Meet Jasen Alfrena

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jasen Alfrena. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jasen below.

Hi Jasen , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I had found purpose early in life, around my elementary school years which was around 2004. I was heavily interested in drawing my favorite cartoon characters. It was for sure a way of expressing myself and what I truly like. I would draw in class, I’d draw once I got home. My favorite class to be in was of course Art class. Back then I thought even when I became older this was for sure something I would continue to do but it ended up not being so. But as I got older I knew being an artist, creating my own body of work, not only me being happy about it but seeing the happiness of others when they had seen my work. I knew that was my purpose in becoming an Artist. Today I don’t really spend my time drawing but I am still an Artist. I’ve been a Videographer/Photographer/Video Editor for 10+ years now! With a Bachelors of Arts Degree at Temple University from 2019!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My full name is Jasen Alfrena, age 27, I go by Vito! I am a Haitian-American, full-time freelance Artist living here in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I moved from New York to Philly. And I’ve actually lived here in Philly since 2003, so 21 years this year! I am basically a triple threat in terms of skill sets, I am a Photographer, Videographer, and also a Video Editor. My journey creatively began with drawing a great deal back in elementary school. But then it transitioned to the tech side with Video Editing when I started my middle school years. So back in 2009 I was huge on gaming and using a video recorder called a ” Haupaggue HD PVR Video Capture Device “. I was recording then editing montages of gameplays an uploading them on my YouTube channel. Doing that was what I loved to do at the time now, not too much drawing. Going outside to just play with friends, for me, was really hard to do some days because my focus was just that. I also would help other friends online with editing videos for them as well for their Youtube channels.

Fast forward to 2011 I went to a trade high school called Swenson Arts & Technology High School, my trade was multimedia design. There I learned a lot about photography, a little bit about videography, and video editing. Overall It was just a great feeling to see how certain I was about what I wanted to do with my life knowing there’s people who live a life never not knowing what/who exactly they were meant to be.

It’s not till I attended Temple University back in 2015, I ended up getting my very own personal camera for both photography and videography. So when that had happened it was full throttle in doing a great quantity, such as assignments being done on time but also a lot of personal projects being made with friends and family ( I EITHER RENTED OR BORROWED A LOT BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL GEAR ) ! I know a number of people talk about the Artist not really needing college but I would do it all over again. My college experience was definitely something crucial to further me along in my career.

I ended up graduating from Temple University with my Bachelors Of Art Degree in 2019. That same year I ended up getting a full – time job in August of 2019 which was so unexpected because after graduating I thought it was going to be awhile till I had found a job. So the job I had worked at straight out of College was with DTLR which is an apparel & shoe company, I was their In-House Videographer for three years shooting all of their video content! So that included social media, video for the stores televisions, and for the websites. I had left back in August of 2022 which was a very hard decision to make but I just knew I had too for the next part of my journey as an Artist to begin!

Today I am still a Photographer, Videographer, and Video Editor. The reason I had left my job back in 2022 was to open up my very own studio called ” TEN96STUDIOS ” with a high school friend of mine named David Chao. It is pretty much a full-time responsibility for us both. I also do freelancing as well. We celebrated the One Year Anniversary of the studio being open this past August of 2023. Overall this life as an Artist has it’s difficult days, there’s good days too! Numerous sacrifices had been made to get where I am at today but that’s a part of the journey, I get it. Especially if you don’t see yourself doing anything else in this life but what your purpose is. So we keep moving forward NO MATTER WHAT!

One of the most memorable and important things that I had done for myself, for the first time ever was last year ( 2023 ) teaching a class on photography, specifically how I shoot film. My workflow. UniquePhoto which is a camera shop here in Philly had me do one at their store. They asked me if I’d teach a class on how I work dealing with film and without hesitation I said ” YES ” . Very nerve racking it was but I wasn’t going to say NO. It was outside of my comfort zone but it was something I needed to do to progress once again on this journey of mine. Who knows, this year might be the year I do my own workshop at my studio..

Dealing with my work as of lately, I’ve been heavily focused on shooting photos on film. I don’t really limit myself to any one area but mainly I spend my time more frequently dealing with portraiture work. And so my personal projects, a lot of my time, have been dedicated to that. Some days I just want to do the photography side of things, other days my focus might be strictly on shooting a video and editing it. I really just love how I can pick and choose! What I do has brought me to so many different places, I’ve met so many great people! In all, I see me doing what I do for the past decade plus now, FOREVER.

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?
The three qualities that has been most important for me is..

OBSESSION And it’s a word that I don’t take lightly because where I want to go in this life, what I truly live for is my purpose, me being an Artist. And not too many people will understand how you move, how you probably can’t see them on a consistent basis because you’re just so into your work. But that’s just me staying focused, passionate, purpose driven, the sacrifice that must be made.

HELPFELNESS. I am for sure a very helpful person. It has been a good quality of mine, but at times not so good because people that see others loving to help will take advantage of that person or at least try. But once again, part of the journey! Nonetheless helping people, doing fun collaborations with close friends or helping family out with a shoot or two has brought newer opportunities at my doorstep. So I am grateful for it all.

GRATITUDE. I wake up everyday knowing what exactly I was born to do here on earth, that in itself is a beautiful thing to know about yourself so confidently. So I am grateful for that.

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?
I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m successful but I am without a doubt proud of everything I’ve accomplished thus far in my life as a person in his 20’s. And the person I most look up to that has helped me overcome so much, I see her and I know why I am the way I am in terms of just working my hardest. That’s for sure my mom. Her raising three kids by herself, two jobs to make sure her kids were good always. Her hustle till this day, her sacrifices always inspired me to go my hardest as well, pursuing my dreams, to be a son she could always be proud of so all her hard work as an immigrant parent could never be in vein.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
1ST PHOTO: @333AMITAF @ARACELISRIVERA 2ND PHOTO: @KRISMEILY 3RD PHOTO: MY LITTLE BROTHER LOL. 4TH PHOTO: @LUCIANOWOLVES 5TH PHOTO: @ASHLEYCAL_ @TAJANNA.MOSLEY @TALIYAHKACHE @MOUSTAPHABALDE_ 6TH PHOTO: @JAYSVITO & @AYECHINO 7TH PHOTO: @_EMO_MOM 8TH PHOTO: @TEN96STUDIOS 9TH PHOTO: NEW YORK PHOTO SHOT ON FILM. 35MM FILM. KODAK GOLD 200. 10TH PHOTO: @IMASIALYNN 11TH PHOTO: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY OF MAN DOING GRAFFITI. 12TH PHOTO: @BRIANNAROJAS 13TH PHOTO: @LOVELYMOCAA 14TH PHOTO: @_M.MUGGA

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.
Leadership Development
Where does your self-discipline come from?

One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
Working hard in 2025: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that