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

Ian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To me, success isn’t a singular point of existence. It’s a mindset, state of being, and lifelong journey. We all experience and describe success differently.

In order to be successful, we need to define and visualize our goals + dreams. With that in mind, we can then work toward completing said goals. From there, we can then continue to reflect on our progress, and set new goals! It’s cyclical. If we meet our own personal criteria of success, then that’s what it takes to be successful!

If we zoom out a bit, many people refer to tenets of success such as personal fulfillment, financial stability, self-awareness, etc. They’re important for a reason and hold value. While I believe success is more flexible in terms of what defines it, I still find value and importance in commonly held beliefs toward it.

Ian, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hey there, I’m Ian Bell! I’m a Photographer + Video Creator based out of Baltimore, MD. I’ve been in this industry for 6+ years and have enjoyed the challenges, successes, obstacles, victories and failures I’ve experienced.

My creative career began with music. I’m a musician and had the opportunity to tour as a hired drummer with a band. We toured the entire US for 40 days. During that journey, I met a lot of entrepreneurs and young creative minds who inspired me to take a leap of faith. At the time I wanted to become a YouTuber, with drumming being one of the focuses of my channel. I knew I’d need a camera to create content, so that was the first step. Surprisingly enough, I found myself enjoying taking photos more and more. Eventually, it transitioned into doing paid work for photo, eventually incorporating video.

I offer creative Photo + Video work for individuals, brands, businesses, and couples! My work (aside from weddings) is to help promote brand awareness and provide value to whoever the client is. Most of my work is intended for social media, website, and advertising use. Anything from shooting promo material for a music artist, to doing headshots for a law firm, to create Instagram Reels/TikToks for a Hair Salon, my goal is to help others be successful and profitable. When it comes to weddings, I focus on documenting a story of an important, special day. The goal is to provide long-lasting memories that couples can look back on fondly.

My personality and mindset toward this career set me apart from others. I’m focused on providing value to others, ensuring they’re confident + comfortable, and helping them grow with a genuine approach. Yes, this career pays my bills and is my main source of income. But, chasing money with the sole intention of being wealthy doesn’t yield a positive result. I want to do well in life while others succeed as well. Fulfillment is something we all want to experience, so if I can assist someone with that journey I’m all about it. I enjoy being light-hearted and fun, while also focusing on being professional and completing tasks. I firmly believe you get better results when everyone is in a positive headspace and ready to do their best.

I’m grateful to be where I am currently. I have a wife and two kids (and a dog!) that I can provide for. I’m able to go on new adventures every week. I meet new people all the time and have the opportunity to learn from them. I’m faced with creative challenges that force me to grow as a person.

I’d like potential clients/followers to know that I’m just like you: a human being. I’m invested in personal growth and fulfillment. I want to learn about your goals and dreams so that I can provide value on your journey. I also like to have a lot of fun and don’t take life too seriously — being too serious can introduce too much stress. There is a balance of professionalism and fun that exists. They don’t have to be separate concepts. Thanks for listening!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When I started my business, I was balancing working full-time at a hotel and slowly introducing freelance work into my off-days. My wife has always worked full-time along with me. Additionally, my wife already had a starter camera for me to learn from. It was perfect for understanding the basics of photo/video. Eventually, I took a risk and left my job to freelance full-time. Full disclosure, the first 2 years of running my business was hard! VERY hard! We struggled at times, but I always hustled and pushed myself to provide for my family. As I continued to improve and learn, I was able to get more work, establish regular clientele, charge more for my services, etc.

Over time (even now) I gradually fund new purchases by putting away small amounts of money to gather in the long-term. I do a lot of research before purchasing products and am not afraid of buying pre-owned/used gear. You don’t always need the newest and shiniest item! Sure, sometimes it’s fun to invest in something brand new — I get it. But also realize the importance in restraint and choosing the best item for the job and for your long-term sustainability.

I recommend creating a Wish List and then a Practical List separately. You can compare the two, mix-and-match, and figure out a good strategy for yourself. Don’t go into massive debt because gear looks cool. And don’t always think you need to purchase more gear! Renting is an affordable option too.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

There’s two key points to growing clientele + making connections:

1. Be good at what you do
2. Be a “cool hang”

Number 1 isn’t saying you have to be the best. Not at all. Work hard, keep learning, and be GOOD at what you do.

Number 2 refers to being a “normal” and likable person. I know, it’s subjective. But it boils down to being genuine, be relatively pleasant and easy to talk to. You don’t need to be super extroverted and excited, or super stern and commanding. Just be yourself, be efficient, and throw away ego. I’d say that this key point is the most important one! Clients in any industry want positive, high-quality results. But they also want the process of achieving said results to be smooth and stress-free.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ianjaredbell.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ianjaredbell
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ianjaredbell
• Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@ianbellmusic