We had the good fortune of connecting with Jose Lawrence and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jose, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
The most important lesson my business has taught me is that I have to be my biggest supporter and investor. When I first started my business, I went into it knowing that not everyone would be able to see or understand my vision. Despite that I must constantly push myself forward to achieve my business goals. Being a business owner is very up and down. Some days you may have new clients calling you nonstop, other days you may not get a call for weeks at a time. It’s all about staying positive and motivated. I do not depend on the support of others, though I appreciate it when they do show it. If you’re getting into a business with the idea that everyone will support and invest, you will be in for a rude awakening. Starting a business is a major commitment of self and a challenge of an individual’s patience and ability to adapt. You have to constantly tweak your strategies and if you can stay the course, you will see a positive return on your hard work. It all begins with self at the end of the day.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I am a photographer with a wide skill set however I specialize in portrait, boudoir, and street photography. What sets me apart from others is that for me it’s not about the money. It’s about helping my subjects to unlock those hidden parts of themselves and cast off the labels that are placed on them from society. I enjoy building healthy bonds with the people I shoot and, in a way, it provides a therapy for them if they are going through insecurity issues, shyness, or stress. I love to create a liberating experience and capture the authenticity of the human experience.

What I am most proud about is my own personal growth in my craft. I am constantly coming up with new concepts and ideas to push my creative limits. I love to get others engaged in an image, to build a story that can capture the mind and imagination of the observer. In truth I love to inspire others creatively to reach in themselves and find their own artistic avenue to express themselves.

I got to where I am today professionally by constantly honing my skills and dedicated all of myself to my craft. I consider myself a lifelong student so no matter how much I think I have learned I still believe there is more to discover. I look to other professionals as well to gain further understanding, especially when it comes to the business side of things. No matter how good of a photographer you are if you can’t master the business side of it, you will not succeed. By no means do I consider myself an expert in that area so I strive in gaining as much knowledge as I can to get to where I want to be long term.

I have many challenges along the way. Especially when it comes to the anxiety and depression of the unknown. I always used to ask myself if I was even good enough to make this passion of mine into a business, did I have skills necessary to really stand out. But one of the first lessons I quickly learned is that you will never know until you try. Many dreams die because the attempt was never made. So, despite being fearful of the unknown I still dove in. I have made many mistakes at first and I still do at times, however it’s important to learn from those mistakes and to keep moving forward above all else. Through my business I came to understand the need for mental health and to take mental health breaks as well when necessary.

What I want the world to know about me is that despite all I have been through in my life dealing with undiagnosed severe depression and anxiety for years. I still strive to be the best version of myself that I can be. My photography is more than just my passion it is my therapy. With my camera in hand, I am able to navigate in spaces where I would be crippled socially. It helps me with interacting and expressing myself in ways I never could before with words. However, I find an image can evoke all the emotions I wish to show. It is my hope that people can find inspiration in my story and my brand. That others who struggle with mental health can find the courage and strength to seek help and find that spark to drive them to heal.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If I had my best friend visiting my area; one of the most fun places I would have to show them would be the Hollywood Boulevard art district. Although Miami is the more popular destination spot. Hollywood has a beautiful art district full with restaurants and bars that show more of the local vibe over the tourist friendly areas of Wynwood and Miami Beach. One of my favorite restaurants there is a sushi restaurant called Go Bistro, which offers a great selection of different types of sushi, ramen and Japanese desserts. It’s a great spot to hang out, enjoy the vibes and drink sake. At night the strip transforms with all the clubs coming to life.

Another fun area is Las Olas. There are many art galleries, bars, restaurants to visit and get a taste of various local cultures. The night life is amazing. You can also take the water taxi and see the mansions and enjoy the lights.

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?
There are so many people I want to thank; however, I want to dedicate this shoutout to Teirah “Tee” Hicks. Coming into this new phase of my life as a creative I was going through a lot mentally in terms of being unsure of my next steps and how to focus. As a new business owner herself she really helped me to focus my talent and constantly pushed me to engage more with the public to display my skills and business. We constantly communicate and meet at least once a week about how we can both build our brands, help each other in terms of becoming better people and business owners. The name of her business brand is Perfectly Flawed and she owns a boutique in Margate, Florida which deals with fashion for women. She has quickly become a major part of helping me in my growth to reach the next levels of my success and I am truly grateful to her for that.

Website: www.jlawinspired.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jlaw_inspired

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlaw_inspired

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jlawinspired

Other: https://kavyar.com/jose-lawrence

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.