Today we’d like to introduce you to Blue Wesley.
Hi Blue, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Blue Wesley, and I am the founder and creative director of Polarized Studios, a San Diego based Production Agency as well as the Founder for San Diego’s premiere in-person Photography Workshop in La Jolla, Ca (sdworkshops.com)
It all started in 2010 when my best friend convinced me to come along on world trip, adventure surfing and exploring 15 countries on 4 continents. I became obsessed with photographing elements of each stop and curating my imagery. Upon returning, I worked in the service industry for a few years and decided to make the leap into photography full-time. That was 2012 and I’ve never looked back!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not always smooth, as a photographer AKA business owner, you are a mix of small business, sales and marketing, communication specialist, and an ARTIST. This has its push and pull when you are looking to be artistic but have to deal with client stuff. Also, with the ebb and flow of being a freelance professional, you’ve got to develop a thick skin for the seasonality of how you make income. When it rains it pours, but at times you may feel like there aren’t many projects on the horizon. My advice in the slow times set yourself a structured schedule of all things you want to build out in the future including websites, the whale of a chore: social media, print mailers, researching future clients, re-editing old work, creating new personal work, etc. When you are slammed with client work, you will never get to this stuff and it’s all essential. So, enjoy the time off and be grateful that you are on your own schedule 😉
As you know, we’re big fans of SD Workshops. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Today, my team and I specialize in creating Sports and lifestyle, Hospitality, and Marine Photo+Video campaigns for brands including NIKE, GARMIN, and HYATT.
My latest venture is hosting a series of professional San Diego-based photography workshops focusing on training aspiring photographers on shooting with models, working with brands, creating in the ocean, flying drones, and transforming their passion into a full-scale career! Our workshop is lead by myself as well as a network of amazing instructors who all of something special to share. Check us out at SDWORKSHOPS.COM to learn more.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was imaginative and a collector: Whether acquiring old coins, postcards, arrowheads, or ancient Shark teeth fossils, my appetite to find and curate a collection was obvious.
Now in my 30s, my life’s mission is to collect and refine the images that will define my body of work as a photographer and collector of the special moments I see in the world!
Pricing:
- $599
- $899
Contact Info:
- Website: sdworkshops.com, polarizedstudios.com
- Instagram: bluewesley
Image Credits
@polarizedstudios
