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

Hails, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I knew young, but it took me a while to figure out what my title was.

My story begins in middle school. I attended Meyerland Middle School (MPVA) in Houston, TX when it was still called Johnston and it’s where for three years I fell in love with creating art. This continued throughout high school. I went to HSPVA when they had their campus in Montrose and then finished senior year in the new building downtown. That’s where fell in love with story telling.

I knew I was an artist then, but I wasn’t sure how I wanted to make money with these skills. I just knew I could and would.

I decided well, if I went to an art middle and high school then I might as well keep it rolling and go to an arts college. I’m a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, where I earned a BFA in Film and Television with a Minor in Dramatic Writing. And regardless of my BFA I worked as a freelance photographer, designer, and filmmaker.

All I knew was I loved bringing ideas… Mine or anyone else’s to life.

In 2019, during my first semester of college, I joined Reeno Studios as an Assistant Designer. I’ve helped and watched that brand go from 20k followers to over 74k on Instagram. And have been apart of 4 major clothing releases and several digital design assets. The owner, Samuel Mazzarino, is a great inspiration of mine. Despite being a year younger than me (haha), he’s paved a beautiful path into his artistic scene and culture in streetwear and design.

I would say Summer 2019 is when I knew. It’s when all the pieces fell together. I called it my three pronged plan which included: Film, Creative Direction, and Music. And imagine if you will, a three pronged fork. Eventually those prongs combine into one to form the handle. The handle was seeing all of my experience, knowledge, and connections turn into one. And then, create a nonprofit that supports young and underprivileged artist

I’ve had a very privileged artistic experience and I believe every creative kid should.

So, in Summer 2019, I made a checklist to make that happen.

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?

Hey there, I’m Hailey Joseph, though most folks just call me Hails. You know, like the stuff that falls from the sky, but plural (she/her). I’m a creative professional with a solid background in filmmaking, design, and photography, and my specialty lies in creative direction.

I’ve been roaming around the creative world for a good 11 years now, and not too long ago, I snagged my BFA in film and television from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Let’s break it down: my creative direction covers Photography, Filmmaking, Writing, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, and Ideation.

Now, the problems I tackle for my clients can vary. As a creative director, I help my clients navigate the intersections of art, commerce, and culture. But sometimes, folks just need art, so I whip up something special for them.

I’m really proud of the connections I’ve built. Honestly, I’ve battled depression—yeah, the kind where leaving your bed feels like climbing Everest and making breakfast requires a to-do list reminder. But here’s the thing: I wouldn’t have this amazing support system if I hadn’t learned to support myself first. Managing my symptoms and understanding they don’t diminish my worth has been key.

What matters most to me when working with clients, friends, or anyone who supports my work, is seeing them grow too. Whether it’s helping someone boost their business with new headshots, a logo redesign, or hooking them up with extra hands, count me in. It’s not about the cash flow—it comes and goes—it’s about those moments when past clients drop a line or share their success stories. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I’m all over this question! Let me spill a little secret. Unless you’re out to pioneer uncharted territory, most of the time, the info you need to get it done is right there, nestled in Books, videos, or maybe just a free class away.

Now, let me dish out some amazing resources that have lit a fire under me. And listen up, I get it, some of these gems might seem a bit old school. But trust me, with a sprinkle of adaptation to the present times, success is still within reach.

Books:

– “The Alchemist”
– “The Success Principles,” especially those chapters on: facing fears, affirmations, forming a Mastermind group, and setting measurable goals with specific deadlines (like turning “I’ll treat my employees better” into “I’ll acknowledge at least 6 employees for their contributions to the department by 5 pm this Friday”). Dropping some free knowledge here!
– “How To Win Friends And Influence People”

People:

– Inky Johnson
– Russ Vitale
– Samuel Mazzarino (check out his YouTube @reenostus)

And hey, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve got a treasure trove of more goodies to share. So don’t hesitate to reach out and ask—I’ve got your back on the journey to success. You deserve success too.

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

I mentioned this before but my journey with depression is forever my greatest example of resilience.

I use to really like being alone and in my feels. So much so to the point I thought I was addict to sadness. Then, I’d just listen to sad music on random days even when I’m not sad so I can be sad. I had been dealing with depression for years so I felt like sadness really defined a deep rooted part of my life. At some point, I convinced myself that sadness was my comfort zone, mistaking familiarity for genuine solace. But I came to realize it wasn’t healthy.

My greatest form of resilience is that I’m still here when I thought I wouldn’t be, and I do things I love when I thought I’d never do them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hailsjsph.com/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hailsjsph/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hailsjsph/
• Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13183526/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_3_nm_5_q_hails

Image Credits
Addison Rudicile