Inspiration and Resources | April 2022
30 Days of Inspiration & Resources is a super short video series where I share a source of inspiration or resource for creatives for 30 days in April. Here are the videos for the first half of the month.
1. Sara Dietschy
Today’s inspiration is Sara Dietschy ( rhymes with peachy)
If we’ve ever talked about youtube or youtubers or you met me about 6 years ago, you’d know that I was pretty obsessed with Sara’s story.
She’s a creator from Texas who landed the Adobe creative residency and moved to New York to pursue her dreams.
I was completely floored by her story, and I’ve actually been around and watched her channel since before the viral casey niestat video. Yea, I’m a hipster.
But before she moved to the big apple, she was like the rest of us. Making videos in her bedroom, filming tutorials and wedding videos on the side.
I actually found Sara’s channel when I was starting in photo/video because she made a tutorial about what camera to buy and how to shoot manual.
Her story is pretty amazing and she actually recapped most of it in a recent video.
She has been a pretty big inspiration and actually sparked the idea for this year’s April challenge.
If you’re interested in Tech, Photo and video, or want to watch a pretty interesting Texan, check out Sara. She’s provided me with plenty of inspiration.
2. Dribbble Blog
If you’re a graphic designer or you’re interested in design, you’ve probably heard of dribbble. It’s a place where graphic designers post designs. Almost like instagram, but not really.
You’ll also notice that they have pro features and the ability to use your dribbble portfolio as your website. There’s options to sell things on their marketplace (Creative Market). Overall, it’s a pretty nice place to share and look at designs.
If you’re still new to the design game or want to learn, they do offer some webinars, however most of them are paid.
The real highlight of today is the dribbble blog.
Yes! Their blog! It’s full of tips, tricks, hacks, interviews, and resources.
When I was just starting to figure out graphic design this blog saved my ass so many times.
Also, if you’re looking for motivation or inspiration or want to know what’s trending, this blog is usually a great resource to check those things out.
I might not share on dribbble consistently, but I visit their blog often. And it’s a pretty great resource.
3. Vuhlandes
What’s the goddamn deal youtube, it’s ya boy vuhlandes.
One of my favorite photographers on earth right now is the man vuhlandes. Young, black, loc’d, unapologetically himself, and a bomb ass photographer.
Vuhlandes is a photographer from Detroit Michigan. He primarily shoots film and makes videos centered around his life and photography career. I’ve been following this man for a while and I just really enjoy his style of video.
I feel like he’s all the way real. His photos depict the life and people around him. Whether that’s something or someone from the hood to models. Vuh is straight killing it.
Whenever I need some inspiration on documenting the everyday (especially as a black male) I check out Vuhlandes’ YouTube channel. I know he’ll keep it real.
4. ConvertKit Blog
Lately I’ve been on a kick of trying to grow my email list.
Shameless plug, subscribe if you haven’t already.
Although I have a substack and a mailchimp account, I really like the content produced by convertkit.
Their videos are well produced. Their blog posts are long and detailed. Overall, it feels like they really spend time on their content.
Also, I follow one of the people who work at the company, Charli Marie.
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to grow your list or want to read case studies about people who have grown their list, converkit’s blog has all of that information nicely packaged for you.
5. Becki & Chris
The inspiration of today is none other than Becki & Chris!
Becki and Chris are a creative couple who currently reside in Buffalo, New York.
Chris is a real life doctor and helicopter pilot while Becki is the creative brain behind their youtube channel and blog.
They make videos about home renovation projects, how to make better videos, and helicopters. They make videos about more things but I feel like those are the top 3.
The thing that inspires me the most isn’t the gear or their home design. It’s the freaking branding.
Becki’s branding and tips about branding are A-1. If I ever give you branding advice or examples, just know I probably stole it from Becki and Chris
6. Format Blog
Did you know that Format.com has a blog that’s actually full of helpful ideas and resources for photographers?
Format.com is a website hosting service. It’s kinda like wix and squarespace but their niche is photographers.
The service is nice and neat and I actually hosted my website there for about a year.
During that year and admittedly some time after, I would frequent their blog to get inspiration and helpful resources to help grow my career.
The resources on this blog are more art and fashion industry related than client industry related, but the information can be translated over.
Their blog does heavily promote their own services, which aren’t bad, just look out for that link placement.
If you’re a photographer or in the photo industry, check out the format blog also known as the format magazine and give it a scroll. You might find something helpful or thought provoking.
