local storiesJuly 15, 2025

Rising Stars: Meet Joshua Francis of Los Angeles

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Francis.

Joshua, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Jae is a multifaceted artist who began their creative journey as a model, originally serving as a muse for friends honing their photography skills. After about a year in front of the camera, Jae developed a deep interest in what goes on behind the lens as well. What started as casually capturing moments of nature, friends, family, and whatever sparked curiosity soon revealed a natural eye for photography.

Over time, Jae gravitated toward editorial and event photography, drawn by the balance of creativity and connection it offered. Since then, nearly a decade has passed, during which Jae has pursued photography professionally, taking numerous classes and learning the ins and outs of camera work, both technical and artistic.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like any meaningful journey, Jae’s path has come with its share of challenges financial, medical, and family-related. Through it all, art has been both a coping mechanism and a means of processing and making peace with life’s hardships. These experiences have not only deepened Jae’s emotional connection to their work but also sparked greater creativity and resilience, pushing them to find alternative methods of creating and remain resourceful in the face of limitation.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What makes my art special is that it’s a direct reflection of who I am. Whether it’s a personal project or client work, every step of the process brings me immense joy. I’ve fallen deeply in love with creating, and that love shines through in every piece I make. It’s a joy I share openly inviting others to experience moments of peace, happiness, and harmony with me. My art is a way of building connection, unity, and, ultimately, a vision for the kind of world I hope to see reflected in others and in the future we’re shaping together.

What does success mean to you?
I believe success isn’t a destination to be reached, but a feeling to be recognized and rewarded by oneself. It’s not defined by external validation, but by an internal sense of growth, fulfillment, and alignment with your values. Success evolves as we do, shaped uniquely by each individual and reflective of our personal journeys.

Pricing:

Priceless (Subjective)
Priceless (Subjective)
Priceless (Subjective)
Priceless (Subjective)
Priceless (Subjective)

Contact Info:

Image Credits
All images are shot by me/ with my gear and content of participating parties

Notable people include: Anderson Paak & Steve Lacy

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