We recently connected with Monteiah Sian and have shared our conversation below.

Monteiah , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Expressing myself through art and creativity is fundamental to my identity. While receiving income from my creative endeavors brings immense satisfaction, as a mother, I occasionally wish for a more conventional, stable career path. Despite maintaining regular clients, there are months when financial stability feels uncertain. Yet, I remind myself that persistence pays off, reaffirming my commitment to photography. Reflecting on my journey from the beginning to now strengthens my resolve—I am inherently meant to be a creator. I refuse to divert my energy towards pursuits or jobs that lack fulfillment, even if they promise greater financial security.

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?

I’m Monteiah Sian—a Jersey legend, hot mom, and the icon with the Nikon. My photography journey started back in 2019 when I purchased my first camera. What started as a quest for a hobby as a new mom quickly evolved into an intense passion for capturing life, as I see it.

My cousin, Samad played a pivotal role in launching my photography career, with his brand Illegally Owned. Although it wasn’t entirely conventional having a new photographer as your principal photographer, it provided the perfect launchpad. With guidance from seasoned photographers like (Kharice, I owe you everything!), I rapidly honed my skills, building a solid portfolio in just a few short years.

Initially drawn to sports photography, fate intervened with COVID restrictions, redirecting my focus to portrait and editorial photography. With a natural eye for fashion and detail, shooting concepts dripping in luxury and glamour felt like second nature.

The unwavering support of clients who believed in me before I fully believed in myself has been key in my development. Words of encouragement like “You can do better” from Yohayra Azcona, owner of Azcona LLC, pushed me to exceed my own expectations time and time again.

In this budding stage of my career, I take immense pride in my consistency and growing confidence. I firmly believe greatness is my destiny, and every project I undertake reflects this belief. When clients return time and again, and my name resonates in rooms I’ve yet to set foot in, I know I’m on the right path.

Becoming a mom sparked a desire to be a role model my son could look up to with pride. Surrounding myself with nurturing influences that fuel my creativity has transformed me into someone we’re both proud of.

As I move forward, I remain dedicated, grateful, and eager to learn. The opportunities ahead are boundless, and I can’t wait to continue creating for a lifetime.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I love a good creative “self-help” book, but two have become my trusty companions: “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin and “Steal Like An Artist” by Austin Kleon. “The Creative Act” stands as my creative bible, offering me both the push I need to create and a wealth of short & sweet inspiring words. On the other hand, “Steal Like An Artist” has been a game-changer, providing invaluable insights into my own creative process. It reshaped my perspective, teaching me to see inspiration in everything and reminding me that anything can be art with the right perspective.

I consistently recommend these two books to all my creative friends. Exploring the approaches of influential artists in crafting their masterpieces can often ignite a spark of inspiration that we didn’t even realize we were missing.

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

Honestly, my social media presence was built by “going outside”. There’s no substitute for the authenticity and connection forged through in-person networking. Authenticity is paramount in my book. I feel like alot of social media is disingenuous but when you meet people in person, you can get more of a feel of who they really are. Being a bit of a social butterfly, I thrive in environments where I can just be myself and talk art, at some point during the conversation someone is inevitably gonna say “hey, what’s your ig?” and boom! You just got a new follower :)

Contact Info:

• Website: monteiahsian.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/monteiahsian

Image Credits
Monteiah Sian