Meet Natasha Janae | Freelance Photographer/Videographer

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

Hi Natasha, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is community. I have found that a loyal and supportive community can make or break a business, especially in the beginning processes. For instance, starting out, a lot of my “clients” were friends or family that knew I had a camera and trusted me. Gradually, that evolved into them referring me to other friends of theirs who eventually began paying me for my services. My very first paid client was a referral from my best friend, Asha, who supported me from the start and encouraged me to put myself out there more. Without that constant support and push, I probably wouldn’t have half the clients I have today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

My art has always been subject-focused. What I mean by that is I try my best to accentuate the most appealing aspects of whoever, or whatever, I’m shooting. More recently, I’ve been blessed to capture beautiful behind the scenes moments on a variety of projects which has taken up most of my time, professionally. Capturing people in their element, connecting with others, or just creating, is what I enjoy doing the most. It has brought me great pride in hearing how much people appreciate the way I captured them in my photos and I’m excited at the prospect of being featured in more projects in the future.

Throughout this process, I’ve learned the importance of community. Being surrounded by others who have a similar trajectory as you offers an amount of support and understanding that surpasses surface level empathy.

I aspire for my brand to represent capturing the essence of moments, freezing time in every frame to convey the emotions, stories, and beauty hidden within. I believe that by focusing on preserving the power of fleeting moments, my photography can transcend the ordinary and create lasting memories for all to cherish.

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.
The first place I might take a friend visiting the area is Ponce City Market. I’ve never gone and not enjoyed myself, whether it’s a quick stop to grab some food or a walk along the Beltline. Ponce City Market and the BeltLine frequently host community events, art exhibitions, and festivals, so there’s always a chance you’ll be surprised at what you see. In addition, there is an abundance of art and murals that put the best of Atlanta’s culture on display.

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?
My family–and not just the ones related to me by blood. Without my family, I would be nowhere. Their unrelenting support and encouragement is what has gotten me through the moments where I’ve doubted myself. A special shoutout to my mom and grandmother who have nurtured me in all the best ways and to my best friends, Asha, Khaleel, and Wynton for being my stand-in models for whenever inspiration struck. They’ve all been there from the beginning and have always poured so much love and support into my creative journey, so to you guys, thank you, I love you!

Website: https://bynatashajanae.myportfolio.com

Instagram: bynatashajanae

Image Credits
bynatashajanae