When it comes to my creative process, this quote translates as the heart of it. Time spent outside of my 9-5 inevitably inspires what I produce when I’m on the clock, so I make a point to fill my creative well with fresh ideas from unexpected places.
In an effort to bring more analog into my daily life, I started carrying a disposable camera in my purse—capturing memories that resonated with me, 27 exposures at a time. It’s provided a fun creative challenge, a means of thinking intentionally about the moments I want to capture and why. It’s also a joyous surprise to get film back and get to relive the experience all over again.
I spend some of my day every day immersed in the process of wielding words, so when a wedding-photographer friend of mine styled a mid-summer shoot, I saw it as an opportunity to flex my muscle for visual storytelling. It was a powerful reminder that the magic lives in the most mundane details. A shadow. A laugh. Or simply a fresh perspective.
During one of my many manicures at Spruce Nail Shop, the owner Molly and I got to talking about vision for a holiday campaign. As a customer, I’d long gravitated towards the salon’s non-toxic approach to nail care, and immediately I had a vision for how to translate the story visually: clean lines, core colors, and compositions that let the offerings shine.
On a typical day, I’m shooting beauty products, not bar food. But capturing food photography for Cincinnati’s go-to resource for hot new restaurants and happy hour deals was an invitation to grow. Bright colors, warm energy, and vibrant spaces translated as new territory that sharpened my skill set.
In 2018, I began combining my content strategy background with my interest in visuals. I started capturing content of my favorite products, including this Matt & Nat backpack, as a way to test and learn. This was one of the first “shoots” I styled, and it garnered attention from NY Mag’s The Strategist.
