PIONEERS : Julie Martin

We are honored to feature the creative designer, Julie Martin of ZoZoBugBaby on the blog, today. Not only is she amazingly talented, but she has one of the biggest hearts for COLLABORATION! We absolutely adore her and we know you will too.

Without further ado …

NAME : Julie Martin
BUSINESS : ZozoBugBaby
LOCATION : Salem, Oregon

What is the story behind the name ZozoBugBaby?
Well..it’s nothing too glamorous, really. My oldest daughter (5) is Zoe and her most popular nickname is Zozo. My youngest, Delia (4) had the nickname of Bug or Bitty Bug when she was a baby. I started out offering just baby clothing, so…..there ya have it! Zozo+Bug+Baby!

Before you sit down to design a Zozo piece, creatively where does your inspiriation come from?
I am inspired by EVERYTHING, but especially the juxtaposition of textures and color combinations. There is a house down the street from mine that is a gorgeous aqua color. They have huge vibrant red rose bushes in front. I am inspired by the aqua/red combo every day when I drive by. The way cherry blossoms look against a blue sky. Seriously. I am inspired by EVERYTHING. Lately I’m into themes, so I’m going to explore the 1920′s for my Fall children’s collection. I am also inspired a lot by fine art and other designers and photographers, as well.

How vital is social media to your business & how do you balance that with family & creating?
Social media is CRUCIAL these days for any business. It’s the fastest way to reach customers! Facebook is hands down the best free marketing tool on Earth! Balance is a CONSTANT struggle and I battle every day. I am not any kind of role model for balance. I actually was very inspired by my friend, Kelly Moore (yes, THE Kelly Moore!), to take the summer OFF to be with my girls! My business will still run and I”ll have to work some, of course, but I am not putting them into child care this summer. I am restructuring how my business is going to function for a few months, so that I can get just a step closer to that elusive balance (before the craziness of the Fall line begins!).

What was your most enjoyable experience when you last collaborated with another creative?
Do I have to pick just ONE? I’m going to live on the edge and list two. I have 3 other designer friends with children’s clothing lines (Lillipops Designs, The Measure and The Trendy Tot) and we are all very different in our aesthetic, but we all came together to collaborate in Portland earlier this year. It was outstanding! It’s truly so special when a group of artists that are so different can come together and create something really amazing. We all just feed off of each other really push each other to break outside of our comfort zones. This new collaboration is even more breathtaking than we all imagined. The new clothing line is called Small Nation and will debut on May 1st! Secondly, ANYTHING I do with Shannon Sewell ends up taking my breath away. We kind of trade off coming up with ideas, but it always works out beautifully. I love it when she approaches me with an idea and I get to put my Zozo spin on it and turn her vision into reality. We have an unbelievable collaboration coming up in June. You wouldn’t even believe me if I told you what it involves.

For someone wanting to turn their hobby into a business, what advice would you have for them?
First, you HAVE To think long-term. Branding is SO HUGE and before you even set out to make your hobby into a business, you need to have a solid idea of who you are as a business and what you want to put out into the world. I think NAMING your business has got to be thoughtfully considered. You want to be memorable, but also taken seriously (i.e….. Pink Turnip Clothing sounds really interesting, but “So-and-So’s Cutsie Pie Couture” sounds a bit amateur). (I totally made up those names, so I hope I don’t step on toes!). BE ORIGINAL!!!!

Q&A with BUTTERFLY SPARKS

Vanessa and I are getting quite excited about our JOLT | Creative Shop on September 30th in Dallas, TX [Vanessa's hometown!]. We’ve got some pretty incredible sponsors on board, who are just as excited as we are … which has meant the world to us! As we get closer to JOLT, we will be highlighting our sponsors so you can get to know them. Until then, get to know a little more about Vanessa … the face behind Butterfly Sparks!

NAME : Vanessa Warren
BUSINESS : Butterfly Sparks
LOCATION : Dallas, Texas

What three adjectives would you use to best describe your personality?
I asked my husband … it felt strange for me to think of the answers. Driven, Creative & Honest [ok, he said blunt ... so I tweaked it a bit - HAHA!]

What jump started BUTTERFLY SPARKS?
After my son was born, I had a deep desire to stay home with him. At the time, I was working at a record company doing marketing full-time in Nashville, TN. Loved my job but wanted more … for myself & for my son. I’ve always had a heart to create & the chance to create for others is a dream come true! Butterfly Sparks started out being blog & card designs. As time went on, I began to incorporate my marketing knowledge of ten years into my business & knew I had to make a choice & figure out what my primary focus for Butterfly Sparks was going to be. It was then that my love for what I do really came alive.

Butterfly Sparks [Designs] primary focus is to service entrepreneurs by creating brand identities for their businesses. I absolutely LOVE connecting with photographers who are passionate about what they do. Putting to use my marketing background to help one identify what encompasses their brand makes me a very happy person. I really do consider it a privilege that people would chose me to dream up a brand for something that is very personal to them. I love every bit of the process … walking away w/ new friendships at the end of the experience is truly what I love the most.

