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

Hi Justin, thanks for 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 learned by going out there and making mistakes. Knowing what I know now I definitely would’ve learned the business side a little better, I still have some learning to do but that would’ve been my main focus going into photography for sure. Networking and studying the craft hands down. There aren’t too many obstacles in terms of learning more about the craft, but I will say that if you don’t know something, 9 times out of 10 there is somebody in that field that can help you.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those who don’t know me my name is Justin Tomlin, I’m from Jacksonville, Florida and I specialize in portrait, editorial, and street photography. The thing that sets me apart from others is my ability to make something out of nothing and just my vision overall. I’m most proud of my recent project ‘Deeply Rooted’ alongside a good friend of mine, Ebony McKnight. The main thing I want people who’ve been following me and my journey and even the new people is that my work is going to get better every time and that I want to challenge myself as well.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’m trying to do my first solo exhibit in the near future. So with all the projects I’m taking on now or even personal work I’m doing, that’ll inspire the stuff you see within that exhibit.

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

Inspiring people. Whether it’s through the actual work their seeing or me just going out there and putting in the work, I think that’s the most rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.justintomlin.com
• Instagram: @jvstindgaf

Image Credits
Personal shot by Ebony McKnight/ @shawtyeb on Instagram