We were lucky to catch up with Luke Stage recently and have shared our conversation below.
Luke, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
Throughout my early career, I learned as much as I could from online resources and other like-minded creatives in the industry. Personally, I am self-taught and have pulled techniques, tricks, and practices from other individuals and platforms. I have found that being self-taught is a lot of shooting in the dark, but I believe that it is one of the best ways to learn and grow personally!
Knowing what I know now, I definitely shouldn’t have been as afraid to reach out to others in the beginning for insight / education! It is surprising how many creatives are actually willing to give up their time for you and become a friendly catalyst to help you succeed.
Learning how to stay mentally positive is an essential skill that any creative needs in their tool bag. There are an endless amount of times when we feel lonely, un-worthy, lost, and even broke! It is definitely an in-consistent journey but eventually it all pays off. So, I believe that keeping your mind, body, and spirit healthy is an essential skill set for any artist.
One specific obstacle that stood in the way of me learning more was myself. There were a lot of times (and even still) that I find myself comfortable right where I am at. Due to this, I think it is valuable to recognize when you are overly comfortable and to then begin branching out of that safe space. To consistently educate yourself or be educated only results in growth for both yourself and your business!
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?
The reason I found and became so passionate for photography is because I loved the way photos made me feel. The whole aesthetic of the imagery took over my headspace. After I was gifted my first camera for Christmas at 17, I knew that I wanted to pursue the art of taking photos.
I am a portrait photographer and primarily work with influencers, models, businesses and brands! I am passionate about creative concepts and reflecting my personal taste into my work. Telling a story visually is my favorite part of photography, I want clients to “feel” something when they view my work.
I believe that my young spirit and drive for success in this industry sets myself apart from others. I am 19 years old and have a future ahead of me to continue growing and perfecting my craft. I am definitely proud of the path I have chosen to take in life and am hopeful for the future!
The main thing I would like anyone to know about my brand is that by hiring me, you will not only receive a shoot and creative images, but a personal relationship (with me) and a set of photos that will tell your personal story & brand!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative & specifically a photographer is the ability to capture someone’s moment in time. I am quite literally “freezing a moment in time” and that feeling is indescribable. After a few years I have created so many relationships, these have ranged from strictly professional to extremely personable. Regardless, all of these relationships have taught me something and led me to the next opportunity. Being able to share other’s stories with the rest of the world creatively is my favorite part of this profession.
How did you build your audience on social media?
My biggest lesson that I learned from social media is that it can be your most powerful resource if used properly. Initially, I wanted to post anything and everything on my Instagram. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing and it definitely helps you become seen when you are fresh on the scene, however, I learned that after a certain point only posting my best work is what would attract my dream clientele and personally make me proud!
One essential take-away from social media is to “Yes”, consistently post, but to ensure that we are only sharing the work that we are truly proud of with the rest of the world. This won’t only create a sense of honor for us creatives, but it reflects one’s personal brand and will attract the clients that they wish to shoot for!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.visualsaholic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualsaholic/
- Facebook: Visuals Aholic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukestage/
- Twitter: visualsaholic
- Other: Tik Tok: visualsaholic
Image Credits
Visuals Aholic