BoldJourney Interview

To read this interview, in it’s original format online, please click here.

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Josefina H. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Josefina, 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.

You know, truthfully, I still get it from time to time. However, it’s not as bad as it used to be.

When I was starting out with photography, for example, I was still a kid. I started shooting portraiture and nature work at 15 years old. I went to my first fashion workshop when I was just 18. Most of the models were older than me, much less the other photographers.

I attended several workshops between the ages of 18 and 24, and I was almost always up against photographers who were decades older than me. Some welcomed me. Some did not. Those that didn’t, and made it very obvious, did make me feel like I was an imposter. But ultimately, my work, my “eye” spoke for itself, and I kept getting invited into rooms I didn’t think I totally fit into. So that told me, clearly, my mind was playing tricks.

It took years to really get over that feeling. To feel confident with how I interact with people, the “public face” so to speak.

I’m a very big introvert. I would much rather hide away in my house, with my pets, and have the absolute minimal interactions with humans. But I also have a calling/need to be an artist – as it brings me joy daily – and not every single art piece can be created in solitude. Especially if you have a particular vision. So for photography, it wasn’t confidence in my work that I struggled with, it was more the confidence of how I presented myself; since I was forcing myself to interact with people, in an extroverted manner.

With crochet, it’s a little different. I learned how to crochet when I was also, still a kid. Around the age of twelve. So, I’ve been doing it for 20 years. However, a bulk of that time was making loosely wearable items. Hats, scarves, baby blankets. Nothing super fancy, nothing too extraordinary, but still pretty.

Toy making is a new endeavor for me. I have confidence in my general crochet skill – so the final product, itself isn’t the issue. The showing up online, having to market myself to a new audience, or even thinking about writing and releasing patterns – is.

I do it though, because I want this endeavor to succeed. But I do, from time to time, feel out of place.

I know, and am friends with, some truly outstandingly talented crochet artists. And occasionally, I’ll have a thought of “you’re a baby artist, in comparison to that, someone might judge you”. And I might shy away from posting something for a few hours until that feeling passes. But ultimately, people aren’t going to know my work or see it, if I don’t post it.

And if I want to have a successful business, the artwork (more than myself) needs to be seen. Trying to reframe that thought, helps. I still have yet to release a pattern. Two are written, so the time is coming, and I’m sure I will have that feeling of being an imposter flare up again, during that. Because as my brain has already thought “who am I, to write these things, when other people can do it better?” ( There is nothing judgmental you can say to me that my own brain hasn’t come up with, I’m sure ). But at the same time, how can I be a pattern writer if I don’t go ahead and *publish* patterns? So as you can see, sometimes I just talk myself right out of it.

I do feel that I’m in the right place, at the right time, in my life, for this avenue of artwork. So that also helps. When things are aligned with you, with your soul, and makes you smile, every day, it’s harder to judge yourself or your choices. The final products always make me smile. A few of them really make me proud, like “hey, I really did that!” And when you view your own work like that, and reframe the mindset, it certainly tames the voices.

And honestly, some of it may just be the ADHD confidence too. I can look at something and once I’ve decided *that* is what I’m going to do, I don’t stop until it’s done and it’s executed in the manner that makes me the happiest. I know other neurospicy individuals will understand that desire. The – See It, Like It, Want It, Get It, Do It – mindset. Pretty sure that’s how most anything gets done in my life 😅.

So it’s not that I’ve completely overcome imposter syndrome, and I’m not sure the feeling will 100% ever fade into non-existence, because there will always be new rooms, new opportunities, new people, new friends, new chances. But I do think it’s easier now to calm down the panic. To talk to myself, reasonably, and to get out and do the thing. Rationality helps…sometimes you just have to freak out a little, first 😆.

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?

Hello friends! 👋🏽 I am first, and foremost, an artist. That encompasses quite a lot. I have been an Internationally Published Portrait, Fashion, Glamour ( and sometimes celebrity ) photographer & retoucher for the past 16 years. I have been an on-again, off-again writer/blogger for the past 12 years, and I have been a Crocheter, for the past 20.

In other words, I wear many hats and have done a lot of things 😂. I have had success in all of these fields, at various levels, with a lot of trial and error. And while I have taken the occasional workshop to learn more in finite detail, I’m largely self-taught in all three.

As a photographer and retoucher, my brand is Josefina Photography ( https://www.josefinaphoto.com ). The largest concentrations of my work are fashion, glamour, and portrait photography. I don’t take just headshots. I aim to tell a story, to help women reclaim their voices; their power; and tell a story the way it was meant to be told. I’m very big on color, and natural lighting. I have worked in studios and with studio lighting, but my very favorite images have all been taken with some form of natural light. I feel that is the most honest, and yet, some of the softest light, which creates a beauty all within light play – before the clothes, the poses, or the editing.

