Tomorrow's Talent- Olivia Corya

Tomorrow's Talent:

Olivia Corya

As many of you may know I had gone to Ghana, Africa this summer to volunteer and while there I met some amazing volunteers from around the world, including the lovely Olivia Corya. Olivia is a photojournalist who is a Junior at Indiana University majoring in Journalism, Spanish, and International studies.  During our time there, Olivia was capturing the Ghananian culture and people, as well as the volunteers and their experiences.

I had a chance to hang out with Olivia and what I loved her about her was how kind hearted she was and how passionate she was about her photography. There was rarely a moment you would see her without her camara. Even when your trying to have a conversation with her should would snap a picture because there was something about the way you talked or your facial expression that she had to capture.

Check out the interview:

1. When was the first time you picked up a camara?

When I was really little I guess around 7ish, I spent hours one day taking pictures of my tv screen when National Geographics was on. I'll waste rolls and rolls of film thinking I was a safari photographer getting these great shots of lions and dolphins in my living room. I was so disappointed when they came back from the photo lab and all the animals were obscured by huge white blobs where the flash had reflected!

2. How would you describe your photography?

In the photo world they talk a lot about discovering your personal "vision", which involves learning how to take a photo that makes people understand how you saw the subject (or in the case of non-journalism photography, how you felt about that subject) when you clicked the shutter. I'm definitely just beginning my long relationship with my camara and trying to find that vision. 

3. What's your goal with photography?

My obsession with making the world a better place consumes me every single day! I want to make Americans care more about the problems afflicting the rest of the world, and know more about the cultures thriving outside their own.

4. There are lots of inspiring artist who want to pursue their passion full-time, but fear being a "starving artist". What do you have to say about that and your craft?

I just know that for me, money could never bring one millionth of the happiness my photographs could bring me if I think they actually help improve other people's lives, which is my goal in documentary photography. Sometimes I get scared about not being able to afford healthcare, but other than that, I just genuinely believe I'll get enough fulfillment out of life with my camara in my hand and the stories I'll get to tell.

And I don't know too much about other art media, but I'm guessing that, like photography, there are ways to supplement your income if you really need it. I can always do wedding photography, for example, if I'm seriously low on money. There are probably ways in any field to do commerical work to sustain your long-term creative passions. 

5. It seems like you've been all around the world at such a young age. Where have you traveled? Is there a country that your dying to visit?

I've been lucky enough to go to Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, France, India, and Ghana. And my step brothers and sisters live in Scotland, so my family goes there pretty frequently to visit them. 

I was actually destined for Thailand this summer, but ended up going to Ghana at the last minute because of the escalating violence in Bangkok with the Red Shirt protests. I'd still absolutely love to go there. 

5. Who or what would you like to photograph, whether it's past, present, or future? and why?

Everyone and Everywhere! You know you're on the career-track that's right for you when you get off work and can't wait to go do more of the same thing for free. 

6. Do you consider photography an ART?

I think photography CAN be art, of course, and I have great respect for fine art photographers, but that's not really interests me. While I want my photos to be beautiful and poignant like "art" photography can be, a blank wall and a picture frame in someone's house obviously wouldn't be an appropiate context in which to place a photograph of a war refugee, for example. 

7. What does the future hold for Olivia?

Quoting myself, I "want to spend my life making photographs that elevate the dignity and well-being of my 6.8 billion neighbors." Basically, I want to work internationally on documentary photo/video projects. I'll probably start out in Latin America, because that's my "regional concentration" in my international studies major, but I'd like to go anywhere I think people's stories need to be told, which I guess is everywhere..haha

8.What's a motto, quote, or saying you live by?

I don't really repeat a "carpe diem" mantre to myself or anything. But something that's similar to a quote that I like thinking about is when one of my friends in Ghana asked his host mom how her day was, she replied "It was good...full of enjoyment." I thought it was simple and lovely, and it's a refreshing perspective when I get caught up in all the busy details of the day. 

