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

Ja’lia, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I mostly learned my craft through trial and error. When I first purchased my camera, I thought that was all I needed to do. I was taking pictures in auto-mode for about 5 years before I actually learned how to use my camera manually. It wasn’t until I began to reach out to other photographers for assistance that I learned photography is about more than buying expensive equipment. It doesn’t matter if you have an iPhone, the magic is in the person, not the item.

Ja’lia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a Photographer, Videographer, Creative Director, and Certified Image Consultant. I took interest in this field at the later stages of my modeling career, mostly because of discomfort due to majority of photographers being male. I wanted to provide that safe space, not only to myself, but to other women that hold themselves back from pursuing certain goals due to lack of a comfortable environment. Over time, my interest pivoted from photos to videos. I enjoy the process of creating, recreating, and directing music videos and short films. It really gives me the opportunity to delve into my creative side, as oppose to repetitive photoshoots. As for Image Consulting, I’m just great at giving advice lol. I’ve lived so many lives and worn so many hats that problem solving and pattern recognition is second nature for me.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Having a job as a business owner is frowned upon, but it’s how I was able to fund my career. A lot of people think you start a business then BOOM, you’re rich, but that’s just not how it works. Unfortunately for me, I was not born into wealth so I had to work to maintain myself and my business. While other people may have used the extra money they had, after paying bills, to party or shop, I used mine to buy equipment and fund my vision. It took a while, a few years actually, and I’m still not done, but I have the privilege of saying I did it on my own. I don’t owe anyone.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the freedom of expression. We don’t always express ourselves through words, in fact, 55 percent of all communication is nonverbal. It’s not always easy to explain how I feel and my art allots me the opportunity to do just that. Some people express themselves through music, poetry, dancing, painting, writing, and even fashion; for me, I let my carefully curated and creatively directed photos and videos convey the story that I’m unable to verbally tell.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://iamjaliamarie.com
• Instagram: @JaliaMarieProductions
• Facebook: Ja’lia Marie
• Twitter: @iAmJaliaMarie
• Youtube: @iAmJaliaMarie

Image Credits

Ja’lia Marie Productions LLC