much. There’s plenty of money in the state, I believe, but the level of importance of marketing or what that looks like is not a priority, so this can reflect in the budget. With that, I show my resilience by not trying to compete with others and match budgets that are not mine. I continue to educate as well on the importance of proper scope of work.

I know times are rough, but us as creatives need to stick to our budget. Even if your budget is $200 per job, don’t let anyone talk you down to $150. Explain why you charge $200.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.donavend.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donavensvisuals/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaven-doughty-709342147/

Image Credits
Dalvin Spann (profile picture) Donaven Doughty