We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Richard Maneen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Richard below.

Hi Richard, thanks for joining us today. What’s one of the most important lessons you learned in school?

When I was in my final year of college, my favorite photography teacher passed away very suddenly. We came into class one day and received the news that he had passed over the weekend. This hit me hard as he really pushed me to become a better photographer and individual. Due to his passing being so sudden, it really opened my eyes to how short and unexpected life can be. This event shaped my outlook on life and helped me to make decisions that benefit my life in positive ways.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My father was the one who got me interested in the art of photography. He was in the Air Force for 15 years, so growing up he would always show me old film strips and photos from his adventures overseas. This piqued my interest and once I was older, I started to take an interest in automobiles and would read magazines such as Import Tuner, Car and Driver and Super Street to look at the pictures and further my interest within the topic. Reading these magazines got my interest in photography to a point where I was saving every penny I could to purchase a camera. That dream became reality when I purchased my first camera, a Canon Rebel XSi. I would take this camera with me everywhere, even if it was a quick run to the grocery store. I never wanted to miss a moment that would help me grow as a photographer. As the years rolled on, I started my own business and began my journey into the freelance photography market. I started shooting portraits and sporting events, all for free, to build my portfolio and client base. I eventually decided that I wanted to pursue my love for automobiles and jumped into the world of automotive photography. That has changed a bit as my full-time job is now aviation photography. I went from photographing cars to shooting jets, who would have thought! Photography has brought more value and purpose into my life than I could have ever imagined, and I am very happy that I decided to pick up a camera. When not behind the camera, you can find me go karting, skateboarding, or finding the best local restaurant to grab a bite. Photography has been my passion for fifteen years and I can’t wait to see where it continues to take me. Along my career I have learned that uniting with both creatives and clients who share the same end goal, reinforced by transparent and concise communication, will yield a product everyone can appreciate.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

In 2019 I was working for a local concert venue doing some valet work while freelancing my photography on the side. I came home from work one night and saw an email from a recruiting agency regarding a company looking for a photographer to take pictures of their fleet of aircraft. I shrugged it off as spam as I had been getting a lot of bogus emails at that time. I woke up the next day and called my parents to ask their opinion. Both my mother and father agreed that I should follow up…and I am so glad I did. Before I knew it I was moving out of my apartment in Georgia, moving nine hours away to Florida with no back up plan in case things didn’t work out. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t worried about this blowing up in my face, but deep down, I had a feeling that this was where I was supposed to be. Three years later and I am still at said company, working full time while being able to cut back on my freelance work to support myself. I consider myself very, very lucky to be in the position that I am in today.

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

A big lesson that I had to unlearn is that all losses are negative. Throughout my life, like everyone else, I’ve experienced ups and downs. Personally, I always took my down moments hard and looked at them as complete moments of failure. As I’ve grown older, I have realized that all losses are wins in disguise. Winning is great, and there is always something to take away from a winning moment in life. On the flip side, I tend to believe that losing can teach us more about ourselves than winning can. One big losing moment in my life was when I lost my first client. I was just starting my photography business, so at the time losing a client felt like being thrown off a cliff. I was upset and bothered for a few days, but eventually I asked myself, “What can I learn from this?” This question guided me to take part in some much-needed self-reflection. I came away with a deeper understanding of what it takes to properly run a business, how to navigate tough times, and most importantly, how to be better than I was yesterday.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: richardm.cr3
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-maneen/