We recently connected with Lany-Jade Mondou and have shared our conversation below.

Lany-Jade, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s easy to look at a business or industry as an outsider and assume it’s super profitable – but we’ve seen over and over again in our conversation with folks that most industries have factors that make profitability a challenge. What’s biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

I have always had difficulty charging for my services because, first and foremost, I’ve always felt like an impostor. Let me explain. It took me a while to discover my artistic aspirations in life. I’ve always been drawn to beautiful images, beauty in general, and I’ve always had a knack for managing projects or even creating them. However, I had never done it professionally before. When I started my bachelor’s degree in television at university, I discovered a passion for directing and photography. But, well, when you enter this wonderful artistic world at the age of 36, there are certainly many more talented people out there than you, and making your place can be intimidating.

I’m fortunate to have my partner in the music industry, and I had the opportunity to practice my skills by managing his artistic career, such as taking his press photos, writing press releases, handling radio tracking, and treating his songs as my own directorial projects by writing music videos and bringing them to life. I orchestrated all aspects of his creative work (photography, music videos, animations for Canvas, album covers, and much more).

Afterward, I began taking on small projects like this for other independent artists, which gradually led to the day when I was told I should start charging because, well, I need to make a living too :) But that’s where the impostor syndrome sets in. I never feel professional enough or good enough to charge for my services… in short, it’s still a struggle today. I constantly tell myself that I’m doing it for free to make contacts, build my portfolio, and learn even more… and in the end, I can’t bring myself to charge for my time and work. :)

Lany-Jade, 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 social media handle is @lany_jade, and I’m an artistic director, photographer, and digital colorist in the music industry. I entered the artistic industry after returning to school for media creation. I fell in love with this limitless world of creativity and admired photographers and directors. I spent hours watching their work and dreamed of doing the same. When I was accepted into a television program at university, I learned a lot about the basics of artistic creation, such as software like Photoshop, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, and more. I enjoyed it.

My partner, who is a producer, songwriter, and performer known as “Sainte-Croix,” created a song one day titled “Fille/Garcon (feat. Virginie B).” I got involved and created a project with this song for a school assignment, which turned out to be a turning point in my career as an artist. I organized a collaboration with a singer and edited a music video using archive footage. I also handled the album cover design and promoted the song. It was at that moment that I fell in love with music videos, and it became my professional goal.

Since then, I have continued to manage all aspects of the artistic side of Sainte-Croix’s music career, and I also create artistic photographs. I completed a full internship in color grading at a production company because I love post-production, and I can now colorize music videos. In short, I am a multidisciplinary artist, and I would be delighted to assist you with your creative projects.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

What drives my days is pushing myself to excel. I constantly compare myself to other creators and practice extensively. I would like to gain enough self-confidence to overcome my impostor syndrome. Of course,I hope to have enough clientele to make a living from my work by the end of my high school graduation in April. It does stress me out a bit, but everything I’m gaining as experience right now motivates me to surpass myself and gain recognition from my peers. That’s really the goal that motivates my creative days.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I began building my presence on social media when I realized it was creating a certain level of recognition for me. I started honing my photography skills right from the beginning by launching my blog on Instagram, and it’s truly this platform that has allowed me to grow alongside my followers. Initially, I filled my Instagram blog with things I was passionate about, such as nutrition and the environment. However, through my subscribers and my experiences as an influencer, I discovered that what I enjoyed most on Instagram was taking photos and seeing people’s reactions. It might sound a bit strange, but this recognition motivated me to push myself, and it’s really my community that helped me realize what I truly wanted to do in life.

As the years have passed, my community has become more focused on my creative interests, such as music, radio personalities, television, directors, photographers, and other creators who inspire me day by day. Instagram allows me to find inspiration, connect with fellow creators, and has now become a showcase for my work. I believe that social media is essential for artists in today’s world. One piece of advice I could give is to be consistent on social media and connect with people who share your interests, even if they are on the other side of the world. You never know who knows who and who might be able to help you one day. :) It has helped me tremendously, not to mention the visibility it brings when you approach potential clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lanyjade.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lany_jade/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitsansviande?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lany-jade-mondou-8b203659/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2C8Xl3SQ8w5zTrD3yjDuA

Image Credits
All the photos are of me I am the photographer or the creator. ( Lany_Jade)