Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Jamal.
Hi Jordan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started Shooting photos about six years ago. I was inspired by different stuff on Tumblr tbh and just wanted to shoot similar vibes. Bought my first camera (Nikon d3100) and just started shooting with friends. I was being told a lot that I had an eye for getting the right shot and I should start taking it more serious. Since then, I just invested in myself bought newer gear, started shooting stuff out of my comfort zone and networking more and it’s taken me places I’ve never thought I’d be. Recently I got into shooting more video and want to get into directing so we’ll see where that journey will bring me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road but I’m not mad at it because it’s just a part of the journey. I feel like you need to go through stuff like that not only to grow as an artist but as a person. We live in a time now where Instagram is the biggest influence, people constantly trying to outdo someone one else. We live for the like button and if we don’t get that, we start to feel as if our work isn’t good enough or worse you start to feel like you yourself aren’t good enough. That was one of my biggest struggles, I cared too much what people thought. It got to a point where I was deleting work if they didn’t do well, lol. I had to learn that as long as YOU love what YOU’RE creating that’s all that matters. Don’t let a “Like” or someone’s opinion on YOUR work dictate how you view your art. As soon as you stop caring you’ll see how free you feel.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a photographer, I mainly shoot portraits and lifestyle shots whether it’s for a brand or someone personally. I’m just proud of where my camera has taken me. I’ve met so much people along the way, I’ve worked with brands and artists I’ve dreamed of working with and the crazy part is I honestly feel like I’m still just getting started. I’ve worked hard, sacrificed a lot and I mean ALOT, and now I’m seeing everything starting to pay off. When I first started, I imagined myself here, I manifested it, I told myself you’d do it. I’m excited for the places it’s still going, I still have a lot more to prove and more goals to set and reach, it’s never ending for me.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Find someone with the same goals as you or better yet just find someone who has a good mindset. They don’t even have to do what you do. I’ve been blessed to be around people who keep it real with me, people who motivate me and want me to be great. I would watch motivating videos on YouTube to get my head in the right space. I’ve been around people just talking to them who don’t even deal with photography but have plugged me for gigs just because they liked my vibe. Just be you always, also don’t be that person that’s too cool to take free work. A lot of my free work brought me to bigger bags($$$) and other clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: Jordanjamal.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/jordannjamal
- Twitter: twitter.com/jordannjamal
