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

Jaylynn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Ever since I was nine I have wanted to be a full time photographer. I have always been a very career driven person always looking for ways to learn, grow, and complete my goals. Realistically I knew I needed multiple jobs to get to a point where I can be fully remote, and full time photo. I taught myself photography at a very young age (learning on film), but then also taught myself graphic design at the age of twelve on a family trip through the Midwest (where I am from). By the time I got to college I was a tad too advanced for my graphic design and photo courses, and I had to also get a job. At one point I had two jobs, three internships, while being a full time honors college student. One of my internships was paid graphic design/marketing for the fourth largest printing company in North America, and another was unpaid photo internship an hour and half away for the NBA/WNBA local team. Upon 2016 graduation I moved to North Carolina, with all my years of experience in photo and graphics I was able to solidify a Directorial Digital Media role at the age of 23 for a sports team, while also signing a contract to shoot all the local teams on nights and weekends. After having many other leadership graphic design roles not in sports to make my work well rounded, but still shooting sports, brands, engagements, etc on nights and weekends I was finally able to make the switch. Over 10 years in the making in 2020 (very ironic but just before the world did it), I was able to be remote. But then and to this day I still do freelance graphic design, adding in social media, while also photographing. It took many, years and lots of hard work to get to this point but I am still learning the balance, budgeting, taking projects that are meaningful but also can help pay the bills, and learning what my value is.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jaylynn Nash and I am a Canon Professional sports photographer in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area, but cover all over. It has been a blessing to be able to travel for clients all over the US. I have been photographing for 10+ years not just sports but also brands, engagements, families, etc.

I have extensive experience in covering professional sports, minor/junior leagues, college level, and youth. I have covered NBA, WNBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, MLS, Red Bull Crashed Ice, NASCAR, INDYCAR, NCAA (including local ACC games and ACC Championships), and my work has been featured on ESPN, Getty Images, Sports Illustrated, The Washington Post, USA Today, The New York Times, NFL, SB Nation, Forbes, NHL, the Canes hockey mural at the RDU Airport, billboards, Canes marketing materials, Canes socials, along with Capitals, Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Rangers, Pittsburgh Steelers, ACC, NC State, Duke, Wake Forest,Clemson, and other teams. To add, I have also worked full-time in some of those leagues listed above in the graphics/digital marketing department, so I understand how the Creative Services department runs. Some of my clients include the NHL Carolina Hurricanes, Atlantic Coastal Conference, NC State Athletics, Duke Athletics, Wake Forest Athletics, NASCAR, INDYCAR, USA Today, North Carolina Football Club, Bauer Hockey, Brown, Notre Dame and more. All of which would gladly recommend me for creative coverage of your team. To add, I have done media day set up and do own lights, a 9ft white background/stands, etc, and have had to follow the guidelines ESPN wanted for me when I photographed the players. Finally, I have done many media days in the past for different pro leagues so I am familiar with the needs of a creative/ marketing team if that is of interest ever as well, and have traveled safely for events.

Not only have I covered some of the top sports, but I also have covered for popular brands in the US as well as helped many startups with delivering them their first digital content needs. Some brands/fashion I have covered for are Bauer Hockey, Mott and Bow (NY Based), Blue Shark Vodka, LSKD (large Australia brand), UNRL.co (popular MN Clothing Brand), Medlies formally Zupa Noma (sold at Whole Foods), The Mayton Inn-Hotel, byNiche (NY Brand), Team IFA, Tin Roof-Raleigh, TrueRest-Cary, and for Metta World Peace’s clothing company. All of which dealt with models, influencers, and well-known athletes.

Although it all needs to be updated with most recent work; you can view my photography, where my photography has been featured at https://www.jaylynnnash.com/#work-photo or my Instagram @photography_by_jaylynn.

Jaylynn Nash
www.jaylynnnash.com
@photography_by_jaylynn
@JaylynnNash-TikTok

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Not to sound cliché but I have been saying it for years, the reaction to my work. Whether it be my graphics, socials, or photo, the initial reaction negative or positive is the best growing experience you will ever have. Intake what is given to you, decipher what you need to hear (not what you want), and take action. Never in a million years would I believe that I would have murals in an airport, billboards around a city, murals in and outside a stadium, books, magazines, etc! While social and web is rewarding, print is rare. All of that happened based off a reaction to my work and what actions were taken after not just from me but the client as well.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

What I say all the time is when I was an intern at 19, I wished I had intake more. You are learning so much, and so much is thrown at you while also trying to prove yourself I just went quiet. I wished I would have spoken up more, asked more questions, talked to people more. Now days there are programs that help you excel in the sports industry and people wanting to help you as well. Programs that go beyond an internship and groups of people who have been in the industry for years! While I am truly thankful and still talk to those who have given me advice and trained me, just wished I asked the questions back then instead of having to relearn it all when I am older.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jaylynnnash.com
• Instagram: @photography_by_jaylynn
• Facebook: Photography by Jaylynn
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaylynnnash/
• Twitter: JaylynnNash
• Other: Jaylynn.Nash on TikTok (13k+ followers)

Image Credits
Jaylynn Nash LLC