“If a brand comes to me and their inspiration is a lot of the work I've done, then I know what they're trying to convey. If they bring a bunch of stuff that's different than what I do, that's where I start to wonder why I'm here and what's the purpose. Am I just this technician? Because anyone can take a picture. Anyone can light something, but what makes you as a photographer and as a creative is your vision.” —Jonathon Kambouris

Jonathon Kambouris and I recorded this talk shortly before the Coronavirus ramped up and changed everything. It’s striking listening to this conversation now because it's much about shaping up a creative business. Thinking about how these processes might apply today is a great exercise in retuning. Because this feels like a different world, in so many ways.

There are many nuggets from Jonathon’s viewpoint that hold up because he gets to the heart of how art and commerce coalesce. You’ll hear him talk about finding his creative voice and how he brings it to the table when working with art directors and brand marketers. It’s eye-opening insight for creators and brand people alike. If you create visual media for commerce, this episode is for you.

Jonathon is an award-winning commercial still-life photographer and videographer. You may have seen his glossy, saturated images in Wired, The New York Times, in campaigns for Nars, Bobbi Brown, Coach and so much more.

Inside the Episode

Find Jonathon Kambouris at https://jonathonkambouris.com/

Our theme music is by Ben Tyree, and he tweets at https://twitter.com/BenTyree

Follow Blissfully Aware host Ioana Friedman at https://twitter.com/IoanaFriedman

I want to hear your feedback. Send it to [email protected]

Blissfully Aware is the first podcast series from The Daring. We help organizations of all shapes and sizes cultivate audience affinity through creative strategy, design, and storytelling. Looking for some creative help with your transformation? Visit https://www.thedaring.co