Meet Shy Jones | Creative Director & Photographer

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

Hi Shy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My whole life has been about taking risks. But risk backed up with Faith actually guides me. Moving away from LA was a risk. I had only visited ATL once at the time, but made the drive with NO cross-county experience and definitely NO knowledge of driving in snow. Not to mention not knowing anyone. But I decided to take a leap of Faith, and it worked out.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Faith got me to where I am today. I’ve always had faith in destiny. In which I’ve always chased Destiny. I truly believe our life is already mapped out which coincides with our dreams. We as people just have to follow our dreams. I currently experience my 10 year old dreams coming true in my 30’s. I try to follow life’s path. It took me some time of course, it’s easier said than done, of course, but I’ve gotten comfortable with being uncomfortable. Normally new situations make a person uncomfortable. I take them on as new opportunities. New lessons.

My childhood dreams were to be apart of the shows I saw on tv. I didn’t necessarily want to be a actress or a artist but I’ve always wanted to be apart of it some way some how. I just didn’t know. Fast forward to my teenage dreams I wanted to be a radio host. I wanted to use my voice and speak. I just didn’t know where to start, which later turned into insecurities. My young adult dreams were to be the BIGGEST BLACK WOMAN fashion photographer in the world.

Grant it all those are great dreams I love them. I am slick on the path to each and every one of those dreams. I don’t necessarily do radio but my voice is starting to be heard. I may not be the biggest photographer yet! But I’ve photographed some of the BIGGEST artist in the world! I’m living in my Destiny.

Now don’t get me wrong, no one said getting to our dreams would be easy. No one said we wouldn’t have sleepless nights, empty bank accounts, failed relationships and friendships, etc. Which I’ve experienced all of the above. I think what helped me overcome these trials and tribulations was to remain focus on my dreams. I had to understand pain is normally temporary. Life is short I couldn’t imagine not going after everything I desired out of life. I truly believe if we couldn’t obtain our desires we wouldn’t have the thoughts to so.

My brand is a Creative Brand. Which specializes in photography, creative direction, music video treatments, social media management, website building etc.

I myself Shy Jones am the Visual Director for Big Facts Podcast. Co Host of Big Facts Friday. I’m also the coordinator of The Shit Show Global.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Long week in LA… first place Im stopping is King Taco!!! I may go by my granny house to see all my family in watts…. Then head to the 103rd shopping center for some Chinese Food!! Later I may go to the beach just to relax!! I may hit Sharkeez to eat! Again!

If I can be honest outside or seeing my friends and family I slick feel like a tourist. NOTHING is the same! I moved to Atlanta almost 8years ago so every time I visit home there’s a new shoe store I need to visit, Long Beach looking like the new Miami Beach now. New brunch spots. New boutiques etc. So I normally call my cousins or friends and ask them what to do.

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?
Shoutout to my MOM, my DAUGHTER, my FOE & my BIGFACTS FAMILY.. these are the people that currently push me.

Deciding to become a photographer was easy. The hard part was taking it serious and finding people that I looked up to take me serious. I literally reached out to EVERY photographer in LA that I thought was dope. Some would say there’s no way you thought more than one person was Dope enough to be a mentor but I did. I asked over 10 photographers to help me. Help me get my pictures to look like a photo out of a magazine. At the time I had so much ambition with zero pride I didn’t care how people perceived me. I NEEDED HELP. There was one photograph Shawn (ROOM703) who literally took me under his wing and started to help me. Shortly after I reached out to faze1 and he began to help me. I still message faze and ask him Photography/ Business advice. I literally wouldn’t be as far as I am if it weren’t for these two! So shoutout to them!!

Website: Www.jonesncreative.com

Instagram: @joneswithme

Twitter: @joneswithme

Youtube: @djscreamtv