Starting a Successful Company from the Ground Up

Keys to Becoming a Full- Time Photographer with Noah Asanias

In our sixth installment of Season one David and Mel sit down with Noah Asanias, a sought after celebrity and fashion photographer located in Vancouver. Noah began full-time photography about 3 years ago and has built a successful business in the industry, working in Vancouver, Los Angeles and abroad. In our conversation, we cover topics every aspiring photographer needs to know as well as practical steps seasoned photographers need to take. We talk everything from how to build connections with PR companies and modeling agencies, pricing, how to properly work with models and much, much more. Noah also talks about his journey from photography school to getting fired from his job to building his own business. He shares inspiring stories of pivotal moments in his career and practical steps he took to get to where he is. This conversation is helpful for any creative entrepreneur who aspires to work for themselves full time.

Starting a Successful Company from the Ground Up

ules and Josh are the masterminds behind the premium leather goods company, Love Jules Leather. The company is known for its bespoke leather shoes worn by the likes of people like Marc Maron. Their products feature classic designs with original and bold imagery. Each shoe release sells out within hours and retails at a premium price that is well worth the quality and craftsmanship the company is known for. We talk about starting out in farmers markets, the perils of a successful crowdfunding campaign, finding innovation in each new product offering and their journey to where they are now as renown craftsman. As well as much more!

The Business of Fashion with Jason Matlo

Jason Matlo started his fashion line 15 years ago with just 5000$ and within a couple of seasons, he was doing 40 looks. His brand could be seen in the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue and other High-end stores. Jason has been in fashion for close to two decades and has seen the industry evolve and transform. We caught up with the busy designer and recorded in his Atelier located in Gastown; the ultra-hip downtown Vancouver neighborhood. We cover a lot of topics including what it takes to begin a fashion company, where fashion is going and what sustainable fashion looks like. This episode is a masterclass filled with practical knowledge that can be used by every creative entrepreneur.

From Corporate to Creative with Rat Betty

We sit down with Millie Hand, who is the founder of the jewelry company Rat Betty. We talk about the journey of starting your own brand, marketing yourself online, how to set price-points and the reality of running your own business. This conversation is filled with valuable and practical tips if you want to start a business or launch a brand. Millie has a background in international business, she then did a 180 and went into jewelry design. She shares valuable insight and advice for anyone who wants to transition out of a corporate job into working for themselves in a creative industry and what that looks like. This was one of our most honest conversations to date. At the end we let you peek behind the curtain and listen to what happens after we stop recording. Let's just say one's fish and one's steak..? You can check out Rat Betty at @ratbetty as well as www.ratbetty.com  Music courtesy of Candace Coker.

Candace Coker: Diary of a Working Musician

This week we sit down with musician Candace Coker for a raw and honest conversation highlighted by the lessons she learned on her journey as a musician. Candace has an online following as well as a loyal local audience. We talk about what beginning a career as a professional musician looks like, the tension between marketing yourself and being genuine, how to recognize talent, the power of music over anxiety as well as the many other topics. Candace Coker is a Caribbean born singer-songwriter, her sound early on was heavily influenced by artists such as Norah jones and Sarah McLachlan. Candace’s combines the depth of soul music with the soft melodic sound of alternative pop. Candace Coker doesn’t just innovate with her music she transcends. Her voice combined with a lyrical prowess is musical nirvana. Her music was recently featured on Paramount Networks “I am Paul Walker”