We recently connected with Sawyer Jones and have shared our conversation below.

Sawyer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success is one of those things that is subjective, in my opinion. From work, to personal life, success looks different for all people, and it’s one of those things that is solely based on how you want to live.

Similar to what most people would say, success requires dedication and hard work. It lies at the intersection of ease and intimidation. Being scared, you might say? Scared of what you are working towards. I believe, when we can find the things that scare us, that is a form of success. We have found something that makes us determined and hungry for more. The feeling of being challenged is such a beautiful thing. It reveals growth in us, as humans.

This mindset, for me, translates to both business and personal relationships. Think about it, the best relationships are the ones that challenge, and keep you at ease. Pushing you forward, while supporting you every step of the way.

I bring up this type of relationship solely because I believe they also bring you a form of success. Relationships, good ones, are one of the best things we can have in this world. This includes the relationship with yourself.

Being employed by myself for most of my life, I have had to learn my boundaries – hard and soft boundaries. The things I can manage, shift, make excuses or put my foot down for. This all brings me to a conclusion: Success is relationships, boundaries, hard work, dedication, and last (but certainly not least) the power of believing in yourself to chase your dreams.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

This one is always a hard one for me, considering I wear A LOT of hats. Like the saying goes, “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”

I grew up in a small town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains in North Georgia. My mother, an artist. She draws. My grandfather carried around a 35mm camera. My grandmother, well she influenced my style and eye for interiors. These three people combined have made me into the woman I am today.

At sixteen, I started working locally, as an intern at a wedding photography company. I later worked part time at Ralph Lauren and had an absolute blast making sure the store was always looking great. At eighteen, I moved to the city of Atlanta for college, where I attended Savannah College of Art and Design for two years. There, I studied photography and even had some interior design classes. I launched my wedding photography business when I was twenty years old, which took me all over the world and has been nothing but amazing. When I was twenty-four, almost twenty-five, I made my way up to Brooklyn New York, where I currently reside.

I am a photographer, founder, creative director, stylist, content creator, and sometimes I even paint. The last twelve years have guided me in other career paths, and developed  my eye. The way I see the world. Being a photographer can easily pour over into being a creative director as well. Processing and developing a shot when needed. I have done many editorial photoshoots over the years, and it is something I really enjoy. Styling has also come into play for many shoots. I have migrated into home styling and sourcing freelance for clients as well. As far as painting goes, I originally dabbled as a means of catharsis, but now occasionally do commissioned pieces (which I love)!

In terms of wedding photography, I still have weddings on my calendar for the remainder of this year and into the end of next year, 2024. After that, I will be taking a step back from weddings and giving my time to the other forms of styling and creation I mentioned above, alongside starting a new company! More on that to come!

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

Oh yes, the mission is to always create a human space for feeling, and hopefully good feelings! I kinda live by the Maya Angelou quote, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

I want my creative outlets to make people feel good and happy. To bring joy to their lives in some way, shape, or form.

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

In this moment, the first thing that pops into my head is being seen for who you are. One of the things I have learned over the years is that not everybody is going to like what you do or your style. That’s okay. Being refined in your craft and true to who you are is so important to the process.

As a creative, I get to determine that process, my vision, and my product. And as I change, those aspects change with me. It’s pretty freeing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sawyerbaird.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sawyerbaird
• Other: www.pinterest.com/sawyerbaird

Image Credits
All photos by me, Sawyer Baird