Meet Audrey Maria Joyce

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Audrey Maria Joyce. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Audrey, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?

Growing up, I didn’t have a clear understanding of self-care. From what I saw, it’d emphasize the more external, surface level parts, so I would tend more to my physical—buying what I wanted, better makeup, taking a longer bath. All of those feelings I searched to mend would eventually resurface. As I’ve gotten older, learned more about myself and what it truly means to take care of me, it’s everything beneath. Being aware of my nervous system and what truly fuels me has impacted my creativity in ways I couldn’t truly experience before. Being a creative takes a lot of energy… you essentially are your art. After dropping the narrative that creating = constant output (and being off of socials for 3 years), I slowed down and allowed myself to go at my own pace. Creating moments of stillness, allowing space to regulate and leaning into my natural introverted tendencies lead to finding my own flow to create from a wholesome, consistent place that feels true to me and the art I make.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’ve been a photographer for 8+ years, while leaning into creative directing for about a year now. I was always fascinated by the structure of trailers, movies and music videos. Going on solo movie dates is probably my top 5 thing to do—being completely indulged into a world someone created from scratch in the unique way they wanted to present it. That’s what I love most about what I do. As cliche as it sounds, there’s so much beauty in creating something out of nothing. I approach my work with the intentions of every image living in a world of its own. Whether it’s with color, storytelling or movement, there’s a freedom and endless wonder in exploring the ways you can create a photo. Blending cinema with photography has always been a goal of mine. For the past 3 years, I’ve been working on my own creative label, eventually releasing magazine issues and photo books focusing on connection and conversation. Incorporating physical media in my work is vital to me. It conveys curiosity and discovery, motivation on-the-go. A reminder to tap into ourselves and give life to the possibilities we tend to deny ourselves, consciously and subconsciously. At the end of the day, I’d love to be a catalyst for human connection. It’s the only thing that’s real.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three things that’ve greatly impacted my journey are surrender, awareness and self-compassion. I honestly don’t think I’d be where I am without learning and experiencing the importance of them. It wasn’t until I truly let go of expectations, control (still working on that) and my ego that I could actually, fully step into my potential. Remembering to breathe when things don’t go exactly as planned. It’s in the most humbling moments where you learn what you do and don’t like, who you do and don’t want to be, & what to take and leave behind. Becoming aware of the things in my way, such as core beliefs that don’t serve me, or making room for the things I know I am capable of created a solid foundation for me; an inner compass that steers me in my right direction. The best advice I could give someone is to sit down and ask yourself “does this truly serve me?” in all areas of your life. That’s when magic can really happen, and you are able to unlearn or relearn ways to live authentically as you, which ultimately reflects in your art or whatever you choose to accomplish.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Because I spend 97% of my life inside my head, it’s always an enormous breath of fresh air to collaborate with someone. My work requires a lot of alone time, and I love to expand my mind and usual strategies with people who are just as passionate about creating as I am. With vision and intention (and a sick color palette), something amazing and completely original is bound to happen. Collaborating with artists are my favorite because they tend to come with a world already created, and we instantly turn into a couple of kids building a sandcastle together. Magazines like Dazed and Confused, W, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar, and i-D are definitely dream collaborations. If you like intimate angles and dramatic lighting, I’m your person. We could also go light and traditional, I’m never locked in a box. Reach me at byamjw.com, IG – @byamjw or [email protected].

Contact Info:

• Website: https://byamjw.com
• Instagram: byamjw
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

All photos by Audrey Maria Joyce (AMJW)