I’m a mom …. I relate to all the mompreneurs [yes, I just typed that] who work their booties off every single day to keep their household running. Once every needs been met in the house, then to sit at their desk & get to work on what their passionate about … high five to all of them! That’s AWESOME. I want each one of those women to succeed BIG & if I can help them along the way, well, that’s an honor.

Butterfly Sparks [Creative] came about as an effort to remove myself from the computer & allow my love for interior design & all things fashionable to be used in a creative way. I love photography & dreaming up a storyboard of what to shoot, so naturally, I just fell in love with prop styling. There’s just such a freedom when you step away from the digital world & just let your mind run wild & make those crazy dreams come to life in a photograph. LOVE it.

I’ve had the privilege to not only work w/ the fabulous Kelli Trontel, but also with Shannon Sewell, Millie Holloman & David Bean … all are amazing!

Why the move to Dallas, TX from Nashville, TN?
Being that my husband & I are from the AWESOME state of TEXAS [yes, I'm one of those that's annoyingly PROUD to be from TEXAS], we had reached a point in our lives where we wanted to be near our family again. Especially for our son. So, to keep a long amazing story short, I quit my job [yes!], my husband took a job in Dallas & I now am PRIVILEGED and BLESSED to be working from home. And work includes Butterfly Sparks + our 3 year old son. Being a SAHM is hard work & then to add an additional job to the list of duties is near impossible but I absolutely LOVE what I do … & I know a lot of you feel the same way!

What inspires you? How do you find that inspiration?
EVERYTHING. My brain never turns off. I am inspired by art, fashion, other creatives in my life & my family. I find inspiration EVERYWHERE … while I’m shopping, flipping through magazines, perusing fashion blog sites, people watching, taking a stroll outside, watching Nick Jr. … it’s endless, really.

How has being a mom impacted your VISION and CREATIVITY?
Honestly, I can not recall what type of vision & creativity I had before I was a mother. My whole world has been impacted for the better.

Who is your favorite red head? There is only one correct answer to this question … KELLI!!!

What is your favorite blog site you gain inspiration from?
Only one? Impossible. A couple … Creature Comforts & Decor8. I know Pinterest is not a blog, but let’s be honest, it’s my favorite!

Favorite drink from Starbucks?
When in season, Creme Brulee.

How do you spend your free time?
With my family. There are moments every day that I stare at my son or my husband & try to burn those adorable facial expressions/funny laughs/comments in my memory. I don’t want to forget one single thing. I love just them.

Other than styling & design, what else are you really good at?
People watching. Making toast. Driving my son everywhere. Sitting incorrectly. Not shutting down. Being there for people that need me.

Where did you meet your husband?
In a barn. No, really.

So, ten years from now … what does life look like?
My heart will be more full & so will our home.

Tell us why JOLT is going to rock?
I am SO very excited about JOLT | DALLAS! I can’t wait for Kelli & I to not only love on the people there but to share our hearts & experiences … with hopes it will impact & make a difference. Social media is huge for any business & being that both of us have a good deal of experience with that topic … that will be an exciting one! Kelli is such a talented photographer, so no doubt people will walk away with a new outlook on how to approach photography. A lot of photographers love the idea of styling & I’m looking forward to sharing how one could incorporate that into their business if it’s something their passionate about. Last but certainly not least … collaborating is a must for anyone wanting to be stretched professionally. So, let me just wrap it up by saying this … you will leave INSPIRED. Promise!

Q&A with KELLI TRONTEL

NAME : Kelli Trontel
BUSINESS : Kelli Trontel Photography
LOCATION : Whitefish, Montana

What three adjectives would you use to best describe your personality?
I asked Reed [my husband] to answer this for me and he came up with the “3 p’s” :: Passionate, Purposeful and Positive.

How did photography begin for you?
Photography has always intrigued me…however I was heavily into music and songwriting while growing up [yes, I was on Star Search when I was 12 years old!]. My dream was to live in Nashville and pursue music, but God had other plans for me in Music City.

There was a series of events that lead me to the place of starting my own photography business. One of them was being on staff for the Luis Palau Nashville Cityfest, where I took a season off from music…..and really opened my heart and my mind to a bigger picture of life. A life that didn’t revolve around MY DREAMS and what I WANTED to do, but what I was CREATED for. Big difference.

I was eventually at a crossroads with music and photography. It was either my bandmates or clients who took a backseat and that was not cool. I was really feeling that push and pull to commit to one or the other….and to do that one thing in excellence. At that time, I was surrounded by some of the greatest photographers in town, who took me under their wing and encouraged and shaped this other creative side in me.

Why the move to Whitefish, Montana from Nashville, TN?
My husband is also an entrepreneur and is from Montana. Ever since we got married…he has talked about moving back to the Northwest, which I would I always reply with…”I AM NEVER MOVING TO MONTANA!!” haha. Hilarious, right?

Well, an opportunity came up for us to partner together and start our very own business- so we sold our house and moved to Whitefish to open up the RED CABOOSE Frozen Yogurt + Coffee. I am eating my words about Montana- it’s an incredible place to live and I love that I get to work side by side with my husband each day! We opened our shop on February 25 of this year!

