Leveraging Your Creative Skills: How Creatives Can Benefit Beyond Their Salary-Driven Job Roles

For many creatives, pursuing a career that aligns with their passion and artistic skills is a dream come true. However, there are instances when jobs may primarily focus on utilizing those skills while providing only a salary without additional incentives. While it's essential to be fairly compensated, creatives can still find ways to benefit and leverage their talents beyond the boundaries of their job descriptions. In this blog post, we will explore how creatives can maximize their skills and derive personal and professional satisfaction in salary-driven job roles.

Personal Growth and Skill Development:

Even if your job primarily utilizes your creative skills, there is always room for personal growth and skill development. Take the initiative to explore new techniques, software, or tools relevant to your creative field during your free time. Engage in online courses, workshops, or attend industry conferences to expand your knowledge base. By continuously honing your skills, you not only enhance your value as a creative professional but also open doors to new opportunities and career advancements.

Building a Strong Portfolio:

Utilize your current job as an opportunity to build a robust and diverse portfolio. Each project, regardless of its creative scope, provides a chance to showcase your expertise and creative problem-solving abilities. Take ownership of the projects assigned to you and strive to deliver high-quality work. By consistently adding compelling pieces to your portfolio, you strengthen your professional credibility and increase your chances of securing more fulfilling creative roles in the future.

Networking and Collaborating:

Although your current job might not offer ample creative collaboration, networking and seeking collaboration opportunities outside of work can be immensely beneficial. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, or participate in online communities where you can connect with other creatives. Collaborating on side projects or freelance work can not only provide a platform to unleash your creativity but also help expand your professional network and lead to exciting future prospects.

Personal Creative Projects:

Allocate time outside of work to pursue personal creative projects that align with your interests and artistic vision. Whether it's painting, writing, photography, or any other form of expression, engaging in personal projects allows you to explore your creativity freely and keeps your creative spark alive. These endeavors can also serve as an avenue to experiment with new techniques, themes, or styles, ultimately enhancing your creativity and serving as a source of personal fulfillment.

Seeking Opportunities Within Your Job:

While your job may focus on utilizing your creative skills, proactively seek opportunities to contribute in ways that go beyond your designated role. Offer ideas, suggestions, or solutions that showcase your creative thinking and problem-solving abilities. Volunteer for cross-functional projects or initiatives that involve collaborating with different teams. By demonstrating your versatility and willingness to contribute beyond your job description, you may unlock additional creative avenues and create a more fulfilling work experience.

Although being fairly compensated for your creative skills is crucial, creatives can still benefit and derive satisfaction from their work even in salary-driven job roles. By embracing personal growth, building a strong portfolio, networking and collaborating, pursuing personal creative projects, and seeking opportunities within your job, you can leverage your creative skills and expand your horizons. Remember, your creativity knows no bounds, and by taking proactive steps, you can create a rewarding and fulfilling creative journey regardless of the limitations of your current job.


Focused on the wrong "F" word.

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN 2012

 

A good friend of mine recently told me that we need to focus more on faith than the hard lessons we go through and have patience. Sometimes, the world is just going to lay it all on you at once without any remorse. It doesn't permit you to beat yourself up along the way or to drown in the negatives. The past two weeks have been challenging and exhausting. I've lost, mourned, suffered, and mentally checked out. As a result, my mind made me feel and sound like a failure. It reached the point where I considered shutting down everything. After having an honest conversation with myself, I realized the many positives about my journey. I do what I can with the resources I have; most can't do that. I've entered a world with no proper training or guidance; my brand became a staple in the South Jersey area. Most studios only have a life span of six months, and my doors are still open. If this isn't my gift and purpose, I would have been out of the game years ago. To the photographer that is questioning their journey or thinking about letting go, please listen carefully. The mentally draining things we go through daily last for however long we allow them to. You are not a failure. That's the wrong "f" word to focus on. Keep your faith and the rest will make sense later on.

Our First Photography Class!

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So, I’ve been distant for the most part because of death in the family, but I know she would not let me sleep peacefully without getting back to doing what I love. For years, Kierra and I have always conversed with one another about photography. About how to advance our photography and how we can give back using our creative talents. We poured so much time, love, and determination into our first photography class. You have to have great people around you to do great things. To our magnificent seven students, thank you for being patient with us. We appreciate you all for taking a chance on us and being attentive and passionate about the class. We accomplished the goal to have everyone leave our class with knowledge and enhance their passion for photography. We want to express our gratitude to thank everyone who contributed to this idea of ours. Thank you too, Brandon (Videographer), Elliot (Photographer), Kion (Model), (Nifty Thrifty Closet) Partnered Company, Tionna (MUA), and Richard. We have decided to continue to keep teaching a beginning and also an advanced class! To our future students, we are excited to meet you and are eager to enhance your photography knowledge.