Today we’d like to introduce you to Ren Adkins.
Ren, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I discovered photography as a teenager when I took a darkroom class in high school. It wasn’t long before I started spending weekends there, developing and printing black and white, and learning basic studio lighting. Two of my great grandparents were photographers, and I learned to shoot a film on one of their cameras–a Rolleicord made in the 1940s. I went on to study photography at the Memphis College of Art and then continued to graduate school at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where I earned my MFA in 2013.
The plan was to teach photography at the college level, but after the intensity and politics of graduate school, I felt completely burnt out. I moved to Los Angeles and got a desk job. At the time, I thought I wanted to move away from photography completely, but eventually, I found myself shooting again. After about a year in L.A., I stumbled into freelancing through a random referral from a friend, quit my full-time desk job, and have been working for myself ever since.
I moved to Atlanta in 2018 to be closer to family, and because Los Angeles just wasn’t sustainable for me anymore. Since arriving, I’ve been connecting with as many fellow creatives as possible and shooting personal and commercial projects, hoping to get my name out there. It’s tough establishing yourself in a brand new city, but so far Atlanta has been very welcoming, and I’m excited to see what it has to show me in 2019.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Truthfully, the road has been anything but smooth. In all honesty, it can feel very perilous and sometimes isolating. In exchange for freedom from the regular 9-5, you get a whole set of different struggles. Instead of being responsible for one job, you’re suddenly responsible for every job that comes with doing business. For me, that meant figuring out a ton of things I had no experience in (and am *still* wrestling with), like marketing, sales, negotiation, and accounting, to name just a few.
Working for yourself is a never-ending learning experience, and unless you have recurring clients, often times you have a new “boss” every time you pick up a new gig, which means a whole new set of expectations for you and your work to meet. For me, it’s important that my clients know exactly what I need from them and exactly what they need from me. I’ve found it helpful to have a crystal-clear onboarding process and total transparency when it comes to how the project is going to unfold.
And that’s just the business side of things! My number one struggle has always been self-doubt, so my advice to other women is to trust your instincts and intuition and to make sure you’re taking time for self-care, whatever that looks like for you. Remind yourself that you have value outside of this huge professional leap you’re taking, and recognize when you need to take a step back. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone whose work you admire and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, but at the same time, don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself, either.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a photographer specializing in editorial-style portraiture, from fashion to documentary. I kind of run the gamut from fine art to commercial photography, but I’m the most passionate about working with creative teams to bring a vision to life.
I’d like to think what sets me apart is my eye and sense of color, but I think it also has to do with my willingness to be open with people. I’ve been told I have a knack for making people feel comfortable in front of the camera, and I’m really proud of that because I know how hard it can be to have your picture taken. I’m also proud of my ability to shoot the commercial from a fine art perspective, for having explored the many genres of photography I have so far, and for continuing to push my own boundaries.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.renadkins.com
- Email: ren@renadkins.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/renadkinzzz
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/renadkinsphotography
Image Credit:
Ren Adkins
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