I’ve been photographing any and everything since I was about 6 and discovered what a “throwaway camera” was. The number of rolls of film sent to development via local CVS’s back in the day, was wild. That morphed into learning dark room photography when I was just shy of being a teen, to becoming a nature and sports photographer at 15, to a fashion photographer at 18, and so on. I love photography, because of what you can capture in a split second, and how that remains frozen in time, forever. A tangible, keepsake, memory. Definitely one of the cooler aspects of art.

I will always consider myself a photographer, no matter how long a hiatus may be. And currently, as my caregiving duties for my remaining parent have increased, my photography is more so on the back-burner. I will absolutely still photograph for people who can travel to me, or who I can get to and from in a day trip. But traveling for my work, like I once did, is on the back-burner for now. And that’s okay! Life does that sometimes.

As a writer, I’ve been a blogger for other platforms in addition to myself. I did an internship-like course with the Elephant Journal, many moons ago, and had several very successful articles. It was fun to see what resonated with strangers, and what didn’t. On my own, I’ve also had some successful reads on Medium. Those stories were much more *storytelling* stories and not article-like, so I felt that those who read that work and took the time too, really must have felt or connected with a piece in a very unique way. Which is also very special. I was an avid reader growing up, and to think that I even touched one person the way whole novels, did me, as a kid, is magical. These days, I don’t write as much, there’s been so much to do. But that doesn’t mean the desire has gone away. I’m pretty sure if I gave myself the time, I could start writing again – there are at least 3 books swimming around in my head that occasionally make noise, from time to time. We’ll see.

As a crochet artist ( https://www.sweetieknots.com ), this is where most of my concentration now lies. I’m a very big believer in reconnecting to the inner child. Allowing time for play. This world has had some very dark and bleak moments, and my lifetime has been no different, so in a way that gave me a lot of sense of dread. I remember dreading turning 21, and then 25, and I did have a full-on meltdown over turning 30 that went on for over a week leading up to that birthday. There were a lot of voices that put an insane amount of pressure on me, and people my age, to “be someone” or “be something” or “be accomplished” before “you’re 30, or your life is over”.

Obviously, my life is not over, but having that sense of dread, in a way, hanging over me for years, definitely zapped joy out of my life. I also lived in a world of depression ( with some outside circumstances, contributing ), for many years. My healing journey is still happening, but I’m in a much better place now than I was eight years ago. And in a more carefree and joyful space now than I was even two years ago. With crochet and toy-making, I feel far more connected to myself. Connected to what makes me happy. And I think other people can see it, which is why even though this is my newer endeavor, to me it seems like it’s heading in the right direction.

Largely, I make plushie toys. Both big and small for kids and adults, alike. But I don’t just make things you can snuggle with. I also make keychains, fidget toys, lookalike dolls, and OOAK collectable pieces. I have dipped my toes into wearable art pieces as well, but those have mainly been for me, for experimentation, and to keep things fun.

This is the avenue that I have the most going on with, right now. I will have an in person market in July at Smith+Front; a second pop up with Boro Coffee Co., sometime in the fall; and I’ll be a vendor at a local sci-fi convention event in November. There could be more things added to the schedule in the future, but that’s what I know, for sure, is happening in the coming months.

In between all of that, I’ll be working on creating a full digital crochet course, and I’ll be launching a beta group of 1:1 teaching and small group live classes that will go on for a month at a time. That container will be capped at 4 to start and will run as the core feedback group so I can get things right for the true live launch. The full structure, I am still working out, but it’s in the works. I will also, hopefully, be launching the two patterns I have written, and maybe sometime before Christmas, I can work on another. This year is already looking pretty busy, so some of this could bleed over into next year. But this is where I’m having the most fun, and where I’m putting in the most work. I foresee this being the “front line” career for a good while.

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 one of most important things to know, is to know your worth. That comes with time. There will always be people out there who cannot afford you. They can’t afford your style, your time, or your product, and honestly, that’s okay. No one is meant for everyone.

In the fast-consumer life people want good, but they also want it fast and cheap. I’m sure many of you have heard of this triangle before. You can, almost never, have all three points at once. You can get it fast and cheap – but it likely won’t be good. You can get it fast and good – but it will almost never be cheap; and on the very rare occasion you can get something good and cheap – but likely won’t ever be delivered quickly.

And with art, that couldn’t be more true. In photography there is something known as “For Trade” shoots. Where both the model and photographer agree to work together for free. This is usually done to help build up portfolios, experiment with new ideas/new lighting/new poses/new wardrobe. With experienced photographer and models – it doesn’t happen often – and if it does, it’s good, it’s cheap, you’re likely not going to see the finished product for MONTHS. Because it’s not the the thing that pays. It’s the side project.

