We were lucky to catch up with PAUL JEANT recently and have shared our conversation below.
PAUL , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
The best investment I made was buying my first camera . I was at a point in my life where I was working a regular food job in NY. I had just gotten into taking pictures on my phone. I was pretty impressed with my own art. I had also began my first YOUTUBE channel on my phone where I would simply find people on the street and talk to them about whichever topics I have picked. But there was this one week where I was down bad . Last $200.00 in my bank account & this guy I had met in one of my previous interviews had offered to sell his camera to me for $150.00. The catch was he needed the money by the end of that week & it was already Friday. I only had 48 hours to make that decision. I sat down at a local Starbucks and really weighed out my options. I wasn’t a professional , I had no knowledge of camera operations & most importantly I only $200.00 left to my name. Well two hours later I messaged the guy back and I asked where the pick up location was. The rest is of course history because I took some of the greatest photos I have seen to have been a self taught photographer
PAUL , 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 name is Paul Jeant. You can ask around but not many people know a woman named “PAUL” ( NOT PAULA , PAULINE,PAULETTE). That’s the first thing that keeps me apart from the masses. I wasn’t always a photographer nor did I always have a passion for it . My passion began in the world of acting. which was a craft that I had admired and studied for years . For a while that was all I wanted to be . A ACTOR , THE BEST ACTOR ALIVE ( to be specific ) . Well that’s great until I realized that was my only goal . I had no real plan for it I was just hopping from audition to audition living the NY dream. I had gotten accepted into the summer conservatory at STELLA ADLER where I studied acting intensively for about 8-12 weeks . It was then that a professor said to me ” you have all the talent needed to succeed but are you willing to actually dedicate yourself to this craft. NO. ” To this day those words replay in my head as some of the greatest words I have ever heard because it was the truth. A lot of people are not giving it up like that these days .
Fast forward 6 months later after starting my YouTube change I found a new passion for art & that was photography. Specifically editorial & life style . I enjoy being apart and witnessing real detailed art. When it comes to fashion everything matters. It’s what makes or breaks a look. So to capture that brings me into another world. I also enjoy documenting the everyday world. Personally the mystery of the functions of the world fascinate me. Everything changes everyday, there’s no day that could be replicated & so the little things need to be captured. That bus passing or the steam from a cup of coffee, it’s all ART.
My professional offerings span across various services, extending from editorial and event photography. I am deeply passionate about immersing myself in a variety of events, leaving no occasion unexplored. With a focus on collaborating with models and designers, I assist in bringing their creative visions to life through captivating imagery. Moreover, I cater to the needs of emerging entrepreneurs seeking inventive strategies to showcase their products, as well as individuals seeking to preserve cherished memories, be it for weddings, birthdays, or other special moments.
Every client that has worked with me knows that if they have nothing at the end of a session they have a friend.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Right now my biggest goal is the expansion of my “Introduction to photography ” program that I’ve developed for kids. I want to provide the same opportunity to the younger generation to discover the love of art ( not just photography ). My focus is to geared towards creativity & imagination with the use of a Camera.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
When creating your business social media presence my number one recommendation is to start with a fresh page. You want people who genuinely support your business not because they know your uncle who fixed their toilet issues back in’08. Creating separate socials allows you to have a better focus on the content that is being shared and posted. Every now & then you can upload a photo or video of you to remind the public who you are. But keep everything separate for the most part. Plus there’s certain things I have on my personal page ( family photos , personal projects etc) that just aren’t part of my business )
Long story short that’s how I started my online photography portfolio. Zero followers. at one point & today we have 2391 genuine followers. Not a big number but that’s 2391 people that I have either personally interacted with or met in person. That is something I’m very proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: pauljeantshoots.squarespace.com/
- Instagram: therealpauljeant
- Facebook: Paul Jeant
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/F4_fuofaEpA?si=JDuiBh2g8AziA48W
Image Credits
MODELS featured -Payton Schwartz -Afrikka Reigns -Urban 2x Brands featured -Fresh Reign holisticwellness -Glamoratti Beauty