Rising Stars: Meet Joshua Hearn of Entertainment District

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Hearn

Hi Joshua, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always had a passion for photography and the visual arts but never committed myself to creating it until recently, when I grew tired of the daily grind of the corporate world where I felt like I was chasing someone else’s dreams and not my own. As a former Army Officer and combat veteran, I seek beauty in the world as a coping mechanism for past traumas, and frequently found myself in locations where I wanted to capture and share its awe. It started with traveling, mostly to the mountains out West, to hike and seek scenic locations.

I quickly determined I needed more than a cell phone to truly capture what I was witnessing, so I purchased a GoPro and began planning trips for the sole purpose of filming. The GoPro captured better quality images but I still had no idea what to do with footage so I purchased a MacBook with FinalCut Pro and set out to teach myself how to edit video. One project led to another and, fast forward a few years, I finally purchased a professional grade camera.

With yet another piece of new equipment to teach myself how to use, I began looking for projects around Nashville to train on. I started at Radnor Lake State Park, shooting wildlife. One evening I decided to go to Broadway and try my hand at photographing cityscapes at night. I had been to Broadway many times but never as a photographer, and what I found was a subject-rich environment where people were drawn to my camera, wanting their photo taken. Downtown was also full of other photographers of varying niches, all of whom were friendly and willing to share their knowledge.

I decided to keep going back. Nashville has a bustling entertainment district where someone can find endless opportunities to shoot a variety of types of photography like portraits, concert, street. Suddenly wildlife and landscape photography didn’t hold luster it once had, I was drawn to the neon lights, the crowds of people from around the world, the pulsating music that filled the streets. This, in turn, allowed me to return to nature for peace and tranquility, as opposed to feeling like I need to create content when I should be there embracing the moment.

Needing somewhere to display my work, I created an Instagram page called “My Broadway Lens” in August of 2023. Almost immediately, I started receiving requests from artists to shoot their shows. Likewise, the tourists who were approaching me to have their picture taken now had somewhere to access it.

Once I had graduated to a level where my work could be sold, I had to figure out how to start a photography business, yet another new and unique challenge. For this I opted to learn from a podcast and began listening to “Photography Side Hustle” by Andy Jones, which is well worth the listen for anyone wanting to grow in photography.

My strategy was simple, keep shooting, keep networking. I now go to Broadway and shoot 3-4 nights a week, generally spending five hours in the entertainment district at a time. My lead flow is increasing, I’m even getting foreign clients who are finding my social media and contracting me for shoots during their visits to Music City.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I had no formal, or even informal, training on photography/videography, nor did I have any professional equipment, so I knew it would be a long process that would require a good deal of time and discipline from me.

Self-Learning has certainly been one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced. My “day job” is demanding and has me traveling close to 80%, so my time to gather content and teach myself has been limited. I’ve spent many evenings in hotel lobbies watching tutorials and doing exploratory learning with existing photos.

Another challenge has been to make a name for myself in a market that is saturated with photographers. Nashville is not a hidden gem, it’s known worldwide and photographers fill the streets. My approach here is simple; keep showing up, create high quality products that are each better than the last, network with everyone I meet by being courteous and helpful.

My biggest challenge thus far has been, “how does one start a successful photography business”? This has been a completely new process for me. We’ve all taken pictures, networking is nothing new, but how do you sell photographs? I’ve leaned on podcasts and Youtube for this one, and, with the free time I’ve had available, I’ve piece milled together the necessary components to make this happen. I feel like the launch of my website will catapult this to the next level.

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?
I joined the Army following the 9/11 attacks, a sophomore in college, and spent 13 years serving as an Armor Officer leading tank and cavalry units before being injured and subsequently retired. For the past seven years I’ve been a regional manager with a large home improvement sales organization, leading five territories across the five states.

My goal is to transform My Broadway Lens from a side hustle to my full time job.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Grow, grow, grow! I’m continuing to master my craft. With each motion of the shutter, I become a better photographer. I want to grow My Broadway Lens into a reputable media company in Nashville, sought out by both entertainers and tourists alike. I want to take on new clients and expand the services I offer.

I’m in the process of building a website, which should go live by July 2024.

I recently purchased a drone and plan to grow that offering into the real estate and commercial markets, and big dreams of using it to make videos for artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mybroadwaylens.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mybroadwaylens/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaHearnOfficial