Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Miranda Motley | Portrait and Wedding Photographer

Growing up, I remember always having a disposable camera at my disposal (pun intended). My grandpa always had a fresh one waiting for me whenever I visited him. We would make special trips to Walmart to drop off the film to be developed. When I was older, I got my first digital camera. Then I bought my first DSLR and the rest is history. In short, photography is an innate passion that I have always kept close. I get to frame people’s memories. Read more>>

Udo Ebulu | Producer, Actor, & Writer

I chose to pursue an artistic/creative career because I derive so much joy from it. I have been blessed with artistic and creative abilities, I truly believe that it is God’s plan for me. Read more>>

Johnna Sabree | cosmetologist, mentor, entrepreneur

My imagination was always a way for me to escape what was going on in my childhood. I was always drawing, coloring, crafting, sewing etc. creating art because it came naturally to me, I got pregnant with my first son after dropping out of high school, college for fashion wasn’t an option. So I started doing hair because my grandma had a salon, it allowed me to be creative and quick make money Read more>>

Drew Dotson | Writer & Improv Guru

Life is about connecting with others, and what better way to do that than through creative expression. I’ve been drawn to art throughout my life. As a child, I wrote and illustrated stories, designed greeting cards, and even crafted and sold handmade jewelry to other kids in the neighborhood. I enjoyed creating, and I especially loved the joy it brought to other people. Now, as an adult, I view art as more valuable than ever. It’s easy to find reasons to disagree, but ultimately we’re all just humans who thrive when we connect with others — and art is a great avenue for that. I hope to bring people together by writing about the shared human experience. No matter our differences, we’re very much alike. Read more>>

Wayne Flint | Digital Artist and Illustrator

My artistic pursuit found me at a time when I was at a low point in my life. A car accident knocked me off my entrepreneurial path in the business industry and turned my life upside down. During the chaos of this time personally and externally, I was able to find respite and passion through creating that was so unexpectedly cathartic. It was important to make a positive contribution to uplift the American culture by the continuous heavy lifting of overturning the negative stereotype of African Americans. Our humanity, achievements, and successes to overcome the chains of our past. Read more>>

Jessica Warren | Balloon Artist & Event Decorator

I pursued an artistic or creative career because it has always been my passion. I honestly believe that it pursued me way before I was born. My creative abilities come so natural in every aspect from designing balloons all the way down to decorating. It has always been a piece of me and I love everything about it. Read more>>

Leeyah Azhané | Cosmetologist & Professional Makeup Artist

It chose me. I knew I was meant to be on a creative career path because in school nothing ever truly intrigued me. I got by and kept up with my work, meanwhile when I was at home or outside of school I was always focused on hair, makeup, anything and everything beauty. That’s what always lit my fire and made me happy. It was always a passion of mine from a young age. I knew what I wanted to do right out of highschool. I knew what I wanted to be as soon as I graduated. It was always hard for me to focus. Read more>>

Josh Schorle | Photographer, Videographer, & Content Creator

I love using my hands and the tools at my disposal to take the crazy ideas in my head and turn them into reality. Sometimes I have a hard time expressing into words what I’m thinking or what the image is that I”m seeing in my head, being able to turn a concept into a reality that can then be seen, shared, & understood by more than just me is so fun. I love capturing an image or a video and being able to use it to communicate something much deeper than what we see on the surface or be able to share a different perspective on the mundane day to day sights, both big and small, that otherwise go unnoticed. Read more>>

raminbeatz | Music Producer

I started pursuing a creative career because this path seemed like the most fun to me to be honest. Before starting my music career I used to be a professional poker player (I played for over 11 years). But in the past 2 or 3 years of my poker career I started to feel bored. Playing a game for a living was fun at first ,especially at a young age, but in the long term it was not fulfilling enough. And I started to think about life and what I’d want to achieve. Money was never the main priority to me, because I’m a strong believer that you have to love and enjoy what you do first. Read more>>

Antonio Baldwin | Content Creator

I pursued my career in creating content due to my passion of forming more fun realities to live in. I love to distract people from all the bad things in the world and give them, along with myself, a reason to smile. Read more>>

Cece Page | Graphic Designer, Artist, Author

I have always felt drawn to the “process” of things, whether it be in digital design, physical arts, gardening, knitting, etc. I like to “create” in any form so a creative career has always just made the most logical sense for me! Read more>>

Legend 6ix | Creative Director & Photographer

It was something I already had in me when I was very young. It was just very difficult to embrace fully while pursuing my dreams of playing collegiate sports on the division 1 level. Little did I know that was only a goal not a dream. Life has a way of showing us what’s really meant for us. Sometimes you have to take risks & bank on yourself. That’s exactly what I did, not even knowing if this would even work out but I knew God put this dream in my heat for a reason. I realized this was something much bigger than myself. I had a purpose for myself & the people around me. Read more>>

Katrina Myrick | Artist & Artistic Designer

Art, Fashion, and Design have always been a part of my life. Since an early age, I’ve always had a creative ability to see things from an artistic and unique perspective. Growing up, I would always style, design, and create items for my family and friends, whether for their homes or for fashion. In 2014 while living in Atlanta, I told someone that creating was my passion, and he helped me land an interior staging job for the model unit in my local sub-division. From there, my passion, love, and admiration for art, designing and creating flourished. I picked up interior design/staging jobs on the side to help gain knowledge and experience, and as a way to cut cost and efficiency, Read more>>