Meet Cooper Neill

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

Cooper, 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?

I studied history in college and as I started working in photography I realized what I loved about both history and photography was the storytelling aspect. After finishing school I pivoted into journalism for that reason and keep that same mentality as a freelance photographer.

Wether I’m working the Super Bowl for the NFL, shooting an advertising campaign for a brand or working on a project for a newspaper – I’m always trying to share a story through the visuals I’m creating.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Cooper is an award winning freelance photographer based in Dallas, Tx covering everything from Presidential elections and immigration issues to cage fighting and Taylor Swift for editorial and commercial clients around the world.

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?

Patience. Curiosity. Resilience.

Growth in anything is going to take time – recognizing that and staying patient will help your mental health tremendously throughout life.

Being curious about things you’re interested in will help keep you constantly learning and growing in that subject – for me with photography that’s learning new techniques, having a better understanding of the technology I’m using or adapting aspects of different forms of art to use in my own work.

I’ve had people tell me no, it’s not my time or I’m not good enough regularly for the last 20 years. I know what I want to do and I’m going to get there eventually. Resilience is key.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I’m overwhelmed, I try to take a step back and look at all the other things that are going on in my life to realize that whatever the problem is, really isn’t that big of a problem. Easier said than done but when I can do it, it really helps. Disconnecting from work as a freelancer is tough so making that a priority helps as well.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of

Productivity
Beating Burnout

Often the key to having massive impact is the ability to keep going when others

Leadership Development
Finding Your Why

Not knowing why you are going wherever it is that you are going sounds silly,