Meet Maurice Pugh | Photographer and Graphic Artist

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

Hi Maurice, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
I feel like maintaining my childlike joy for my craft has helped me tremendously. Mainly for the fact that it’s easy to get into the top of comparing myself to others, and robbing myself of the joys of what I do. It’s always important to keep myself in that train of thought as well because it’s what keeps me creating In addition to making sure I deliver a quality product. Another habit that I feel that has helped me is making sure that I am always teachable, and that I still have room to improve. I’m only one person with one mind, so it’s always important to learn in the background so that I can apply what I’ve learned to my solo projects. Over and above that, it’s always important for me to make a habit of teaching others because at the end of the day we can all learn from each other to become better. Being open minded has always been a crucial to my success in photography for the fact that it’s always best to be unpredictable.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I feel like making my art genuine sets it apart, humbly speaking. I don’t do this for attention, I don’t do it to trend, I just do this because I am passionate about what I do at the end of the day. In addition it’s what keeps me excited about doing every photoshoot I come across. A highlight above all however is having my art displayed multiple times because I know that my art is forever and it warms my heart.

My art comes from a place of purity, and emotion. In a way, it’s a way for me to share the emotions I’ve either suppressed over the years to be shared with the world, and if someone is able to take anything away from it then that’s great. The purity part of it is that I just love making sure after every portrait, that it helps the person on the other end comes out more confident and loving themselves.

To get where I’m at professionally, honestly, is not linear nor easy. I’ve heard a lot of rejections, I’ve had a lot of people straight up not reply and ghost but the best I can do to overcome that is just conquer the next shoot and make sure it’s quality. Because to me, it’s not about just one single opportunity, there’s always another at the end of the day. Not to say I’d have endless options, but I’m confident enough in my craft to know that I’m good enough to land something at the end of the day. With that being said, I feel like the biggest lesson I’ve learned along my journey is to just keep pushing through, as cliché as that may sound. Because at the end of the day, I know that my work speaks for itself.

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.
Pins Mechanical Co in the Southside is always a must for me personally to have fun, because it’s an all-in-one. You have games, you have drinks (non-alc as an option as well) and like…..who doesn’t like arcades and bowling? Another spot for me is The Closet in Pittsburgh’s Bellevue area if you ever need to pick up some vintage pieces and memorabilia, definitely a must every month as the selection can’t be topped in my opinion. I’d also try to hit up Soju for some fire Korean dishes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shoutout Chi Ilochi for giving me the opportunity to speak with outlets such as Shoutout Atlanta, PGHCreative/Bankrupt Bodega for allowing me to have my work displayed and supported for it to hopefully inspire others as they have inspired work of my own. They’ve also helped me network and meet so many people within Pittsburghs art scene who have practically watch me grow up from age 17 to age 25. I’d also like to shoutout NOTA Studios and Pamplona Worldwide for being the best friends and creative support system I could ever ask for. As always and forever, my family for always encouraging me to be creative and to express myself for as long as I’ve been living. I would also like to shoutout my girlfriend and hopeful wife for being one of my biggest fans and supporters for the past three years. I’d also like to thank everyone, who has given me the chance to help me express myself and create over the last almost decade. Here’s to many more!

Website: REESEJPG.COM

Instagram: @REESEJPG

Twitter: @REESEJPG_

Facebook: Maurice Pugh Jr (personal) : Reesejp(art page)

Image Credits
Harmony Fix – Model ZAY – Model Curraline Crewl – Model Gabbrielle – Model Alexa Vaughn – Model BOPPPAPI – Model Malik – Model Cameron Breze – Photographer Vondre Clark – Photographer