We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lilli Summers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lilli below.

Alright, Lilli thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Do what you love & it’ll never feel like work…I live & breathe by this statement.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life since the age of twelve. Photography felt so natural to me, & not because I thought I was perfect for it, but more like it was perfect for me. We went hand-in-hand, inseparable from the start. Over time, all things visual media (video, editing & graphic design) went under my umbrella of skills, all leading back to my eye for composition & color. I’ve fallen in love with observing people through a lens, connecting with their vision & reflecting their joy & happiness on camera. I cannot imagine myself any happier than I am right now, doing what I love, never feeling like I’m working.

I’ve truly never thought about anything else. When asked if I’ve ever considered what it would be like to have a “regular’ job, I truly have no answer other than there is no alternative, there is no other job. The freelance world is unforgiving, & there are times I’ve wished for something that offers better security…but at the end of the day, life is too short to not do what you love.
This is it, baby. It’s cameras & me forever.

Lilli, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Lilli Summers of Summers’ Media & visual creativity is my bread & butter!

I specialize in all things visual media: photography, videography, social media, website design, graphic design…you name it. Working with a camera isn’t just my passion, it’s my purpose.

I grew up as a military brat, moving to 7 states before settling in Wilmington in 2019. This constant shift in stability gave me an eye for observation, so when I was gifted my first camera at the age of twelve, it was love at first click.
After graduating film school, I founded Summers’ Media to take charge of my own life & career as a young woman in an incredibly male-dominated field.

Now, I work with small businesses & individuals across Wilmington to bring their creative visions to life, using every tool in my visual media arsenal. Whether it’s a brand video for a startup, a new website refresh for a small business, or just a few unique headshots, I can make any abstract idea come to life!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

It’s so easy to try to be someone else. To emulate after another, take their ideas, strive to be someone you’re not.
The photography profession lives off comparison & competition. Every day, my goal is to be me, to not try to take after another creative, never use AI. What makes you special is YOUR talent, YOUR experience, YOUR eye. There is so much work available, & if someone is hiring you, it’s because they want YOU!
There is no one else like you, so be you every single day.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Connection.
An essential piece of client work that people often neglect isn’t the job itself, but rather the connection between the creative & the client. Anyone can pick up a camera & take a picture, but it takes a true creative to listen to the client, understand their story & reflect their vision.

Talking to people was my biggest fear growing up, & it took working with kids for me to understand what the purpose of communication is all about: connection. Most people want to be heard & understood; so I stopped thinking so much about myself & instead, I saw every conversation as a new way to connect.

The most rewarding feedback I can ever receive is “You understand me.” Photography has such a way of making people feel special, & when the creative understands the client, then the photos become more authentic. THAT is my favorite part. Seeing a photo that’s not just a photo, but rather a true reflection of the character I’ve connected with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lilsummersmedia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilsummersmedia/