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

Ean, 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?

Yes, I have made a full-time living from my creative work. However, the path to get there was not the one I had expected.

I started my first paid creative work as a student photographer at Peru State College in southeast Nebraska. It’s a small school in a rural area (Peru, NE), but on campus and locally, the campus is close-knit.

Upon starting school after moving from California, I began taking photos of the campus and posting them to social media. The college was not active on social media at the time, but eventually, they noticed. The marketing director at the time found me out on campus shooting one day, and offered me a job on the basis that I “Keep taking photos, and make myself useful across campus”.

This was a fitting position, as I was studying marketing at Peru State. Upon starting this position, I quickly began taking photos of campus and all the events that happened. At the time, my favorite was shooting athletics at the college, and I became well-known across campus for my photos at all the various games.

As the administration changed, and I was eventually the longest-standing member of the marketing team (as a student worker), my role quickly evolved into not only photo, but photo, video, and social media management. My photos began to be used for print materials, advertisements, decorative pieces, and local news and media.

After 3 years in this position, while also hustling photography on the side (all while pursuing my degree), a job listing that Nebraska Wesleyan University had posted caught my eye. There was an opening for a Multimedia specialist, a job that’s description was exactly what I had done for over 3 years at Peru State.

The job was as though it was made for me. Photography, videography, and other media creation specifically as it applies to higher education.

When I applied, I didn’t have my degree yet, and a degree was listed as a requirement for the position. However, through relevant experience in higher-ed marketing along with an understanding of photography and videography, I was able to secure the position, where I have been working full-time for a year.

Being able to be full-time as a creative is a powerful thing. Knowing that my ability to survive is being supported by the creative abilities I crafted on my own is very empowering, and almost nerve-racking. But I’ve been able to do it, mostly by finding my niche and leveraging my experience, understanding, and education.

Looking back, I do wish I would have been aware of how being full-time would have changed my mindset. I do feel as though I had more fun with photography when it was a part-time gig, but I’m thankful for an opportunity to make a living from it as well.

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?

Just as I do for my Employer at Nebraska Wesleyan, I provide my clients and collaborators with high-quality photos, videos, and other digital media.

I pride myself on being able to do a bit of everything in the most literal sense of the word.

My origins in photography come from the Automotive scene, but I developed my ability mostly by shooting sports. I’ve got experience doing everything from weddings to astrophotography, wildlife, and even studio work. If I can involve myself while putting a camera in my hand- I’m game.

Video-wise, I mostly create a more standard video. I offer recap videos, advertisements, and other commercial video work to my clients. I haven’t dabbled heavily into creative filmmaking yet, although that’s an area I’m eager to explore.

I also provide commercial UAS/drone services for a variety of applications. I am FAA part 107 certified, and I’ve actually completed a week-long on-site course to be certified to inspect transmission power lines, cell towers, and high-mast lighting through Valmont Industries. I’ve also taught myself photogrammetry, the process of mapping and 3D modeling utilizing aerial imagery.

Between all of these capabilities and experiences, I offer a wide set of services that cover just a bit of everything. It’s not uncommon for my week to have a professional soccer match, a roof inspection, and, and a 8 mile hike wrapped up into one weekend as I finish my 9-5 at the university where I produced social media content and magazine photography.

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

The best part of being creative is putting a smile on other people’s faces.

Chasing that satisfaction from the viewer or client is what fuels me creatively. When someone takes a look at my work and smiles excitedly at what I have created, it makes me feel as though I have succeeded at the core mission of being creative.

This often takes a different form each time. In some cases, clients may be blown away at photos I was able to capture at a sporting event, or sometimes it’s a maintenance worker finally getting a good look at a mechanical issue I was able to assist with identifying. But the smile is what I chase.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think the process and idea of working as a creative is so abstract to so many people. For example, when I mention I work as a photographer/videographer, people don’t know exactly what to think.

Many think I work as some sort of creative visionary, directing models in front a backdrop. Others think I attend exciting events every day for work. For me, and other creatives in my field, it’s really not that way.

My 9-5 as a creative really mirrors what a typical office worker may see, just with some modifications. My schedule is full of meetings discussing content, strategic marketing, and market growth. Yes, I take photos and videos as well, but my assets and capabilities exist to serve the purpose of promoting the institution.

My side work of shooting sports, events, and stock content probably closer aligns with the excitement people imagine in my field. But I can testify that shooting an event from the sidelines is nowhere near as pleasant as just sitting back and watching it. Experiencing an event through a viewfinder is not as fun as seeing it with your own eyes for enjoyment. Especially when it comes time to edit.

This is why I try and separate photography from my personal life. Even though I’m known as the photographer in my groups- you want catch me bringing my gear out to a social gathering, unless its a fun, creative opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://eanmiller.smugmug.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eanmillerphotos/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ean-miller-861611203/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKTXXty7eqfVP09aDOBt-iA

Image Credits

N/A