Meet James LeBlanc | Owner, Publisher, editor, content director.

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

Hi James, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In starting the publication side of my business my thought process was that the arts in the Shreveport Bossier area were under represented from a publication standpoint. Many of our local publications lean heavily into advertisement sales and transactional content features and what I wanted to do was offer a space for entrepreneurs and artists in the creative community to be celebrated, recognized and represented without the condition of payment. I wanted authentic genuine journalism and what I like to call “ethically sourced” content features that allow a reader to see the diverse beauty we have in this city from all corners of our community without the premise of a pay to play platform. Many artists can not afford exposure on a high level, so this was a way for me and my team to dig in and raise awareness of the people and places that make our community unique and beautiful.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Oh gosh. This is a lot haha.

We actually moved to Shreveport from Dallas in 2014, I left a corporate sales job and basically started over. After settling down I started to think about the things that used to excite me. Photography, the arts, the entire creative community is where I began find belonging and it was then that I started my photography business. Photography for me took off pretty organically- word of mouth was a huge generator for steady business for me and I began to mainly carve out a slice of the photography market doing branding photography for professionals. Though, I always loved to do more artistic and editorial work but that typically wasn’t a driving necessity in this area and I knew I needed to find ways to exercise the more creative element of my craft that often wasn’t a paid gig.

That’s kind of where seeds began to drop for what eventually would become The Creative Magazine. It would be where all things collide. Art, beautiful photography, compelling journalism, and a more integrated partnership with community.

I think most days I’m still figuring out what I’m doing from a day to day basis. Nothing in this journey has been easy but it’s been personally rewarding in the sense that occasionally I’m approached with a message of gratitude and appreciation for the strides we make everyday to help Shreveport put its best face forward and help show others just how awesome we are if you scratch under the surface just a bit.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh! I love this. Ok, first night of company we want a relaxing atmosphere, right?

So I would take them over to the Noble Savage, it is a great little bar/tavern that has a fantastic general menu for a variety of tastes, a live band, and friendly service. It’s open late so you can really hang out and enjoy company in a great environment.

I almost always put the Norton Art Gallery on the list. It’s an awesome free admission gallery in the heart of the historic South Highlands neighborhood and also has a gorgeous, lush, garden with walking paths, waterfalls, coy ponds, plenty of shade and soft grass to lounge and enjoy an afternoon outdoors.

For shopping I would definitely make a stop at the Agora Borealis, it sits in a quaint 1920’s building downtown and offers a relaxed vibe to take in many of our local artists work. You can pretty much find anything in there, from plants to handmade jewelry to locally designed clothes, to artwork, all of it.

For a nicer dinner I would make a reservation at Cypress by the Revenir. This is a new restaurant with a beautiful art deco inspired design and an elevated take on southern classic cuisine. They have some of the very best cocktails and their biscuits and jam are really divine.

After a nice dinner at Cypress we may would go to the Robinson Film Center for a movie, it is a small theatre in a historic building in the downtown district. The Robinson always offers a more intimate experience and after the movie you can always hop upstairs to Abbey Singers Bistro for a cocktail on the balcony overlooking downtown.

Moving into the weekend you would always keep your eye on festival plaza as they always have events throughout the year, like mudbug madness, the farmers market, the Red River Revel and the 3 Strands Wine Festival. Then, as night falls we might could hit up Glo Fest which is a spectacular night time event where the Texas Street Bridge that spans the Red River connecting Shreveport and Bossier City lights up in a variety of colorful ways in unison to music. There’s always great food trucks and art vendors to browse while enjoying the views of the lights and sounds of music.

Before anyone goes home we might stop at The Glass Hat Cafe, downtown, for breakfast before departing. They offer a great southern spread of down home staples like pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, biscuits, all the things.

I’d also send my company home with a candle from Clean Slate Botanicals. Owned by my friend and fellow entrepreneur Ben Whalen, Clean Slate has all kinds of goodies like candles, room and linen sprays and personal hygiene items to pamper yourself and create a really relaxing atmosphere for when you get home from travel.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would think that my biggest source of inspiration would be my husband, Justin. Of course, it might be cliche to name your spouse but what’s interesting about this whole thing is he’s always the “realist”. I started something in which I had no educational background to support and no hands on experience in the field of publications, editing, writing, none of it. All I started with was passion, a camera and a good eye for beautiful photography. The fact that he gave a green light to this project as costly and tasking as it is will always remind me how much he truly believes in what I can do if I set my mind to it. I am my own worst critic (as most of us are) but when I’m very stressed and I feel like giving up he reminds me why this is important to me and the excitement it brings people is what pushes me forward.

Website: Thecreativemag.net OR jmichaelphotoco.com

Instagram: Thecreativejmichael

Facebook: The Creative A J Michael Photography Co Publication

Image Credits
Blake Butler