We recently connected with Olivia Ogren-Hrejsa and have shared our conversation below.
Olivia, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity is available to everyone, and you cannot use it up. However, when my resources are depleted, as when I am over-committed or nearing exhaustion, my creative spark reduces to a low-burning flame instead of the previous brightly lit fire.
To keep my creativity alive, I have learned that I must allow for rest and space. Practicing physical and mental rest and allowing for off-time in my schedule has been a surprising challenge for my workaholic tendencies. When I commit to taking time off, my mind has time to daydream. The quietness allows me to “hear the muses speak.” These regular breaks between busy seasons have allowed ideas to surface and personal projects time to develop.
Finding inspiration in others also nourishes my creativity. Studying the work of other artists at museums or galleries often leads me to new ideas and reframes my thinking. Collaborating with fellow entrepreneurs and artists gives me added energy and different viewpoints.
Lastly, I must give myself time to spend on new projects. Allowing myself time to explore ideas thoroughly and improve my skills always yields rewards.
Implementing rest and creating space in my schedule does not come easily, but I hope it will with continued practice.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an award-winning photographer, with decades of experience in editorial and commercial photography. While I still contract with national publications and corporations, I love connecting with personal clients most. Creating heirloom-quality portraits creates a lasting positive impact and allows my clients to create a legacy for those they love. Creating artwork that becomes part of a family’s home is the most meaningful thing I can do.
I serve busy families and businesses in North Texas, and I make preserving their legacy easy and enjoyable. How? I create a strategy for every client and guide them through my three-step system. My clients love their relaxed photography experience and my done-for-you service. There are no surprises. My professional and personalized approach keeps clients feeling confident throughout the process, and they will love their timeless portraits.
My portrait services encompass all family portraiture and commercial work, including personal branding and headshots. I specialize in framed artwork, finished albums, and archival-quality prints.
When I am not concentrating on serving my photography clients, I am deeply involved in the local artistic community. I am a member of and the Communications Chair for the Visual Arts Guild of Frisco, a non-profit arts organization. I enjoy volunteering my time to help visual artists display their work and connect with the local community.
You can often find my personal photographic artwork on exhibit and sale throughout North Texas. I am grateful my photographs have received many accolades and awards from the VAGF, the City of Frisco, and from the Professional Photographers of America.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Passion, drive, and openness to growth have all been critical to creating a successful and thriving business. Self-motivation is necessary when running your own business, but coachability has been key to improvement and success. I study with business mentors in my field, to help me create a sustainable business. I also regularly network with other professionals, outside of my industry, to help me problem-solve and grow my business.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Supportive colleagues in my field have been instrumental in my personal and professional growth. We bounce ideas off each other, offer constructive criticism, hold one another accountable, and elevate our technical skills by sharing knowledge.
Continuing education my photography education, being active in photography competitions, and collaborating with other photographers keep me passionate and help me grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oliviaogrenhrejsa.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviaogrenhrejsa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OliviaPhoto
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-ogren-hrejsa-7a3777/
Image Credits
Images courtesy of Olivia Ogren-Hrejsa Photography, LLC
