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

Shaun, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Being able to live off your creative work takes a lot of patience and hard work, of course. In my opinion the hardest part in trying to succeed as a creative entrepreneur is being confident in your own decisions and knowing when to compromise. I saw the opportunity to become a full time videographer, but I also recognized my flaws; in my abilities and in my personal growth. Proper networking was integral in my development, I needed feedback from the right people and I needed people that I could rely on for things I couldn’t complete on my own. I think I could definitely speed up the process knowing what I know now, for one, I was directionless and too general in my work. I now know it’s important to niche down.

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

I started videography almost by accident. I always had a huge interest but it seemed too expensive and too complicated. Then at one point I bought a camera and coincidentally lost my job at the same time and suddenly my only option to make a living was to make a business out of the camera that I was messing around with.

I primarily shoot hip hop music videos. I grew up on hip hop music and I have a huge interest in the culture. There’s no handbook, or written rules on how to make it in the music industry, and I find that captivating. I often become involved in the development of my clients careers, partially because I believe in their work and partially because I feel like, becoming successful in the music industry is like cracking some code.

I strategize with my clients on all visual aspects of their career. I strive to make my work look more cinematic and as timeless as possible. One of my skills that I’m most proud of is being able to make something out of nothing. New clients will sometimes question my methods during the shoot but once they see the finished product they understand what I was trying to accomplish. Such as, making a dingy basement look like a caribbean night club or a bedroom look like a martial arts studio.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I get to see my ideas come to life. I have a constant desire to express my thoughts, in every type of media. Sometimes being a creative can be frustrating because you might be unable or not capable of getting the idea out of your head and into the world. I would guess that frustration is common among creatives, especially those of us that imagine our art on too large of a scale. When we do get to see our creations come to fruition though, it can be the most rewarding thing in the world.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I don’t think non-creatives could understand why someone would give up a high paying job to make much less money as an artist. I don’t think non-creatives can understand that there is a sensation that creatives have, a desperate need to get their ideas out of their head and into the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shaunasakura.com
• Instagram: instragram.com/shaunasakura

Image Credits
Its my work