We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jaelan Mitchell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jaelan below.
Alright, Jaelan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
I think the best invest is not wasting your investment. When I started my photography journey, my first goal was to make back the money of all my equipment in that same summer. I got my first camera in May, made all my money back by end of July. My investment turned into profit. Unfortunately, my birthday was the next month so I used the profit for that instead of re-investing into my passion. I was 17 at the time so it was a great learning lesson for me because a month later I left an lens at the Jordan All-American game. Luckily, my mother put insurance on all my equipment so I didn’t have to come too much out of pocket to get that same lens back. I say all that to say what you invest in is important, regardless if its your passion, friendships/relationships, other jobs, etc. It’s time you can never get back, make the most of it and regret nothing
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Jaelan Mitchell. I’m a photographer and music artist from Brooklyn, NY and PG County, MD. I come from a very creative and entrepreneurial family. My family is heavy into music so I listened to pretty much everything from Gospel, Rap, R&B, and Jazz. Photography was an passed on trait from my mother, she was big on capturing moments of me growing up. We have at least 15-20 photos albums of old family photos. All that inspired me to want to capture moments.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I was deeply immersed in basketball, to the extent that if someone from the future had told me I’d be on this path, I wouldn’t have believed them. I had complete faith that I was destined for success in collegiate basketball until an injury during my sophomore year of high school abruptly altered my course. During that period of recovery, I discovered my dormant creative talents. I found a genuine passion for music and embraced my budding interest in photography. The subsequent summer, I diligently saved up funds and acquired my inaugural photography kit, marking the inception of a journey that continues to unfold
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
I’m actively engaged in the grassroots aspect of my work. A significant portion of my client base originates from referrals or previous projects. Frequently, I’m out and about with my camera, capturing moments, and it’s not uncommon for individuals to approach me, inquiring about my services. I often seek out local events to document and promote my work. Additionally, I proactively extend my services to acquaintances through family and friends, leveraging my network to build a diverse portfolio. While it’s a rarity for prospective clients to initiate contact with me through social media, I’m consistently focused on expanding my reach and showcasing my skills
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idigitalarts/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_kiyTImsYgJjg52hpEBbw