We recently connected with Jeremiah Corder and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jeremiah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

The kindest thing that’s ever been done for me… is the same thing that still happens to this day; someone has given me a chance.

I could go on and on about kindness that has been shown over the years, but the moment that mattered the most was a former boss who chose to take a chance on me as I was trying to get into the creative field.

I went to college for graphic design and photography. After college, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do. Yes, obviously, I wanted to find ways to use the creative skills I had so tirelessly worked on for the last 5 years. But mostly, I just wanted to figure out where I could belong.

The spring of 2017, I had just come out as openly gay. Every creative opportunity I had chosen to explore fell short until I took time to find my identity in my work. The more comfortable I became with myself, the more you could see me in the work. I decided to apply for a job in the advertising world and, mind you, this was certainly not my first try. Just like those creative opportunities before, I kept falling short. But this time — spring of 2017 — was different. I had gotten the job. And in no time, my new boss was telling me that he could see my personality shine in my work. He took a chance on me, and in turn, I took a chance on myself. I showed myself kindness. I gave myself the opportunity to be authentically me.

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

I love to frame my career in two sections. By day, I am a creative director in the advertising world focused on beauty brands, food and beverage, and a huge range of other random things! By night, I am a photographer focused on creating space for members of the LGBTQ+ community to shine — from drag queens, to body builders, to burlesque and men’s boudoir. The most enjoyable moments are when I get to bring my two worlds together and help local, queer businesses create content that showcases their own craft!

I’ve been doing some combination of these things for the last 10 years. I consider myself a queer creator on a mission to give space back to individuals who maybe haven’t been given that space ever, or even allow individuals time to just highlight themselves authentically.

A large portion of my recent work has been surrounded in men’s boudoir; I strive to create a safe space for all men of any sexuality to express themselves and have images they can look back on one day as a snapshot of the NOW.

I am proud of the work I create. I am proud of the work that I still have yet to create. And truthfully, it just goes back to taking a chance. I ask current and future clients to take a chance on me with creating that safe space. And I ask them to take a chance on themselves by showcasing their authenticity.

A little glitter. A little glue. And a whole lot of fun.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

It all comes full circle. I put time, effort and care into everything I create, photography or otherwise. I strive to create these spaces where clients feel comfortable to ask questions, collaborate, brainstorm, talk shop and heavily caffeinate! In turn, they’ve helped me build a reputation within the Denver creative scene. It is so wildly important that your clients, and friends, share their experiences with your business. They’ve done that for me, and it’s allowed me to keep going year after year.

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

There is absolutely nothing I love more than when I get a text message, or DM, or IG story exclaiming how much someone has loved their session with me and their images. There is truly no greater feeling than being able to witness someone who gets to see themselves through someone else’s eyes. And for some of my clients, it feels like their first time. I do what I do, especially when it comes to portrait photography, solely because of the amazing individuals I get the chance to work with. The incredible talents, and stories, and ideas from people in the queer community take my breath away every time, and I just feel so thankful to have every single one of these opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jeremiahcorder.com
• Instagram: jeremiahcorder
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiahcorder/

Image Credits
Headshot is by Kyla Fear