We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jai Casso a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Casso, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with important influences in our lives. Is there a historical figure you look up to?

There are so many people that have inspired me to think, to create, to stand for something and I am truly grateful to all I’ve ever been inspired by. One of my biggest inspirations and great teachers would have to be the late Nipsey Hussle. He demonstrated a beautiful metaphor for the life of the lotus flower and how to defy the restrictions your environment creates. Nip taught me to take risk, to stand for what I believe in, speak my truth and have discernment on my journey. I’m grateful to have resonated with such a soul his demise was heartbreaking to say the least but energy never dies and in his words THE MARATHON CONTINUES ….

Casso, 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?

Peace creative world, I’m Casso a multidisciplinary artist spending most of my energy on mastering poetry and visual arts. I’m currently residing in Georgia but I’ve always been a traveler, a wonderer, & a seeker. I believe these qualities are part of what make me the creative I am. I’ve found many ways to define/redefine what that means to me. I put down the basketball & picked up the camera. I took what I was writing to myself and shared it on a mic, 2017 changed my life. That year I made a turn on my journey towards self discovery, self education and entrepreneurship. That turn came with a lot of growth to endure. Five years later this camera has offered me more opportunities than I could imagine. My voice and the ability to articulate my mission in rooms I don’t have the physical credentials for has allowed me to equally engage with great leaders and teachers. The intention then and now is the same; reveal the creative truth. To show people and even myself an authentic reflection of who we are through my lens and my pin. In terms of problem solving, I do my best to create intentional concepts that relate and resonate with my clients personally. I create a safe an open environment for them to be their complete selves during the shoot, and apply all I learn in their presence to the editing of the content. I am driven by the moments of depth and clarity. I’m proud of how I’ve maintained my integrity no matter how difficult things have gotten. I didn’t take shortcuts; I knew the risk; I watered the seeds and I gave my all intentionally. As a result, a shoot with me is a moment to be present, to be grateful, & to be watered.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience has been the theme of this entire journey I decided to embark on. Anyone fighting for something is one of the greatest tools of mental strength and a physical example of manifesting. In 2017 I decided formal schooling was no longer for me, this was a tough decision. Without disappointing anyone, I had a goal and thought it was necessary to achieve for success & recognition. Resilience test #1 Will you take the path less traveled when the world around you is saying you’re going the wrong way? While on that college campus something shifted in me, and I unlocked my power not in the classroom but just amongst my peers on the quad. Even they didn’t understand but I knew what I had to do. I was being called to be an example and I wasn’t going to back down from that. Everything I thought I wanted was a thing of the past. The person I thought I was, she was gone. I was beginning to seek knowledge on my own merit, I was more present than ever. I felt connected to God in a whole new way. I awakened to myself beyond all the conditioning and standards and I fell in love with that girl. Quotes and proverbs have always deeply resonated with me and given me much needed perspective and peace. This single quote “Would you rather be at peace with the world and at war with yourself or be at peace with yourself and at war with the world?” this quote gave me the only answer I needed. When I choose myself the path became lonely and lacked luxuries. I told myself I would only work for me from now on and I had no idea how hard that would be. I had only faith, my creative currency, and a mother who loved me. I thought with my new found perspective I’d be self sufficient and successful quickly. That first year I moved from Florida, to Colorado, to Michigan, and back home to Georgia by the end the year. Every place I went I thought I was staying so I planted seeds. I meet people, I created with them and I explored as much as I could. I made what I did that year flipping sneakers and basically selling my own sneaker collection just to stay afloat. The visuals made me a total of $215 dollars my first two years, yes 2 YEARS and everyone told me to just get a job to support the dream. Well I was determine to create for myself, determine to show them it was possible. Resilience test #2 will you stay dedicated even when you don’t see profit from your investment and the world around you is saying let it go?

Year 3 I made $2,000. I’ve increased my profit by at least double every year since. I still don’t make enough to fully live off my art but being determine to only do what I love has led me to a content creator position at a Creative Agency. This job allows me to practice my craft, make connections, and invest in the stories I still want to tell. I turned down opportunities to be places I knew wouldn’t fulfill me, I turned down projects that paid well but lacked integrity. I walked away from what everyone told me was safe and I choose uncertainty. Five years later things are very different, some of those same people that doubted my steps are now inspired. Those people that told me to take a different route are now asking me for directions and advice. I’m no longer the kid with a camera and some crazy dream. I’m now the young woman with the resources and connections to create on a high professional level. Evolution is eternal and beyond any specific craft thats what I chose. At every level I’m met with new forms of resistance and adjusting. People have told me that dropping out of school would create a pattern of giving up. I don’t believe that, I think it taught me how to let go of places I’ve outgrown based off my own perspective. Resilience test #3 Can you say a humble student as the lessons you once learned you now teach?

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

When I create there is a sacred place I end up right in the middle of, something like a dream. In this place everything just makes sense, there’s no judgement, no time and no pressure. I call this place, the flow and in the flow all things are possible and all ideas are accessible. This place isn’t tangible yet it is vast. The access to this place would have to be the most rewarding thing about being a creative to me. It’s like you’re being trusted with valuable information but its up to you to relay that information for a purpose that you may not see initially. It’s hard to talk about because you really have to experience it to understand. I know anyone who creates intentionally amongst all crafts knows exactly what I’m talking about.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: capturedbycasso
• Youtube: CassoVisions

Image Credits
Kae, ApexVizuals, and Clarity Studios