We were lucky to catch up with Vonecia Carswell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Vonecia, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

As a child, my parents enrolled me in a multitude of extracurricular activities, which I believe allowed me to discover my artistic strengths, learn to interact with diverse sets of people, and communicate in various ways, and they were extremely supportive along the way. They did not condemn my unconventional ways; yet asked questions to better understand them and found spaces and schools in which I could thrive.

Furthermore, my grandparents played a pivotal role in inspiring my career, particularly during family gatherings, where they would whip out their camcorder and record moments, big or small. I enjoyed watching playbacks of our family and grew an interest in documenting and spreading the same joy that we were able to relive, and what better way to do so than through a similar medium – photography!

All in all, my parents trusted me—even if they were a bit nervous—but supplemented that with wisdom, and consistently gave me praise for whatever it was that I was trying to accomplish. To this day, the support from my parents keeps me going. They literally think the world of me, and as entrepreneurs, we need that.

Vonecia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a visual storyteller and dance fitness instructor whose work is rooted in preserving and spreading joy. These were interests I enjoyed as a child but later evolved, once I realized they were something I could actually pursue as careers. My journey kicked off as I was studying Journalism in highschool and college, which exposed me to ways I could elevate and apply my visual talents to make an impact on a larger scale. After using my financial aid money to splurge on a Canon Rebel T3 in 2012—and becoming high in demand for senior grad portraits—I haven’t looked back.

I now provide portrait, event, and lifestyle photography and social video services. My other time is spent teaching middle school photography and dance fitness classes to all ages. Dance was a personal outlet for me, especially when I felt overwhelmed by work. After a few years of consistently taking dance classes, I took advantage of an opportunity to teach it, and now my two worlds are colliding, as I’ve been working with more wellness and movement clients.

I am proud to be able to offer services that inspire others to live more fulfilling lives and give clients fun, comfortable experiences they can look back on and be proud of as well.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Society should view creatives just like any other profession. We are often seen as “other,” yet our work is often integrated throughout every other industry. We also provide services or products and have expertise that can change lives and businesses for the better. Ask us questions, and learn more about our processes and exactly what it is that we do to gain a better understanding of why we exist. Seek out ways you can incorporate our services into your life or business, and watch the glow up! Haha

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I desire the ability to be able to utilize all of my God-given talents. I’ve found that working solely for others has inhibited me from applying my whole self, and that can be frustrating. Freedom to be my whole self, generate limitless wealth, and ultimately, create more time freedom drives my creative journey. It is something that’s just in my bones. I cannot resist the urge to be creative.

Contact Info:

• Website: voneciacarswell.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/voneciacarswell
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/voneciacarswell

Image Credits
Nesshell Rainford, Michal Petros