With anything tangible, you can get it fast and cheap, but the quality won’t be there. That’s why overconsumption is happening. Why there are so many clothes in landfills. Because the material is cheap, it was made fast, it was delivered fast, but it wasn’t built to last and it gets tossed out in a year or less. And if you want something good and fast, you’re most likely going to be paying an arm and leg for that service to get it done in a particular time frame.

With art, it’s personal to every artist. There is a REASON why artists price their work higher than any e-commerce based pricing., Because we put in the time. We have learned the craft. We have taken years of time, skill, private learning, video learning, book reading, and actual doing, into the projects we are creating. In addition to the time put into the skill, we are also taking time out of our lives to insure that whatever we are selling, whatever you are buying, is at a quality and a standard that WE personally want to see out in the world. What we treasure. Art is a luxury. It’s everywhere, yes. In music, in TV, in movies, in paintings, on walls, etc., but it is a luxury, because true pieces were created by an artist. A single person.

That’s not meant for everyone. In pricing or in meaning. So not everyone is going to like what you do, what you say, or how you price your stuff. And because the internet WILL internet, there will be comments made to your face, in your posts, and behind your back, that speak ill of your worth. You have to learn to stand your ground. Sure, you can absolutely offer discounts and sales and help make certain things more affordable, but you also shouldn’t lower your artist prices down to “e-commerce standards” either, just to make one or two people happy. It’s not sustainable in the long run. Either monetary or mentally. Maybe that’s a spicy take, maybe it’s not. But knowing your worth, especially as an artist, is one of those skills and pieces of knowledge that will serve you over, and over again,

As for qualities, I think being kind and heart-centered are the two most important.

In a world where its very easy to be judgmental or be a keyboard warrior, I find it refreshing when people can be nice. I’m not talking about being fake. But just generally treating people with empathy can go a long way. Everyone is fighting a battle that you know nothing about. Speaking to people in a respectful manner, meeting them halfway on communications, and just doing the best you can to be helpful and considerate really can speak a lot to a person’s character.

As for heart-centered, I think, ESPECIALLY if you’re an artist that sell their work, the work needs to come from a heart-centered/aligned place. People can tell when you’re “just not that into it.” And it can absolutely sink your work. Sink your interaction. Not just online, but in person too. However, if you’re doing something you’re genuinely passionate about, it shines more. You light up more when talking about it or demonstrating, or interacting with people. It pulls people in and it connects them to you and humanizes you to them, The more that comes through, the most successful you become on a 1:1 scale. It’s surprising how many people you can connect with this way. 1:1 can very quickly lead to hundreds. Just depends on if you’re really into what you do, or not.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes!

As I have said before, I am still willing to do photos if people can come to me, or I can reasonably get to them, through a day trip. I’m located semi-near the State College side of Pennsylvania. I am a stop over in between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and have gotten shoots that way, with traveling models. So if you’re in the area and want to work together photo wise, I’m always down to consider that.

As for crochet, I think podcast collaborations would be a really cool adventure. I’ve done one at the end of last year, and do, eventually want to start my own, but in the meantime, I think it is fun to share stories and chat with other people. It is like written storytelling…just livelier.

In terms of patterns, eventually I will put out a tester call, where I will need 5-6 people to test each pattern I’ve written and give feedback on instruction clarity, maybe provide different styles/looks through yarn types, photo feedback and everything that goes into pattern testing. I also wouldn’t mind collaborating on patterns with other makers as well. I’m not nearly as seasoned as other designers out there, but I do love color, and can absolutely add some Lisa Frank vibes to any kind of piece, toy or wearable, if that’s something someone would be interested in.

And of course, markets/festivals/pop-up events. I am always happy to collaborate with local spaces and create events where people can support two businesses in one. Those events have been a lot of fun in the past and I do look forward to events I have coming up this year.

The best way to reach me, is through my website – specifically the contact page: https://www.sweetieknots.com/contact

I’d put my email here, but I like to avoid spam. Currently, I do not tend to take offers or contacts off of Facebook or Instagram, just due to the level of scammers that are out there. If that is the way you prefer to contact people with, I will certainly look for an established page, with an established following and with an established website. Things that point out that you are real and not some kind of test page. But happy to connect with people who enjoy art and colorful things 😄.

Contact Info:

Website: http://www.sweetieknots.com || http://www.josefinaphoto.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sweetieknots || http://www.instagram.com/josefina_photo
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sweetieknots || http://www.facebook.com/josefina,photography/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sweetieknots
Other: Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/bRUmbBkf
Join the Membership: https://ko-fi.com/sweetieknots/tiers
Join the Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/tkn77Z7cCgMVqWKn/?mibextid=K35XfP
Follow on Twitch: http://twitch.tv/sweetieknots

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