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

Hi Olive, thanks for joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I think about this a lot, just how different my life would have been if I had taken a different path, a different route. I would have become a completely other person if I continued going to college and got a 9-5 job afterward. I dream about stability sometimes. It’s tough when everyone you’ve ever known expects you to become this person in their head, it’s a lot of societal pressure, and feels isolating to say “This is what I chose and It’s not what you chose and I’m okay with that.” I had a conversation with my friend the other day about what I do, and why I love it, and a lot of truth came out in that discussion. I feel like the uncertainty and instability are something to be embraced about the creative journey, and I just feel so grateful that I’m able to be so in tune with myself and the world around me that I’m able to carve my own path. I’ve kind of always been a do-it-yourself kind of person, so it doesn’t surprise me at all that this is my future now.

Olive, 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?

I started photography by picking up my mom’s old cameras and going around the city, taking photos of my friends and at concerts. I kept going from there, reaching out to local artists for collaborations and taking pictures whenever possible. I provide photography and videography services, with a concentration in art and fashion photography. I treat every project with an open mind and really let myself surrender to the creative process. Every time I create something, I put on my glasses of non-judgment, and really let my curiosity and intuition take the lead. Like an invisible hand guiding me through the work, it’s a borderline spiritual process. It’s sick. My favorite part of shooting is the connection I get to build with my clients and team, and bringing out parts of people that they never knew were there is so cool to see. I almost feel invisible on shoots, and I like to remove myself as much as possible. Just read and feel the energy and tune into what’s happening and what’s coming to light as we’re creating. Sort of like tuning a guitar, or changing the TV channels until you feel plugged into the current of energy that’s present. That’s how I create.

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

There’s no better feeling than finishing working on something you’re proud of and just taking a step back, looking at it, and being like “damn I really just did that.” No feeling comparable. The electricity, excitement, and confidence I feel while shooting and editing my photos are unmatched, and I hope everyone I’m working with feels it too. It’s incredible. I feel most like myself when I’m creating. The reward for me is getting the experience the creative process over and over again. it’s something new every time, and there are always new ideas and aspects about the world and myself that I am excited to explore.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, and Figures of Speech by Virgil Abloh. They both changed my life. YouTube is an overall amazing resource too, I really recommend watching the whole series of Epic Conversations with Rick Rubin. I also watch a lot of interviews with artists I really like, and pick their brains, how they create, etc. It’s the best way to learn in my opinion.

Contact Info:

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

Image Credits
Team photo taken by Jonathan Marshall