Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Silvers.
Hi Joshua, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My name is Joshua Silvers and I’m from a small town in East Tennessee, Johnson City. I’m a proud father of 3 beautiful, bright, and intelligent children; 2 girls and one boy. Currently, I work in the corporate operations sector and have been almost 15 years of being in Nashville. I think picking up the camera, almost three years ago, was the creative release needed to break up the monotony of the corporate world. The challenge of marrying the technical and creative skills of photography is almost too much to describe. Each project that I pick up pushes me to do more than the last. The best part of my art is the connection with the person on the other side of the lens. No matter who it may be, a seasoned model, an artist skeptical of the portraiture process but open to doing the deed, or the complete novice asking for updated digital pics/birthday photos/seasonal portrait sessions, I always have a great collaboration every time. I almost feel as if there is an opportunity to turn photography sessions into some sort of podcast or other media content. But I’ll hold back on sharing more just in case I figure out the right lane to make that thought happen.
I strangely feel the most unique encounters I have had have been with artists. Musicians have the best stories…or they might just be more open to talking about what they are thinking/going thru because of the art they are involved in. All I know is that having a rock or bluegrass artist in my studio playing music from a different genre always is a good time. I would say if I could pick a “dream genre” outside of Beauty/Fashion photography would be to do sessions with Artists and Actors exclusively every day of the week. I think that would be something I would enjoy doing for the rest of my life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, there were some struggles. I am not originally from this area so sometimes that can be a challenge in itself. I also feel I haven’t been in the creative sector for any amount of time. I am a brand-new person in the industry and it’s a constant battle in my opinion. From the personal struggle of Imposters Syndrome to the actual battle of collaboration with strangers, it can feel like an uphill battle every single outreach attempt. I’d say the biggest challenge is the perception of collaboration whether it be testing, paid, paid branding sessions, etc. There are so many that take advantage of creatives, models, and photographers it feels like you have to question every single interaction. It can feel like an uphill battle at times.
Other times there are weeks/months where you feel you are not even doing anything creatively or for your business. I think perseverance and dedication to collaboration are key. You have to always stay positive and keep your mind moving to avoid stagnation. At least that’s my opinion.
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 am a Portrait, Lifestyle, and Live Event photographer. I specialize in capturing the essence of the individual in front of me. Whether it be for a stylized session or a raw and stripped-down set, I always strive to pull the most from the subject. I think I am best at pulling the inner beauty while highlighting the physical beauty or aesthetic via still imagery. Of course, I do the typical Business Headshot, Branding, Birthday Celebration, Family/Holiday sessions. But I feel a responsibility to pull out the most from every session.
I am most proud of my ability to control natural and augmented light to balance or drastically change/alter the environment based on the vision. My next phase in my photography journey is to collaborate with other creatives, brands, artists, and stylists to create the most unique and spot-on works of art based on the vision possible. I want to be the go-to guy for making a creative impact on every project I am involved with.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I would just like to reaffirm to the new artists and creatives out there that there is a lane for you. I cannot claim success as I am nowhere near any level of internet or industry success. But what I can say is to stay consistent and sharpen your skills daily. I am appreciative of the collaboration I have been afforded this far and am resolute in my skills, my ability to work under pressure, my creativity, and my drive to please myself as well as my clients. I thank my God, my family values, my accountability, and the ones that have believed in me thus far. I feel your name means more than what you have done and I believe I have created a good name for myself thus far.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuasilversphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuasilversphotography
Image Credits:
XS Photography
Kathaleana
Joshua Silvers
Elyse Batista
April Fisher
Samantha Tall
Bree Lefler
Xerxes Sabb