WOA supports Olivia Corya

Click here to visit her site

Cape Coast, Ghana

Cape Coast, Ghana

Peru

Tomorrow's Talent- Branded Baron

It's been awhile since we interviewed our 

Tomorrow's Talent.

Well, the moment has arrived....

I'm honored to say that I've met Joe, the Founder of Branded Baron and he's a humble individual. We had met at a sneaker event where he was sharing the Branded Baron love. I started talking about his clothing line, fashion, the Arts and etc. I can say this man is HUNGRY and PASSIONATE for his craft and that's something WOA respects. 

You have to support those who are passionate about their craft.

So check out the interview

Branded Baron

1. What's the story behind Branded Baron?

In High School I had some shirts printed for clubs and some sports teams that I designed. Then in college, I started to design some shirts for the club's open mic events and was told by many people that I should sell them. I had definitely been thinking about designing my own items to wear. I've always liked cool looking graphic tees and I've always wanted my own art on apparel. When I graduated, my co-worker that I was on a marketing team with inspired me to focus on my creating my line. From there, I began doing my research, adding my friend to handle the financial end, the design, and purchasing designs that fit my line. Also, it helped that I worked at a screenprinter. In '08, I was selling my 1st design out of the trunk of my car. In '09 I released my first two lines. 

2. When or how did you know the fashion industry was your path?

Probably at the last semester of college. I went to study graphic design,  but realized I could implement what I learned to the fashion industry in the same form.

3. If Branded Baron could speak, how would Branded Baron describe its self?

It'll either say, "Branded Baron, I'm No Less Than Stunningly Fresh. If you Rock my clothes, you'd be Stunningly Fresh too" or "Branded Baron is for the music lovers, art lovers, t-shirt aficionados, jocks, nerds, fighter, skater, those looking to express themselves, but most important it's for YOU, the individual."

4. Did you come across any bumps during your journey in launching Branded Baron? If so, what happened? How did you overcome it?

I think no matter how prepared you are, you're always going to hit bumps in the road. When Branded Baron was launched, it was at the end of August and I felt like summer was the one for us. Also, when we launched we didn't have a couple of shirt due to the printer, even though the company was told ahead of time on the date the shirts would be needed. Needless to say, on that day a couple of shirts were not in stock and it sucked e-mailing people that their order is delayed. But, to make-up for this problem we decided to give away some limited edition shirts as a thank you and apology for the delay of their order. Luckily our next launch in the winter went a lot more smoothly.

5. What motto, slogan, or phrase you live by in motivating you to keep striving?

There's a couple that I really like and I've used some on the Branded Baron designs.

"Carpe Diem"- Latin for "Seize the day",
"To Live is To Fight",
"A Life not lived is lost",
"No Less Than Stunningly Fresh" pretty much means it has to be the cream of the crop and no mediocrity allowed.
One that I've always liked was by Bill Cosby,
" I don't know what the key to success is, but I do know the key to failure is trying to please everyone."

6. Do you consider what you do an ART?


Yes. Andy Warhol created silkscreen graphic art and my graphics are silkscreened. It's funny, during my 1st year of college, I had to do a research paper about "Who was my artistic kindred spirit" and little did  I know that I would've used the same process that made Warhol famous with Branded Baron.

7. What would you say to the inspiring fashion designers or those trying to get into the fashion business?

First. DON'T RUSH! That's key for anything, especially if you want to do it right. You also have to take risks. You can't do everything on your own, so have a team that's a 100% behind you to help out. Anthony, our Vice President  handles the boring important stuff like the financial info. Danette is my recent addition to the team who helps me with the designs. I have a couple of friends that help me with promoting/marketing. Most importantly HAVE FUN! Seriously, if your not enjoying what you're doing then find something that does make you happy. Yes, there will be stressful moments, but when I see an order that was an online purchase or sell in person it makes me happy to know that someone likes my designs. I have fun meeting new people, networking, and doing things that I probably wouldn't have done or thought about doing. I'm still young in this business.

8. What's the future plan for Branded Baron?

The plan is to get Branded Baron in more stores, but we'll still be selling at certain shows and street fairs.