Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Alexander Tilghman.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’ve always been the big guy. Up until high school, I was the big fat kid. After Freshman year, I was the big-big guy who was obsessed with going to the gym. I was not an artist and had little interest in being one. The original plan was to play football, get a scholarship, and possibly play in the NFL. I was big and fast… like a caffeinated rhino. After 3 locker-room fights freshman year, I decided to pull out of football and changed my plan to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a United States Marine.
My Sophomore year, I was told about a new film program at the high school. We would watch movies and read screenplays instead of reading books. I was hooked. You’re telling me that I could watch movies and receive the same school credits? Yep. Done. I had flashbacks of being 10 years old, waking up at 4:00 am to watch The Scorpion King 2 more times before my family woke up. I liked movies.
Long story short, this was a 2-year film program with film production being the final class sr. year. When it came time to graduate, I couldn’t make myself join the USMC. Instead, I joined a Jr. college with the intent of studying either health & fitness or business. Business was boring. Everyone was becoming a fitness professional. I realized the only class I was really into in high school was Film Production, so I decided to start making films. I dropped out of college, bought a MacBook & camera, and made a little 30-minute documentary with an original score. I did a whole premier and everything with my friends playing the score live.
Skipping forward (just a little), I met a girl on a trip to Russia. She was attending school in Florida and I liked her. I couldn’t leave CA, so we eventually engaged in a long-distance relationship. We dated for a year and a half, flying out to see each other every 3 months, until I proposed–on April 1st. It was my only day off work, so. whatever. We moved her out to SD and got married five months later. We were 22. My wife is an amazing musician and was on a label out on the East Coast (where she is from). I put my photography/filming on hold as we got her off her label after moving out. She was signed for 7 years, and they did not want to let her go. My wife, Sarah, is now revamping her following out here in SD, so many of my shots consist of her. Plus, she is my best friend, so she’s always around to shoot!
After getting married, I worked odd jobs (like professional home pet care and In N Out) to pay the bills until I was hired by Drop Mortgage, Inc. to become a loan officer. The idea of making lots of money made me happy, but the actual work bored the shit out of me. I stopped creating and found myself getting depressed–coming home, sitting on my bed and just looking at the carpet. I decided to leave after a year of being in the mortgage industry to do more freelance film/photography work. My boss saw some work of mine and offered me the position of Director of Media. I was stoked!
I have developed into more of a portrait/lifestyle artist as well as a freelance DP/Director. This past January, my wife and I founded Good Neighbor Media (GNM). We do logo work, photography, video, etc., for some rad people.
If you have any further questions, or if I skipped over details, feel free to ask for more.
Please tell us about your art.
My work has always been about noticing detail–whether it be in someone or something. I am naturally interested in people, so that’s what I shoot. I am more interested in the people themselves and who they are, so I naturally make work that gives more into who they are and what they do, rather than setting up just a cool shot. The heart of Good Neighbor Media is to impact–emotionally, mentally, aesthetically. That is why we love working with people who LOVE what they do and work for something more than making money. If you can feel an image or video, then it is a living thing. People are drawn to it. You have a connection with it.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
Being an artist is like being on an island all by yourself. It feels safe to stay in a place that you’ve become familiar with, but eventually staying on that island will make you insane. WILSON! You will eventually need to set out to find a new territory–even though it means venturing out into the unknown. Putting yourself out there is like sailing out into the sea, venturing out into a sea of uncertainty. For some, rejection is death. It’s not until you make that piece that makes you come alive that you feel like you’ve found new ground, something solid under your feet. Long story short, put yourself out there and find the balance between creativity and discipline.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can visit my Instagram or go to my website www.beingagoodneighbor.com. I am currently revamping the website as I move forward with more fashion photography and cinematic narrative films.
Contact Info:
- Address: Carlsbad/Encinitas/SD
- Website: www.BeingAGoodNeighbor.com
- Phone: 760-707-3136
- Email: info@beingagoodneighbor.com
- Instagram: Jonathan_Tilghman
Image Credit:
Hair and Make Up by Zoie Rose Mclouskey and Katie Buttz.
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