7. YCImaging
One creator that I relate to and has provided me with a ton of inspiration is Chris AKA YCImaging.
He started his foray into the video space by creating music videos for his brother. He built up his skills and clients as a video creator and made some pretty dope videos. He eventually found even more success as a youtube creator.
YC’s channel is all about music video directing, video production, and some real life inspiration.
He talks about real life topics and things that all creators go through: burnout, stress, finances, acquiring gear, and personal projects.
Even though music videos aren’t really my thing, Watching someone like YC continue to pursue and accomplish his goals gives me hope that someone who looks like me can make it. I just have to keep putting in the work.
8. Unsplash
Today we’re talking about everyone’s favorite free stock photo website, Unsplash.
Unsplash is the internet’s source of freely usable images. It boasts Over one million curated photos and a community of 211,166 photographers. But those aren’t my words. They’re literally on the website.
Anyone can join unsplash and start uploading photos, which can be a double edged sword.
The unsplash license is free to use however you want including commercial use. And the responsibility for the use of that image is on the user, so beware.
Other than that, it’s a pretty decent source of images and ideas for images. I’ve used images from this website and I’ve uploaded images to be used.
It gets mixed reviews from the photography community, but it’s still worth checking out if you like looking at interesting photography.
9. Hallease
If you are not endeavoring to persevere then what are you doing fam? Today’s inspirational creator is the one and only Hallease.
Hallease is a digital storyteller, creator, and genuine amazing creator.
She is currently an adobe creative resident and she runs her own video production company under the name Stumbellwell.
I believe I found Hallease when I was searching for videos about people with locs and once I found out she was a video producer, I was hooked.
Her videos are centered around her chaotic good life (her words not mine) and she allows the viewers to gain a glimpse into the life of her family.
She makes a lot of lifestyle content but has been known to teach a thing or two. She has a few classes on skillshare that break down video production (I highly recommend them).
She has an amazing community online, has produced a show for PBS, and is constantly proving that black women are magical.
I absolutely love Hallease and her work and she is definitely a great source of inspiration.
10. Skillshare
One third of the way in and the first one to officially sound like an ad, skillshare.
Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes for creative and curious people, on topics including illustration, design, photography, video, freelancing, and more. On Skillshare, members come together to find inspiration and take the next step in their creative journey.
I promise I’m not sponsored by skillshare….yet.
But I actually do pay for it and use it. I’ve learned how to create things in adobe illustrator, photography business techniques, and I’ve even taken a creative writing class.
Currently I’m interested in Etsy and digital planners (more on this maybe later). I’m taking a class by Kdigital studio to learn how to create my own digital planners.
I know that if you watch youtube you’ve probably seen a million ads for skillshare, but it’s for good reason.
There are a lot of classes that are crap, but if you can find at least one class per month that actually teaches something, the price is worth it.
If you’d like to get a free month of skillshare, check out the link in the description.
Skillshare, if you’re listening to this, hook me up.
11. I missed this day - 🤷🏾♂️
12. Growth Currency
Growth Currency is an email newsletter (that’s right email newsletter) focused on helping creators start, grow and monetize their newsletter.
Because this is a relatively new resource in my tool bag (like maybe a month old) I don’t know all about the creator, Dylan T. What I do know is that his newsletter is filled with helpful information and resources.
In his most recent versions, he does host some ads for products and services that creators may enjoy, but each week the topic is well thought out and the copy is well written.
The topics are thought provoking with an action attached to them. That action is then followed up with resources to help you take that action. It’s almost like going through a course.
If you’re someone who’s interested in growing an email list (like me) then check out growth currency. Don’t want to subscribe to another email list? No worries you can read it without subscribing, you’ll just have to keep going back every week.
13. Mike Gray
For someone who doesn’t shoot film often I sure do love film photography and photographers. Today’s inspiration is Mike Gray.
I don’t really have a lot to say about Mike except wow! Just wow!
Actor, filmmaker, youtuber, and photographer. It seems like Mike can do it all. Another Texas native who moved away to chase his dreams. Mike currently spends a lot of time in LA.
He studied photography under the great Tyler Shields and has an exceptionally great eye.
His works feels timeless. While some of his photos are centered around certain periods of time, the way he pulls them off seems like they could have taken place in any era.
Mike seems like a really genuine guy. Always grateful in interviews and humble in the face of adversity.
If you like film photography and you haven’t heard of Mike Gray, check him out.
If you’d like to keep up with this series, follow me on TikTok or come back at the end of the month.
