Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittney Young.
Hi Brittney, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As an ambidextrous lefty, I keep moving until things feel right. I was born and raised in the suburbs of St. Louis by an art professor and a carpenter, so creativity was fluid in our home. Both of my parents worked hard, having not only full-time jobs but also each having their own side hustle. So, there was always encouragement to follow my passions, but my education had to come first.
After graduating college, I quickly realized that being in an office was not built for me. Feeling like a part of myself was missing, I left my job as a social worker and went back to the service industry to figure out what was next. Doing so gave myself a whole new love for my creativity and reignited my love for photography. Having more time to create allowed me to discover who I am and where I belong.
In 2019 I decided to start my own business in content creation, using Instagram as my base. Taking photos every day quickly became a part of my routine. After countless hours shooting, tears shed, and mistakes made, my work improved. Without much delay, brands were reaching out to me for paid collaborations and freelance work. I started taking on more jobs for product photography and fell in love with the art of detailed aesthetics.
Today, my passion is my dream job as the brand manager for a local furniture company. Luckily, I’m still blessed with freelance work, as the entrepreneur in me could never quit. However, If I had not followed my gut instinct and ran with it, I wouldn’t be happily creating for a living, every single day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The ever-changing patterns of life will always be the biggest obstacle; next to the Instagram algorithm. While social media has been incredible for building a business, the unknowns of producing work that may not be seen by many can be challenging. Having lots of persistence and consistency was the simple recipe that pushed me to where I am now.
Unfortunately, not everyone in your life is going to cheer you on, and starting your own business will teach you that. Losing friends to a passion is never easy, and I have struggled in the past with navigating those waters.
Yet every obstacle taught me a lesson and I wouldn’t change any rocky path for a paved one.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I manage the photography and design for a local furniture company, Modwest. My day-to-day consists of photographing the furniture and items we have as well as designing the showroom space. I also manage all the social sites and current sales, keeping on brand with growing the business.
I’m proud of the determination to continue my passion, turning a dream into a career. My degree in psychology allows me to clearly communicate and identify the vision of the brand and their aesthetics. Learning to capture a story within a single frame, I’m truly grateful for every experience and opportunity that arises.
How do you think about luck?
When things feel rocky, it’s easy to believe in bad luck. However, believing more in good karma and positive presence in the world, I believe people attract the energy they portray.
Today, I would consider myself lucky simply because my passion is also my career. I consider myself lucky that I had the encouragement from my now husband to follow my dreams. “Luck” helped give me the courage to take the risk on myself.
Contact Info:
- Email: collabwithbrittney@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearbrittneygoes/
