Life & Work with April Bowers

Today we’d like to introduce you to April Bowers.

Hi April, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I remember the first photo I took that made me fall in love with the art of photography. I was 12 and visiting my aunt and her family who were living in Sydney, Australia. We did a lot of sightseeing and one morning we took an early bus trip to Canberra. It was sunrise and our bus was parked near the Sydney Opera House. As the sun was coming up behind the Opera House, I stopped and took a picture with my camera. When my pictures were developed and I came across that photograph, I remember the feeling that took over my body from head to toe. It was pure magic to relive that moment, that magical morning, as I now sat back at home in the Chicago Suburbs. It was the way that the Opera House was silhouetted in front of the rising sun and how the water shimmered where the light reached it. That image moved me and took me back to those feelings of adventure and exploration.

From there, I had a growing interest in photography. In high school, I was on the school newspaper staff as a writer but loved when I was able to grab the staff camera and take pictures too. I took photography courses in college as an elective and found the darkroom meditative and peaceful, but considered myself a hobbyist if anything. It didn’t occur to me that I could make photography a real profession until I was talking to a photographer we hired to take my son’s newborn pictures. He was so helpful and transparent with me about the business of photography, and he gave me a lot to think about. So much in fact that I started feeling like I needed to put a plan in place and realize my dream.

Opening my first studio back home was such an incredible achievement. I specialized in women’s portraiture and boudoir and did quite a few weddings as well. My sisters had moved to Nashville, and I would come down a few times per year and do sessions for them and their friends.

Now that I’m living here in Nashville and have found a studio space, I am specializing in portraiture, personal branding, and mindset / creative coaching. I love where my journey has taken me so far and cannot wait to see what the future holds.

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?
Definitely not! But to be honest, most of the struggles I’ve faced are of my own making. Creatives have a way of being the biggest obstacle in their own way. From buying into the “starving artist” mentality and not having a solid sense of self-value and worth to my own personal struggles of trying to find the perfect balance between work/home life, I’ve definitely had my moments of frustration and hopelessness.

But a lot of that is remedied with mindset work including good boundaries and clear goals.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in custom portraiture and personal branding photography. I provide a safe, inclusive space for everyone to step in front of my lens and believe that every single one of us is a work of art and is worthy of having portraits made.

My portrait clients usually come to me because they want something timeless. Often they will book a session because they are celebrating a milestone or achievement, or they simply want to feel empowered and beautiful. My portrait sessions are a collaborative experience between me, the client, and my support team (hair/makeup artist, wardrobe stylist, and sometimes a set designer). There is a lot of planning and communication involved, and the experience has been called “art therapy” by a few of my clients.

My personal branding and headshot clients usually come to me because they are ready to level up the imagery on their website and social media and want imagery that is authentic to them. I guide my personal branding clients through the entire process too so that they feel heard and supported the entire way.

One thing that sets me apart from others is that no matter what kind of session I am doing with a client, it is a complete experience and is often transformational for them. From the planning of their session to the energy and magic on the day of the photoshoot, all the way to the delivery of their final products (whether that’s a folio of digital images or a stunning collection of matted find art prints in a handmade box), their time with me is mindfully crafted and custom-tailored to their needs.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
There is so much creativity and talent in Nashville – it’s vibrant and alive! There’s so much more to this city than country music, especially away from the tourist areas. It’s one of the main things I love about this city.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.AprilBowersCreative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilbowerscreative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AprilBowersCreative
• Other: https://www.aprilbowerscreative.com/imvisible-southern-pride