We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aaron Jay Young a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Aaron Jay, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I consider myself to be a seeker. The beginning of my journey to self-esteem was really born out of misery. I was in my early 20’s and had not yet dealt with any past trauma or pain. There were a lot of unresolved things I was carrying around with me that shaped my experience of life. It was really out of this low place in my life that the desire to do something came from. I started going to therapy and quickly realized I had a passion for self-development. Although it has often not been easy, I’ve continued on this path ever since. I work to be teachable, to be open to trying new things, to see what resonates and what I find to be helpful. Little by little I started to process my past and develop inner confidence. I don’t think I’ll ever get to a place where I’ve fully arrived. Working on myself is simply a way of life for me now. Currently, I’ve found journaling in the morning and meditation has had a profound impact on my self-esteem. It’s helped me to get much more deeply in touch with myself which has allowed me to make new choices based on love and self-compassion which then build more confidence and self-esteem.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a portrait photographer. My work has always been about creating a safe space for my subjects where they are able to tap into their own presence and energy which then allows me to capture them in a dignified, authentic way. It’s all about capturing a person’s authenticity and being able to feel their energy coming through the photograph.
I believe that we are all interconnected and photographs have the power to tap into that part of ourselves and bridge the perceived gap between “us” and “them.”
My first coffee table book Queen was recently released with Padlock Publishing. This body of work which I created over the course of a couple years captures the drag queen community. I’ve loved working with these incredible performers and artists. The book is available at queenthebook.com and on Amazon.
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?
It’s not the person who is technically the best at something that always goes the furthest – it’s the person who never gives up and perseveres in the face of challenges and perceived failures. Not giving up and continuing to move forward no matter what is such an important mindset to have when working towards a big goal.
If you’re building a business, it’s going to bring all of your stuff to the surface – you’re self-doubt, you shame, etc. and it’s helpful to start dealing with it early.
Find people who are already doing what you want to do and doing it successfully and learn from them whether it’s an online course, asking someone to coffee to pick their brain, or getting a real life mentor.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
In my downtime I like to stay creative. I’m always looking for people to collaborate with on these personal shoots – Stylists, hair and makeup, videographers. The process of coming together with other creatives only works to elevate the art even more.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aaronjayyoung.com
- Instagram: @aaronjayyoung
- Facebook: facebook.com/aaronjayyoung
- Other: queenthebook.com
Image Credits
All photos by Aaron Jay Young
