Check Out Collin Pruitt’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Collin Pruitt

Hi Collin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For as long as I can remember, I have looked up to my older cousin, who is a very artistic person. Whether it was in design, music, or photography, I noticed that he thought differently than everyone else. Every time that we got to spend time together, I left feeling inspired. After a visit to see him in Charlotte one summer, I came back home and taught myself how to use my mom’s camera. At this point, most of my time was dedicated to competitive running. For the next several years after practice, I would drag my friends out at night to explore new areas of town and take photos of run down cars and houses. With no goal in mind, photography was still just a hobby. After a couple years of being consumed with collegiate running, I decided it was time to pursue other dreams.

Around the same time, I built a studio backdrop in my first apartment, and started reaching out to strangers on Instagram – asking them to come and model. This was a great introduction to my professional creative career, however, I still found it difficult to create a body of work that I felt proud of. It wasn’t until I changed my perspective of what art really means to me that I began to grow as a creative. I believe that art is an opportunity to create something new and meaningful, instead of repeating the same patterns over and over again. That might explain why I always dreaded taking traditional wedding or graduation photos for family and friends… even when that was what they thought they wanted. I strive to create work that inspires myself and others.

Then came Nashville. I decided to pursue my goals in a thriving city of music, fashion, and sports. I believe that my small town upbringing challenged me to find external inspiration and has helped me grow into the creative that I am today. It caused me to seek purpose, slow down to find the details, ask questions, and remain persistent. I have learned to find inspiration in everyday moments and to focus on the types of projects that truly excite me. But the ones that are the most rewarding are those that I get to do with others – the ones who love it so much that they would do it for free.
Today I have the opportunity to collaborate with Nashville musicians, brands, artists, models, etc. I am extremely thankful for the supportive network and community of creatives in this city. Everyone wants to see everyone win e.g., On Running, Swiftwick, Andrew Gallivan, Kenzie Cait, The Exchange Running Company, Enerza, and many more.

While I am still balancing my personal artistic expression with my professional responsibilities, I pray that God uses me where he sees fit for the season that I am in. I believe that true art is subjective and can have a profound impact on others, even if we don’t fully understand its meaning. My goal is to create art that is both meaningful and inspiring, whether it’s for a personal project or a client.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Most of the challenges I have run into are self-inflicted. I realized pretty quickly in this process that I am a born-perfectionist. I could spend hours editing one image, tweaking the highlights or colors, just to come back and not use the photo at all. As a creative person, it’s crazy how your own mind will fight you back and forth so much. One minute I think that I’m Picasso, and the next I feel like quitting. But as I’ve grown, I have learned to enjoy building my creative process, maturity in thinking, and willingness to learn from others. The people that are the most fun to work with are the ones who are brutally honest with you, but also will look you in the eyes and teach you how to become better. It’s a constant hill that I’m climbing, and yet I feel like I’m just getting started.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love to help create projects from beginning to end, specializing in photography, videography, branding, and art direction. Whether that means to help a client find their true vision for a piece of work, or understand fully what the project means to them, context is key. I want my work to speak for itself in its own unique way. It is not always easily defined, but captures the essence of the raw emotions of each project in a striking and recognizable manner.

Any big plans?
My dream is to create awesome stuff with awesome people – you know who you are. Let’s get to work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.collinpruitt.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collinpruittnet/