Meet Anaya Monette | Photographer & Local Caffeine Dealer

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

Hi Anaya, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Growing up I had a very tumultuous childhood. My parents suffered from addiction and being the oldest daughter- everyday was an uphill battle. This catapulted me into escapism (I know it sounds bad but it did me good) I started using my creative mind to escape my reality. I discovered my love for music and singing, my love for capturing the beauty in all humans, and my love for creating. I discovered that I could be anything I wanted to be. Nothing was impossible. As I grew up, I knew with certainty that I was going to be in the creative field. It was freeing and rewarding and I have been chasing that feeling since I was a child. Nothing fills and fuels my soul like the work I create whether it be photos, or a beautiful homemade latte. I am always full of new ideas and I’m always creating something new. It is so rewarding to bring the ideas in my head to life. That is why Im in this field. That is what keeps me going, it’s that feeling. It fills me up with so much love and happiness.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Im from a small town in North Carolina. Photography was not big there and there was no market whatsoever in the editorial realm. I felt extremely stagnant and like I would never grow if I didn’t take the risk and leave that small town and dream BIG. I started taking photography seriously in 2016 and it has manifested tremendously. I have had the opportunity to get my work published in V magazine, NYLON, and have some of my work featured on Calvin Klein (all in North Carolina might I add) This gave me the courage to take a leap of faith and pack my little purple suitcase and move to Los Angeles, CA. This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but I was determined and I truly was lead by my intuition. I just knew it was where I needed to be to start creating with more people. I knew this was my path and my soul calling. The biggest lesson I have learned along my journey is to keep going, keep believing in yourself, your dream and your end goal. Keep that end goal in the back of your mind and live in those good feelings all the time. I am 26 years old and Im still not where I want to be but I have come so far and I am so grateful. My next big goal is to open my own coffee shop for creatives to go and network, and get all the. late night edits in. I want to create a safe space for the artistic mind to run free. I have combined my love for photography and coffee and just started running with it and it’s working. You have to believe in yourself. You have to trust yourself. You have to know that some progress IS progress. If there is one thing I’d want the world to know about me and my brand is that love and kindness always wins and when you lead with your heart you will always be prosperous.

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?
My bestie has arrived and the first place were going is to is Folks pizzeria for the Caesar salad and fennel sausage pizza, and a Coke Zero. Next were taking the PCH to shaw’s cove in Laguna beach for a sunset swim and yap session. The most fun I have ever had is the beach, especially with my friends. I could be biased because I am a pisces but I have never laughed harder with people than when we are getting absolutely destroyed by waves together.

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?
They will never believe it but I owe a lot of my growth and success to my dad and papa. I watched my dad (and amazing mom) overcome addiction. Watching them battle for the light at the end of tunnel further proved to me that I can do anything I put my mind to. I was more than capable of accomplishing my dreams as long as I believed I was. My dad is biggest inspiration and light in my life. I would’ve never picked up a camera if my papa never picked up his. He has always been my biggest supporter, from my first subscriber on YouTube to my biggest teacher in life and photography. I am constantly inspired by that man. Everyone has a papa, but not everyone has my papa.

Website: https://anayamonette.myportfolio.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nayamonette/

Image Credits
Anaya Monette