What inspires you?
LIFE. It sounds strange, but the truth is….life is short. My limited time on this earth inspires me to create and make my time count. 2o1o was a really rough year for me- I lost both my dad and little sister, and my perspective on time has changed….therefore what I put my hands to each day really matters.

On a lighter note…little details, fashion, music and love inspire me daily.

How has photography changed you as a person?
Photography has given me a voice. It’s ironic, I know…but I’ve never felt so confident in my life. I have always been a people person and my camera has served as a vehicle to really get to know people. It has given me an opportunity to share life with complete strangers…and help them tell their own story.

Who is your favorite friend? I’ll help you, her name starts with a “V” …
VANESSA! Of course….so many memories! So many adventures! I love you, friend!

What brings you the most joy?
My husband. He is so inspiring and steady.

Favorite dessert?
Frozen Yogurt, of course!!

What is your favorite blog site you gain inspiration from?
Hmmm…there are many. To name a few:: Creature Comforts, The 99 percent and Oh Joy!

Who do you admire in the field of photography?
Goodness, there are so many!! Amy Wenzel is high on the list. She’s real. She’s authentic.

What was your most enjoyable experience when you last collaborated with another creative?
My latest collaboration was with Jake Bramante of Silent Matter Productions and Vanessa for our JOLT promo video. It was amazing to me that we could create such a video while living in Montana and Texas. Technology blows my mind. I love that distance doesn’t have to come in between creativity.

I absolutely loved working with Jake- he brought a new level of enthusiasm and energy into JOLT as we were getting the idea up and running!

So, ten years from now … what does life look like?
I’d love for our family to grow and to be continuing to pour into other peoples lives.

Tell us why JOLT is going to rock?
I am super excited about this collaboration with Vanessa. I can not think of a more perfect person to join forces with…..we are dangerous together. We are passionate about people and making things happen! Our promo poster only scratches the surface on what we will be delivering…..we are holding nothing back…..and can’t wait to help each individual person with their creative dream and purpose.

This course is for those that are craving INSPIRATION and desire to focus on their PASSION in life. JOLT will rock your world, for real!

PIONEERS : Shannon Sewell

My amazing friend, Shannon Sewell, is the real deal. Not only is she insanely talented, she has a HUGE heart & it’s evident to anyone who has the pleasure of meeting her. Shannon’s art has so much life within it because she pours every ounce of herself into each shoot.  One of her many talents is being able to relate instantly to every one & bring [the best] out of them. She’s just gooood. I, Vanessa, am honored to have collaborated with her on shoots & workshops … each a memorable one! Enjoy reading about my mentor & friend … Shannon.

NAME : Shannon Sewell
BUSINESS : Photographer
LOCATION : Portland, Oregon

We know those gorgeous kids of yours inspire you immensely … what about them inspires you the most?

When they came into my life it was a total reality check.  the whole ‘grow up, go to college, get a good job, make lots of money’ thing just went out the window.  i didn’t care how elite my job was or how much money i made… i just wanted to do what made me happy… be able to show my kids that success is doing what you love.  and honestly, if i didn’t have them as my muse & to be involved in it like they are, i don’t know that photography would even hold the same appeal.  i do it because it fits our lives so well and it gives me a way to remember this moment in our lives.

What drives your passion for photography?  

See above.  haha – seriously though… i get bored really easily and i love to make ideas come to life.  i always need something to keep my body and mind busy.  photography allows me to keep trying new things and be as busy as i need or want.  it is the perfect creative outlet.  

Out of all the amazing styled shoots you’ve created, which ranks as a favorite? 

It’s always the last one i did.  like i mentioned before, i bore super easy so after something has sat there for a bit i am totally over it.  my shoots always reflect what i am currently passionate about.  i just did one a couple of days ago based on the artist, Frida Kahlo.  I have always been a fan of her work and her story.  The movie came up in my Netflix cue a couple months back and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head soooo… I did a shoot based on it (of course!).  For the moment it makes me totally happy to look at it because it is what is interesting to me right now.   

What artists currently inspire you?  

Oh gosh… that is a hard question.  i am inspired by every genre of artist… old and new ones… all the time.  so…  (gonna let you in on a secret) growing up i was a huge madonna fan.  like not only owned every album but collected books, magazines.. the whole nine.  this started when i was probably 9 or 10??  i LOVED how she was always changing, pushing the envelope, doing things that no one else did.  the one thing that i always noticed though was when she was interviewed or talked about her influences- they ran the gamut.  she was inspired by dancers (martha graham), artists (keith haring, jean michel basquiat), politicians (eva peron)… i picked up on the fact early that to be interesting you have to look for interesting things EVERYWHERE.  so i think when i am creating it is my process to search beyond the obvious.. if something captures my attention i try to figure out how i can incorporate it in my work.

Who’s on your dream list to collaborate with & why? 

You know what?  i don’t have a list!  i need one!!  i am completely inspired by people that think outside of the box though… clothing designers, crafters, videographers… i would love to work with every type of artist at some point in this journey.

site : http://www.shannonsewell.com

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