Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Paige Finley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Paige, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

As a child I always was always drawing. I was an only child and very shy, so drawing was something that kept me occupied. I kept up my art into high school where I took numerous art classes and actually won a VFW contest. In addition, one of my pen and ink drawings was included in the high school yearbook. I had hoped to go to college and major in art but that never happened, and I never really drew after high school. Photography was something I was always drawn to but never really pursued other than to take pictures of things I thought were cool. As an adult I would often print my pictures and give them as gifts. It wasn’t until my late 40’s that I started to think that I could sell some of my prints. I started by hanging them in a local restaurant and doing small local craft shows around my area. This is where the drawing and painting came back to me when I started painting things on driftwood. To my amazement they sold, and people began asking for specific paintings and ultimately murals in local restaurants. Photography is still the thing I love although I don’t consider myself to be a “technical photographer”. I just know what I think is a good shot and take a picture. I wish that I had gotten back to my artistic side much earlier in life than I did. It has been very fulfilling to bring back this side of me.

Paige, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I always loved taking pictures! I especially love to show the beauty of our Chesapeake Bay region and all that it has to offer. I always gave my pictures as gifts to friends and family. When I began to get requests for specific pictures I thought, hey I may be able to sell my work. So, I began by doing some small craft shows in my area and built up a local client base. The painting first began by painting Santas on pieces of driftwood. They sold right away so I branched out by doing other paintings on driftwood and reclaimed wood. I paint mermaids, old men of the sea, Great Blue Herons, etc. All of my work is nautical in nature and shows my love of living on the water. I have also done several murals in local restaurants. I am extremely proud that one of my photographs was chosen as the 2021 Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Viewer’s Choice Award. I am most proud that people have supported me by buying my work.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

This is something I am still learning to do and hoping to continue to learn. Instagram has been a huge resource for building a following outside of my local community. I try to post as much and as often as possible. You can’t be afraid to put yourself out there. It’s a learning process.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One thing I struggled with is thinking that my “stuff” isn’t good enough or people will not like it. I have learned that not everyone will like your work but there for every one person that doesn’t there are 10 that do.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: pfinphotos
• Facebook: Paige Finley Photographs & Design, @pfinleysphotos

Image Credits
Images by Paige Finley