Zoe Rain

I was blessed to be mentored by the most talented shooter I know, and also be in the right place and time to work with some very unique and explosive artists, including Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Chance the Rapper, and Ed Sheeran. But with those experiences came years and years of toiling work, networking, fear, mistakes, and learning.

Photography is hard, and anyone who says otherwise has low standards. Even after the many years I have shot, I am constantly learning and growing. Advancing my work to the level I one day aspire to be at will require a lifetime of work.

Not only is the creation of images difficult, but getting work as a freelance artist is daunting. There have been times I could not afford to take a bus home, eat, or pay rent. There have been times where I did not know where my next payday would be, and many opportunities where I considered quitting. To be your own marketer, brander, accountant, and creator takes years to get better at. You just have to stick with it and the work comes easier every year.

Being a female in this industry is something I hope also sets me apart. There is a high saturation of men working this business, and often women are not taken as seriously, both in the photo pit, and on set directing a music video. It has been an empowering experience to be respected in my field and listened to.

Zoe Rain, Voyage Chicago

Chance the Rapper - at Chance's Home

Jamila Woods