We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Neha Gautam a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Neha , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
My purpose as a visual artist and storyteller really came from the desire of being in touch with what I wanted in life which was to help communities that have been historically marginalized be heard and seen. I feel like the events and life experiences one goes through really informs someone politics and values. I grew up knowing that my ancestors had gone through a great deal for me to be where I am. They were refugees and were forced to migrate and start over many times. Having the privilege of not being in survival mode allowed me to think more critically of my role and of my needs. I don’t want to just accumulate wealth and climb up a ladder of class ascension. I want to do what I love and what I love is to create and help others create. I identify as a cultural worker and I see my work as something which people can engage with and can help people and myself heal.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a freelance photographer /videographer and filmmaker. I also teach film, both documentary and narrative. I identify more as a storyteller and a cultural worker. I think that distinction is important. I think art has less to do with talent and skill and more to do with intention. I love listening to people’s stories. I think that listening and finding what makes us human is a very humbling thing to do. Living in a time where advertising is competing for our attention, it forces us to slow down. I also see it as a form of resistance. As humans, we do inherently strive for connection but a lot about our society perpetuates the opposite. Competition and alienation is something I think young people feel more in after the covid. I think the magic is in the connections we make with community and other peoples. I pride myself on focusing on stories of people of color, immigrants, queer folx and other marginalized communities. It’s not that these communities don’t have a voice or are voiceless but they’ve been systematically denied access and the ability to tell stories so I am always intentional on which stories I am amplifying. I have been freelancing for over 14 years and I have many clients that are non-profits and foundations which hire me to do create media for them whether it be highlighting events, videos about campaigns and initiatives etc. I love it. I get to see the work communities are engaged in and get to appreciate the community organizing going on around me.
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?
I think being a good listener and kind has helped me professionally greatly. I don’t always think I am the most knowledgable or talented but I think people keep hiring me because they have a pleasant work experience working with me and that counts for something. On top of that, I try to have excellent communication. I always reply to emails within 24 hours and always make sure to follow up as soon as possible. Something that goes along with that is organization. When you freelance, its really important for you to have a workflow down and have creative discipline. I think one thing that helps with that is creating habits and rituals even when you’re not working. We thrive with rhythms and rituals.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I constantly feel overwhelmed especially when I am in the middle of a large project or deadline. The thing that helps me the most is breaking up the task into smaller tasks and focusing on one thing at a time. I usually reward myself with breaks and try to make it as fun as possible. Listen to music if you can, go for walks and hydrate and never neglect your own self-care, It’s easy to let your needs go to the wayside but it is really self sabotaging at the end.
Contact Info:
- Website: nehgautamnyc.com
- Instagram: @resistandrise @nehagautam_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NehaGautamPhotography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neha-gautam-nyc
