Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Brown.
Hi Joshua, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I got started in Photography in 2018. A co-worker of mine was working with a media company who needed some new photographers, and at the same time, I was considering buying one just to learn for fun. My best friend is an artist and really sparked my interest in taking photos. I told my then-fiancée about my interest and the potential for it to make us some money, and she bought me a Canon Rebel T7 for Christmas that year. From then on, I have been teaching myself and learning all about photography and capturing beautiful images. I have taken a few courses, but most of my knowledge came from YouTube University. In 2019, I moved back to Atlanta from Dallas, TX, and my mission was to capture the city I live in interesting ways. This led me to working on a YouTube drama series and also working on a photoshoot with live fire. After that, I shot a music video for a friend, a book signing, and some other artist promo work. During the pandemic, I bought a light setup and learned studio lighting, as well as taking photo walks on a daily basis. All this practice helped me train my eyes and build my skills. When I returned to teaching after the pandemic, the school was looking for startup electives, and I wrote a proposal to teach a Photography class for the school. It was a hit. The next year I had a Photography Design class, a Photography club, and I was also the sponsor for the Journalism class, which effectively made me the Yearbook sponsor. These last few years, I have taught countless students how to set their camera, look for the right shot, and edit to match their vision. I look forward to continuing to teach photography even as a transition out of the classroom.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve definitely been blessed, but nothing has been easy. Imposter syndrome has plagued me at every turn. When I have gotten certain opportunities, I’ve felt unqualified, but then the work speaks for itself, and the approval of clients, family, and friends keeps me going. Another struggle has been learning the business side of the creative world. It’s all fun and games until you have to create smooth processes for your clients and be professional in the way you do business. Transitioning from mainly shooting for friends to shooting for referrals and people you don’t know can be challenging because it’s no longer for fun, it’s for-profit
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been teaching High School literature, photography, and journalism for the last 8 years. As I transition out of the classroom, I plan to specialize in school, sports, and family photography. I started with preschool because my son is in preschool, so I had an easy entry point. I plan to expand my preschool photography business first, then scale up to elementary, middle, and high school as well. I am working on becoming the go-to company for School and Sports photography in the metro Atlanta area. I want to grow with the students I am photographing, creating a deep catalog that shows their transformations from preschool all the way to secondary school.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The pandemic taught me how to plan, focus, and execute. What the post-pandemic has taught me is how to make everything work, even when you have countless responsibilities. You have to find a way. This is a lesson I learned long ago but that has been reinforced in the last few years.
Contact Info:
- Website: wakeupoptics.com
- Instagram: @j.kafe93 and @wakeupopticsllc
