MS: What are your favorite parts about what you do?
SW: Creative problem solving. Having a direction to work toward. Dissecting an idea/concept and then figuring out a way to execute it. 

MS: What are your short-term and/or long-term goals at the moment?
SW: Short term is to incorporate more motion graphics and animation into my photography and work. Long term is to incorporate more 3D renderings into my work

MS: What made you want to be what you are now?
SW: The drive for balance and refinement in my craft and life

MS: What was your pivotal moment in life that made you take this direction?
SW: While working in a restaurant, I progressed from dishwasher to line cook within a year. After that I knew that I wanted to take on more creative paths in my life

MS: How did you get started?
SW: I graduated with a degree in Vis Com. I started working at a marketing agency right out of school. I learned some basics of photography there for capturing products.

MS: Do you have advice for people interested in the same field?
SW: DON’T compare yourself to others when starting out. Be inspired, but not discouraged when you aren’t “successful” within the first couple of months of creating. You HAVE to suck when you start out. Stay dedicated and look at others work to drive you. Reverse engineer it and then re-create it by making your own

MS: What is something you wish you knew in the beginning?
SW: A career in the arts isn’t just about the arts 

MS: Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
SW: My father. He’s taught me to be a kind, thoughtful and grateful human

MS: What is your favorite quote and why?
SW: Change is the only constant - because it’s true. 

MS: What is your favorite meal and/or drink to share?
SW: Dehydrated mangos

MS: What is your ideal day in the work life?
SW: Taking pictures all day long

MS: What are some things that keep you going?
SW: My 2 beautiful girls

MS: How do you approach a work life balance?
SW: Having a set schedule and discipline to put devices away when I’m at home

MS: What is something you wish people learned or knew more about in your industry?
SW: To deliver something really polished, there’s much more time involved before anything is captured. 

MS: What does supporting local mean to you?
SW: Working with and for people in my community

MS: Do you have advice or encouragement for ways to support local?
SW: Attend events hosted by the people you could have direct involvement with

MS: Is there anything you wish to add?
SW: Try to promote a balance of 70/30 - Fun/Work when approaching your career 

MS: If you could solve one problem in the world, what would it be?
SW: Giving people permission to see themselves without judgement

MS: How do you align you business decisions with your values each day?
SW: I want to work with people that are trustworthy and reliable

MS: What is the most valuable advice you’ve received?
SW: It’s not what you do for people, it’s how you make them feel

MS: In your experience, how do you organize and prioritize your work load?
SW: Lists and reminders. Short tasks first and longer later

MS: What is your definition of success?
SW: Love and Happiness 

MS: What was a challenge you did not expect to overcome that you did?
SW: Anxiety and Depression

MS: Looking back on life, how have you or values shifted or refined?
SW: With the birth of my children, my perspective on everything changed. My Life is about making theirs positive

MS: How has running a business impacted the way you view things?
SW: I appreciate and understand how any small business needs to operate. Realizing that there’s so much happening behind the scenes that most could never think about

"A career in the arts isn’t just about the arts ..."