Meet Carleigh Hyser

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

Carleigh, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

My grandmother was my art teacher from K-7th! Every week we would have art class and each time I walked into her room I felt like the most special girl in the planet.

I found my purpose very early on through her support. It was the little things. Each time I was at her house she made sure I had a craft to complete, her Christmas presents were always really nice art supplies, she took us to local creative fairs, and bought me a subscription to my favorite mixed media magazine. Doing art as your job wasn’t frowned upon in my family, it was cool.

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 started my professional creative journey in sports as a Graphic Designer and Sidelines Photographer for Georgia Football. It was one of the most incredible opportunities I ever had; we even got to capture the first National Championship in 40 years! However, I knew I always wanted to work in music. I got a Music Business Certificate along with a Graphic Design degree from the University of Georgia and then moved to California! At first I worked for an NFL sports agency, Athletes First, and later landed a contract job with LiveNation. But working a 9 to 5 just wasn’t cutting it anymore- I needed something more creative and fulfilling. So I saved up enough money and now I do Freelance Graphic Design and Photography for Musicians full-time under my company Carleigh Hyser Creative Studio. Most of my clients are independent artists looking to elevate their brand and world build. My services include concert photography, photoshoots, album covers, merch design, tour and gig posters, stage backdrops, logos, branding, social media, content, illustration, and painting.

The most special thing about my business is that I usually become friends with my clients. It makes the work we do fun, silly, and playful. And when work becomes play, the business goals we need to achieve on the project come so natural.

I’ve got so many exciting projects I’m working on, but I’d love to share 2! Recently I just got flown out to Austin, Texas by Bam Artists to shoot South By Southwest for Rachel Ruzumna. I’ve been doing her photo, merch, content, and social media. It was fun to take my services to a different state and get creative.

And lastly, I just started partnering with my good friend Jodi Norton of Good Bones Productions to offer joint photo and video packages for our clients! I do some video but prefer to focus on my static mediums so it’s been amazing to advertise a video partner who is an expert in her field.

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?

Being personable, confident, and listen to feedback.

Go to the networking events. Talk about yourself and what you do… to absolutely everybody, even beyond the networking event. Always ask for the other person’s Instagram so you have a tangible connection.

If you want a client or advice from someone you look up to, invite them to coffee and buy their coffee. Don’t talk about business immediately. Ask about their day, their friends, ex boyfriends, their annoying boss at their 9 to 5, build a personal relationship with them. Be their friend first! You need to develop trust with your clients. Then talk about the services you offer and show them actual photos of the work you’re proud of. Follow up with them after the coffee date and tell them you had a great time. Send them a one sheeter of your rates!

Basically, if you decide to do freelance, 75% of your job is being a salesperson. Make sure every week that you send a handful of emails to people you want to work with.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

There’s 2! “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin and “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. There’s a million nuggets of wisdom from both books but I’ll share 2 quotes that have been standing out to me recently. These have really been motivating me to get work done when I don’t want to.

“If you have an idea you’re excited about and you don’t bring it to life, it’s not uncommon for the idea to find its voice through another maker.” (Rick Rubin)

“If being an artist seems too good to be true to you, you will devise a price tag for it that strikes you as unpayable…. It is quite possible to be an artist and financially successful” (Julia Cameron)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carleighhyser.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carleigh.hyser/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carleigh-hyser-2132091b3/

Image Credits

All image credits go to me, Carleigh Hyser 🙂