We were lucky to catch up with BROOKE JAMES recently and have shared our conversation below.
BROOKE, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I’ve found the best way to overcome impostor syndrome is to build confidence. Confidence develops over time with experience, you just have to go out there & continue to work at your craft. For me, it was picking up a camera & shooting over & over & over again until it becomes second nature.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Absolutely. I was born & raised in a small surf town in Australia where I first picked up a camera at 16 years old. I continued to hone my craft directing music videos & shooting model tests through college before graduating at 19 & my adventures landed me here in LA almost a decade later! In LA, I feel like I’m constantly inspired by the people around me; whether it’s the talent in front of the camera or the talent behind the camera. This year I’m focused on returning to my fashion roots & directing more fashion films & stills editorials. I recently shot Dominic Sessa for Tom Ford before he attended the Oscars which was incredibly fun & rewarding.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. A thick skin- you will get rejected & have more people will tell you no than you can possibly imagine but one “yes” will change your life
2. Exploring/experimenting with your aesthetic
3. Networking & building a team of people around you that you trust to collaborate with
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
The person who has helped me overcome challenges & build fundamental skills would be an incredible director/photographer friend of mine, Thom Kerr. I’ve always looked up to & admired his very unique perspective & ability to think outside of the box. He has quite an unorthodox way of creating & has shown me that there’s no right or wrong way to create or execute a brief. If you’re reading this, love you brother.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brookejamesproductions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooketjames/
Image Credits
Photography: Brooke James
