We recently connected with Jessica Vass and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jessica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?

I received a BFA in Photography from Georgia State University with the intent to become a full-time photographer… as most photo graduates expect. However, I interned for WarnerMedia on their photo team and was exposed to several other job opportunities within the industry that are not discussed in a fine art college program. I was able to get an understanding of what the photo world looks like at a corporate level, and I was able to open my mind to alternative careers in the industry. Most creative fields do not have clear career paths. So I love that I am not tied to one job title in this industry. I am diverse in my skillsets and believe that my passion for photography will take me where I am supposed to go.

Jessica, 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 currently work full-time as an Associate Photography Producer for a global advertising agency. I work with clients like Mattel Barbie, ALDI, Beam, Angostura, Kellogg’s, KRAFT, and Netflix. In my current role, I search for the best creatives for a shoot and book freelancers, create schedules and call sheets, manage lunches and logistics on set, and handle all the finances of a shoot from bidding, expensing, and wrapping a project. I work on location in a photo studio with a group of creatives, and we love doing fun test shoots. One of my favorite benefits of the job is that I get to use our space for my personal projects. This leads me to my “side hustle” as some might call it. I love portrait photography and editorial work, and I still enjoy making fine art. While I don’t want to pursue being a fine artist, I am interested in developing my commercial portfolio of work. I love to be behind the camera and am always looking for those opportunities when I’m not working as a producer. I am thankful that my professional producing experience has provided the skills and confidence for my projects. So with that said, I have a diverse set of interests. You might find me photographing my friends in the studio, working with an up-and-coming model on the streets of Chicago, or working on a fun, colorful product shot. My interests behind the camera are evolving as I move, change, and grow. I’m only a few years out of college and am looking forward to the many opportunities that will come.

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As I was in college and fresh out of college, many of my friends didn’t understand the creative industry. They would ask how my job search was going. Even though I was freelancing on different projects, my friends thought I needed a full-time job. Many career paths do not result in a 9-5 M-F job, but society looks down upon many who don’t fit within that box because they simply don’t understand. I’d encourage people to be supportive of young creatives in their life. If they are passionate about their art, encourage them to do whatever it takes to pursue that. Maybe that looks like taking a part-time job to fund their work, or living with family for a bit until they can build enough connections to work as a freelancer.

Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?

Yes- my full-time job! Being young in the creative field is scary. Going full-time freelance is a roller coaster that I’m not ready for. I imagine that one day I will have the confidence, funds, and portfolio to invest in my business, but for now, my business is my side hustle and I am content with that.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.jessvass.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessvass/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-vass/