Meet Courtney Martin | Art by Court Winter | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Martin | Art by Court Winter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney Martin |, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When you run your own business it’s easy to get caught up in the grind. I worked hard day an and day out to make something out of my vision and I couldn’t imagine failing because I didn’t have a back up plan- all I knew is that I didn’t want to spend my time sitting behind and desk wasting my creativity. When I first started my photography business I was taking on every type of photography. I wanted to be behind the camera as much as possible, especially with being a self-taught photographer because I felt the only way to learn the ropes was to dive in and try it all. Practice makes perfect, right? I am thankful I did this but over time I found myself losing passion because I was caught up in the hustle. Every gig or opportunity that came my way was going to get my attention no matter how much was already on my plate and this lead to a huge burn out/creative funk. Now that I’ve been in business for 5+ years I can truly say that balance is EVERYTHING to me. When I think about balance I literally envision myself/my mental health/my sanity and my at home life on one end and my fueling passion to create on the other and I think, how can I keep these two satisfied? How can I preserve my passion and preserve myself? I’ve learned to truly be fulfilled I have to preserve the creator (myself) to be able to keep creating. My best work is fueled by passion, not money, not clout but PASSION. So now when I feel myself getting overwhelmed I establish a healthy boundary that is healthy for both me and my business and I’ve found myself being A LOT happier and content.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Photography is my choice of art. I was not always on the path to being a photographer but I truly felt destiny worked some magic with this one. In 2015 I was originally selling my original canvas art under the name of Art by Court Winter. When business started to get serious I figured I should have some professional photos on my website that really showcased my work. I ordered a cheap camera from Amazon and started photographing my pieces. Once I started taking photos of my pieces more often I then began to play around with editing software. I learned very quickly that editing and retouching was a form of art in itself- choosing tones and hues, color grading and cropping. After realizing this I was like man, I really enjoy doing this.
In 2016 I started really getting into photography. After talking with a close friend who was into photography I started researching different cameras and lenses and decided it was time for an upgrade. For my birthday that year my dad bought me a Canon 5d Mark III and my boyfriend bought me my first lens, the Nifty Fifty (50mm.) And from there I completely indulged myself in this beautiful thing called photography.
It was not easy getting into the world of capturing photos because it’s so much more than snapping a picture. It’s about the eye, the angles, the composition, the style, the editing. I had to find myself and the best way to do that was to keep taking photos and never stop. When I was just getting started I ended up relocating to Miami with my boyfriend. This took me to a whole new state where I had no friends, no people to just hit up and say “hey lets shoot” to get my practice in. So I had to figure it out- and BOY WAS IT FRUSTRATING. I messaged so many random people on Instagram trying to get them to be a test subject but my style of photography was still in the beginner stages and Miami is like the land of amazing creatives, so I didn’t really stand out. Finally I was able to connect with a girl named Esther who gave me a chance at my very first shoot in Miami. She was an amazing model and I was so so pleased with the outcome of the shoot. It was something so special about the colors and beauty of Miami that has left an impression on my work until this very day. I spent 3 years finding myself creatively in Miami. I met a ton of amazing people, started booking shoots and took thousands and thousands of photos.
Looking back I can say I’m super proud of myself for being brave in a new state..I really put myself out there and it really paid off in the end. One of the biggest lessons I learned was to JUST ASK and be okay with being told “no” because eventually someone will give you a chance. I almost gave up my first few months in Miami but I just told myself to keep trying and keep reaching out to make connections and it all worked out. Now I work in photography professionally and I survive off of my talent which was only a dream to me previously. I just want to encourage people to keep going, keep pushing and believe in yourself. Your journey may not look like everyone else’s but it’s YOUR journey for a reason.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m all about nature and art so we’d definitely be hitting up the state parks for a nice hike. There’s nothing better than being out in nature and getting inspiration for new creations and new ideas. I’d then suggest a visit to local museums, preferably art, to check out local and worldwide talent. There’s something so refreshing about indulging in multiple mediums of art and reading the little excerpts beside each piece to get a look into the creatives vision. I tend to do things that keep me inspired and to put a little fire under me to step it up and bring some fresh new ideas to the table. History museums are also another favorite for me because what is more interesting than learning about the lives before us? There were so many beautiful people roaming this earth before I was and to get a peep into their stories is a true honor for me. Outside of those things, I’d probably end up roaming the city with my friends for dope shoot spots! I love love love taking photos of my friends, it’s truly a bonding moment for us when we can get together and do that. Shooting in the city is always one of my favorite places because I always stumble upon the most unconventional locations and find a way to make art out of them- and I love when people drive by yelling “yassssss girl” out of the window, gassing my friends up while they’re in front of my lens! Lol gotta love the love.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to each and every person who has given Art by Court Winter a chance- the people who have been in front of my lens and allowed me the space and opportunity to do what I love.

Website: www.artbycourtwinter.com

Instagram: artbycourtwinter

Facebook: www.facebook.com/artbycourtwinter