We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeremy Sharp and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jeremy, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’ve learned to stop basing my personal value on accomplishments and accolades. That only promotes an environment where we place our self-worth in the hands of others. I no longer strive to maintain relevancy or notoriety, but find my success in doing the best job possible regardless of how glamorous or exciting the project is. The majority of my projects come from recommendations by existing clients. That’s how I measure my success now. This allows me to spend more of my time when I’m not shooting, to focus on my home life. Having two young children, one of which who has special needs, means that I need to be present mentally and emotionally for them to be healthy. Being there for them is job number one. I feel very lucky that I am able to work around their needs, and still tell compelling stories for my clients. I know not everyone has that flexibility, and I don’t take it for granted.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have found that I’m differentiated from other photographers or cinematographers in my area because I have devoted the energy to doing both at the professional level. There are lots of talented photographers and video shooters in north texas, but there aren’t a lot that are able to focus on both. Sometimes projects need stills and video shot simultaneously and having one crew to do both is the best solution. Also, all of our post-production is done in-house so we have streamlined the project process from start to finish. All of this allows us to tell really engaging stories for our clients, while being very flexible from a scheduling standpoint.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love to brag on the international representation of North Texas. I’d take them to some of our favorite local restaurants featuring authentic cuisine from around the world. Then I’d show them some of our amazing architecture.
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?
Starting out in this industry, I owe a significant amount of gratitude to my first few clients who took a chance. I transitioned from assisting to shooting at a very early age, about 23, when most of my contemporaries were close to 30. I couldn’t have made that transition at all if there weren’t people willing to give me a shot. People like Jeff Barfoot, Butler Looney and David Radabaugh allowed me to shoot projects that gave me credibility and provided me the opportunities necessary to be able to show my work to the right audience. This was the foundation of my career.
Website: www.jeremysharppictures.com
Instagram: @jeremysharppictures
Facebook: @jeremysharppictures
Image Credits
Photographs by Jeremy Sharp.