Happiness and health are two topics that have been widely researched throughout history but only in recent years have become scientifically linked. As the connections between mental health and physical health have become undeniable, doctors and researchers alike are beginning to examine the impact of our mental well-being on our physical bodies. The study of happiness extends to the decisions people make that lead them down the path they have chosen for their lives. Enter... read more ›
2.3K reads
Jun
15
Jun
13
Reality is malleable. The world would have you believe that creativity is an indulgence. That instead, you should follow a more “practical” enough to invest your time and resources in. But these beliefs were invented by people trying to organize the world the way they saw it, not how it really was. “No Artist Tolerates Reality” Friedrich Nietzsche expressed a novel observation: "No artist tolerates reality." Throughout my life's journey, there have been countless instances... read more ›
3.9K reads
Jun
08
There is the path that society influences us to take in our journey towards purpose and success, and there is the voice that may call us to an unbeaten path when we don’t quite fit the mainstream mold. This was the case with Nabil Ayers, who, at two years old fell in love with music when he was given his first drum set. Though Nabil did end up going to college, his marks did not... read more ›
1.1K reads
Jun
06
Early on in my career, I had to make an important distinction between what it means to be a photographer, and what it means to be a professional. Yes, a photographer takes photos and a professional photographer sells photos. You know what else a professional does? They show up every day, even when the inspiration isn't hitting them. Do the Verb to Be... read more ›
1.3K reads
Jun
01
Everybody has regrets No matter how your life plays out, there will be situations that don’t go your way, things you wish you would have done, and words left unspoken. Yet, in a society where "no regrets" is culturally celebrated, we don't often talk about how we reckon with those feelings. It's one of the reasons why author Daniel Pink became interested in the subject. He was actually writing another book at the time.... read more ›
1.4K reads
May
30
Have you ever found yourself in a creative rut? How did you get out of it? And if you’re in one right now, what tools can you use to create change? I recently received a question via the text community (206-309-5177) asking about overcoming hard days. As we close mental health awareness month, I wanted to share a few thoughts based on what’s worked for me, with the hope to bring some value to you.... read more ›
1.2K reads
May
25
Money and financial planning can be a looming dark cloud for some people. With money being the biggest stressor and leading cause of divorce, it can sometimes be a tricky topic to navigate. My longtime friend Chris Hutchins joins me as we discuss ways you can optimize your life. Chris and I both worked as photographers and have grown our professional careers in parallel. Chris is a Life Hacker, Product Builder at Wealthfront—a company that... read more ›
1.4K reads
May
23
I recently received two insightful audience questions around the topic of taking the next step in career or life. These questions have many layers, so it's always helpful to hear someone's specific situation we can explore. Let's dive in. Listen to the Podcast How do I grow my current client base and improve my pricing? Brian Asks: “Hey, Chase. My name is Brian Vogel. I'm a professional commercial photographer out of Houston. I'm right about... read more ›
1.1K reads
May
18
Is it always the best decision to trust your gut? When it’s time to make a simple decision, (where to eat, what car to buy, where to go on vacation) we rely on resources and data at our disposal. We check reviews, compare ratings, and ultimately decide based on available data. So why does it often feel like we're winging it when it comes to bigger life decisions? Am I happy? Am I working on... read more ›
1.3K reads
May
16
Mike Tyson once said, “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” What do you do when a brilliant idea hits you unexpectedly? We all know the feeling- that little creative jolt of inspiration… but it’s not always convenient to drop what you’re doing and immediately begin working on this fantastic new idea. And even if you could, would you want to rely... read more ›
999 reads