We recently connected with Isaac Jones and have shared our conversation below.

Isaac, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

When it comes to photography, I do not have any formal training. I received my first camera as a gift when I graduated college. From there, I started taking my camera everywhere I went, and I would ask as many questions as possible to anyone who would listen.

Since then, I have spent a lot of time shadowing other photographers that I find inspiring, reading various books, and watching a lot of YouTube videos on different topics related to the camera. I also try to photograph as often as I can, as I believe practice makes perfect. Every time I shoot, it is an opportunity to practice and get better, and I have learned a lot of tips and tricks through experience alone.

If I could go back and speed up my process, I would have either participated some level of formal training, or I would have shadowed even more photographers early on. I have been very lucky to be guided by some amazing, welcoming photographers, and I wish I had reached out to more even earlier.

As for the most essential skills, I believe the two most essential skills to have and learn are simply a passion to create and an understanding of lighting. I think you can make incredible photographs if you have those two skills.

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?

Absolutely! I am James Isaac Jones Photography, but I go by Isaac Jones.

I am a Nashville-based photographer who specializes in creative portraits. I can photograph almost anything (headshots, events, weddings, maternity, album covers, etc), but I love capturing people with my camera. Anytime I am working with creative people on an interesting idea, I feel alive.

I have been a photographer for almost ten years now, which is wild to me. I started with photography after receiving a camera as a graduation present, and I have been working in the creative industry ever since. I first started by simply photographing all my travel and asking my friends to let me take their photographs. From there, I started networking and working with different businesses, models, musicians, etc, and everything has just built up from there.
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With my photography, I operate with three guidelines:

1. Safety First – There should be no hospital visits resulting from a photoshoot, and we want to avoid interactions with Law Enforcement as much as possible. I also highly encourage the buddy system, and people are always welcome to bring a friend when they come shoot.

2. Collaborate – We are creating together, and I want people to be an active part of the creative process. I encourage every client to share their ideas, inspiration and input!

3. Be Comfortable – Whether its concept or temperature, I want to make sure my clients are comfortable at all times.

If we follow those three rules, and a client walks away feeling like they had a fun and welcoming experience, then I believe I have succeed as a photographer. Taking an incredible photograph is just icing on the cake.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my audience on social media through what my wife calls “social media networking.”

Everyday, I take intentional time to follow more people on social media. I use hashtags, connections, and location services, to follow between ten and twenty new people every day to grow my reach.

On top of intentionally following people, I honestly try to comment and interact with work that I really like and appreciate. I am never afraid to simply comment that a picture is amazing or how something inspired me.

Finally, when I am not on social media, I have always loved asking questions to people. I love asking any type of question, from ridiculous “would you rathers” to simply asking the question “why?” Because I already love asking questions, I have built those questions into how I create my social media presence.

I don’t know if this will apply to anyone else, but it is what has worked well for me.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

There is a quote that I think sums up the most rewarding aspect of being a creative:

“To live in the world of creation – to get into it and stay in it – to frequent it and haunt it – to think intently and fruitfully – to woo combinations and inspirations into being by a depth and continuity of attention and mediation – this is the only thing.”

Contact Info:

• Website: jonesjamesisaac.com
• Instagram: @jonesjamesisaac

Image Credits
Picture of me was taken by Clark Cold Visual (@clarkcold on Instagram)