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

Sarajane, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

While my parents, both entrepreneurs, instilled an ambitious, disciplined mindset in me, a sense of curiosity and hobby-seeking soon followed. My siblings and I were raised on the mantra of, ‘work hard, play hard,’ as were many children raised by baby boomers. It was never about the measly $30 from babysitting or $40 from lifeguarding we’d collectively bring home, but rather the lessons of diligence, resilience, commitment. ‘Lead, follow, or get out of the way,’ as my dad says. To provide a healthy balance, passion projects were always welcomed, and encouraged, in our household.

When it came to the task of declaring my studies in college, I had my mom on one shoulder, my dad on the other, advising on what industry my skillset would best align with. As a child of divorced parents, it only made sense to meet in the middle; I settled on a journalism major and fashion minor. Like my parents said – major in the income, minor in the interest.

Now, nearly five years post college (*sigh*), this balance my parents enforced continues to shape my life and career. While my position as an in-house publicist for a fashion brand fulfilled both sides of the equation, I still yearned for the excitement, for the hobby outside of my nine-to-five responsibilities. It was then that the afternoon studios was born. With the weeks dedicated to my income, the weekends bring a sense of freedom and creativity as I dive into my interest. My parents’ encouragement and direct impact on my passion projects has been unwavering, from lemonade stands to friendship bracelets to content creation.

Sarajane, 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?

Throughout college, it was never a question regarding where I was headed post-graduation. One could say I was ‘that girl.’ A few summer internships, fashion week programs, and a well-curated Pinterest board later, I was on a one-way flight to the city with a journalism degree and fashion minor in my back pocket.

I started (or rather, was thrown into) a position at a small public relations agency specializing in fashion and lifestyle clients both in the accessible and luxury sectors. The fashion industry is known for its perks, but also for the grind that comes with said perks. Think Miranda Priestly, the Harry Potter manuscript, the Chanel boots, and 10 or 15 skirts from Calvin Klein. I learned the inner workings of the industry through countless late nights at the office, dinners with clients, compiling reports, handwritten seeding cards, fashion week events, managing interns, and packing up box after box of samples.

While maintaining a social life in what little free time I had, I found myself always reaching for my phone, snapping pictures and videos of my everyday life. Food, cocktails, clothes, friends, sunsets, coffee, flowers, books, my hands, your hands. Whether it was to show my mom or to post on my personal Instagram account of 900 family and friends following along, the excitement of coming home to a fresh camera roll of photos to scroll through, edit, and file away into an unpublished folder was unmatched.

Four years later, I moved to the brand side as an in-house publicist. The content of my work remained the same but with an opportunity to dive deeper into the brand, really sinking my teeth into the story, messaging, product, and values. I continued growing my camera roll on weekends, with my close circle both catching onto my hobby and relying on it for their Sunday Instagram posts. After a few nudges from friends, the afternoon studios was born as my small (but mighty!) escape from reality.

Now, I look to my platform as a form of self-expression, one that showcases my day-to-day life through fashion and lifestyle content. Aside from having a genuine interest in fashion, my professional career in the industry allows me to provide a behind-the-scenes perspective. With my days often consumed with talk of upcoming designers, collection launches, and notable collaborations, I incorporate other categories to provide a balance both for my followers and myself. I’ve taken my small community through many apartment moves, restaurant experiences, holiday traditions, recipes, marathon training, and international travels. I strive to create work that’s approachable, almost like your best friend is sending a photo dump of their day. The pictures I send my mom are the same pictures I post on my feed. Inspiring others creatively, or even their #ootd, is the cherry on top.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Creating content that I’m proud to publish and put my name behind is such a rewarding experience. I’d imagine it’s a similar feeling when bakers present a wedding cake, or when pianists finish a performance. My ‘work’ might appear differently, but the feeling remains the same. Fulfilled, inspired, confident.

I prioritize the quality of my content over the quantity. I never want to view my platform as a task, and have since accepted that daily posting is not realistic. For me, creativity comes from taking a step back, from taking breaks. Good work, work I’m proud of, takes time. Through trial and error, I’ve learned how to incorporate a healthy posting schedule while simultaneously producing content I’m proud to say is mine.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My professional career keeps me on my toes, but my creative itch needs itching. The afternoon studios does just that. As my platform continues to transform alongside me, so do my goals. What started as a goal of simply publishing unpublished photos, has since shifted to creating content I’m proud of, to then engaging with my community. While my previous goals remain, I’m prioritizing gaining inspiration from others. There’s so much to be learned from the platform and like-minded creators.

In a long-term sense, the opportunities ahead excite me with the name itself. There are many meanings behind afternoon studios, the most prominent being it’s my favorite time of day, followed by it’s often when I create, edit, and post content. Cozying up on a Sunday afternoon to make selects, edit imagery, prepare captions, and draft posts is my own little ‘afternoon studio’ in a way. Creating a platform not associated with my own name but rather the level and type of content produced was, and still is, a top priority for me. I look forward to discovering where I can take the name as my interests, direction, everyday life, and the platform itself changes.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theafternoonstudios/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/theafternoonstudiosnyc/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theafternoonstudios

Image Credits
afternoon studios