Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda “Poetic Flow” Jackson.
Yolanda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a native (born and raised) of Chicago, now living in Atlanta. I started out, and still am, a poet. I’ve been writing since the 1980’s. In or about 2013, I officially launched my poetry website (www.poeticflow310.com), where I showcase my poetry, guest poets and my Positive Vibes by Poetic Flow t-shirt line. In 2008, I self-published my 1st poetry book “Poetry For Your Soul.” In 2014, I self-published my 2nd poetry book “Love-N-Life Poetry” and my 1st positive vibes book “Positive Vibes by Poetic Flow.” In or about 2013, through the idea of my ex, I began creating positive poetic quotes for various celebrities on t-shirts, which include, but are not limited to: Tichina Arnold, KeKe Wyatt, Michell’e, Terri J. Vaughn, Shondrella Avery, and Malinda Williams.
In 2015, my ex and I opened a television/film production studio in Kansas called “No Budget Studio.” It was a dream she had and as a result we were able to provide a place for many independent filmmakers to come and shoot scenes that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to shoot due to the difficulty of the scenes/sets. We had sets such as a courtroom, hospital room, nursing station, park, jail cell, interrogation room, restaurant/bar, waiting rooms and more. It was a phenomenal experience! I ultimately came back to Atlanta and incorporated Poetic Flow Productions, which entails Poetic Flow Photography as well. I truly enjoy doing what I do through both parts of my businesses. My slogan for the Production side is “The place where creativity comes to life.” I love assisting others as well as creating my own content for the world to see. My slogan for the Photography side is “Creatively capturing life through a lens.” I fell in love with photography a long time ago, my most enjoyable parts is capturing candid moments. I provide a service that is reasonable in cost and allows each client to walk away with every single digital photo I take once the shoot is over. I believe in the authenticity, beauty, rawness and realness of photos, as such, I don’t really engage in photoshop and creating an image that isn’t what I captured. Every client I have shot, has been amazed at how beautiful their original/authentic photos look when they work with me.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road. I don’t know any entrepreneur who would tell you that it has. I will, however, say that my road may have been a bit smoother than many, only because I am a Sr. Paralegal of 20 years. As such, I am highly familiar with the law, contracts, copyrights, trademarks, LLC’s, etc. Because of my legal background, I knew the proper steps to take to make sure that I had crossed all my t’s and dotted all my I’s to ensure that my business was starting out on a solid foundation. It is extremely important to research and ask if you don’t know if you are conducting research properly so that you don’t start a business, put all your energy into that business, showcase and market that business, and learn afterwards that you cannot legally move forward with that business because you didn’t go about it the proper way. Make sure that before starting any business you consult with someone who knows how to properly guide you.
This is why I also became a business consultant through my company Jackson Business Consulting. I do my very best to properly guide new entrepreneurs in the right direction from the very beginning. Along any entrepreneur path, you will hit roadblocks, you will get overwhelmed, you may even feel like throwing in the towel, but before you do, make sure as the saying goes: “Remember WHY you started.” If you can remember WHY you decided to create whatever platform of entrepreneurial business that you have, you will undoubtedly find the strength to continue moving forward, even when you have bad days. Never let the bad days overshadow all the good ones. Stay steadfast on your journey and allow bad days to fuel your motivation and determination to continue to build what you created.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Poetic Flow Poetry, Positive Vibes by Poetic Flow, Poetic Flow Productions, Poetic Flow Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
I think I answered some of these questions already, but again, I am a poet, positive viber, photographer, producer/director/videographer, Sr. Paralegal, Business Consultant and this all encompasses my entrepreneurship. I would say, I specialize in being creative in many ways through my production company and photography business. I am best known for my poetry (I will always first and foremost be a POET). I am most proud of ALL of my brands because each brand is a part of my creative gift and talent that I share with the world on a daily basis. What sets me apart from others is that fact that I am Yolanda Poetic-Flow Jackson, there is not another me, there is not another who has the identical qualities, identical gifts, identical talents, identical character, identical heart, drive, motivation, and determination as me. All of these things make me unique, just like it makes every person on this earth unique in their gifts, talents, etc. There are thousands/millions of poets, photographers, producers, etc., but NONE of them are YOU. In this life, my goal is to compliment not compare nor compete. We all serve a purpose, we are all different, regardless of any similarities, we all bring something UNIQUE to the table and because of that, we should UPLIFT others and not try to tear each other down. This mindset alone sets me apart from many.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
The greatest women who have inspired my life are (1) my late grandmother, because she is the one who saw the gift of poetry in me. I would not stand before you today as POETIC FLOW, had my grandmother not saw in me what I didn’t see in myself. She instilled qualities, character, faith, morals, wisdom in me that will continue to help guide me on this life’s journey. I am forever grateful to her for raising me into the woman I am today; (2) my mother, because she showed me the strength of a woman. My mother instilled in me my go-getter qualities, my no-nonsense mindset and continues to remind me that I have the power to do and be whatever I put my mind to. The strength that it takes to be a black woman, an educated black woman, a powerful black woman, an intelligent black woman, is what my mother is to me and that is powerful inspiration; and (3) every woman whom I’ve ever encountered in my life whether it was a good or not so good experience. I am a firm believer in no coincidences, no regrets, you either learned a lesson or you grow from that experience.
Every woman who currently is or has been a part of my life, has given me tools and it is my choice to take those tools and BUILD or TEAR DOWN myself or anyone else around me. I choose and will ALWAYS choose to BUILD. My foundation from the love, support, encouragement and positivity of my mother and late grandmother is solid. When you have a solid foundation, you can always build higher and higher and higher and that foundation will support the weight of that. My inspiration is ALL WOMEN who have directly or indirectly impacted my life. There is a positive in every negative, so any negative that I have experienced, I have learned a way to find the positive in it and because of that, I continue to be inspired daily.
Pricing:
- Photography is $100/hour for a photoshoot
- Photography is $175/hour for an event in which photos are taken
- Positive Vibes T-Shirts are $22.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.poeticflow310.com ; www.poeticflowproductions.com
- Phone: 678-729-7330
- Email: poeticflowproductionsllc@gmail.com ; poeticflowphotography@gmail.com ; jacksonbusinessconsulting@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram: @PoeticFlow310, @PoeticFlowProductions, @PoeticFlowPhotography
- Facebook: Facebook: Poetic Flow Productions ; Poetic Flow Photography
- Twitter: Twitter: @PoeticFlow310 ; @PFlowProduction; @PFloPhotography
Image Credit:
Poetic Flow Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
