Today we’d like to introduce you to William Vaughn Griffin.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am an artist, a fine-art photographer and a courier in Boston Massachusetts. I grew up in northern Maine where I learned the value of both, hard work, and imagination. Since childhood, I have lived in many places, and I have always dabbled in various forms of artistic expression, photography being one of them. I spent some time in the southern U.S. and on the West Coast but ultimately ended up missing the dramatic seasonal changes of the northeast, so in 2012 I moved to Boston.
Around 2015, after many years of pursuing other things, I began using my camera again, but with intention, and a devotion to learning the craft and developing a personal style. I seek inspiration from the people I interact with daily, the many places I visit and other artists whose work I admire. I push myself continually, and I’m forever looking for new influence; therefore my photographic style is always progressing.
As a Foot Messenger in Boston, I move freely throughout the city, never knowing where I will be from hour to hour. I have my camera with me at all times, and with each assignment, I gain new perspectives on the city and often with the chance to shoot unexpected locations.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
A couple of things I have always found difficult as an artist, are finding new inspiration and marketing myself. Both are common problems among working artists, so I’m always curious how other creatives approach these issues. The process of creating a photograph, in and of itself, from start to finish, can be an incredible challenge. It sometimes takes me weeks or months to finish a piece.
If I get an idea for a certain type of shot in a specific location, I will visit that place over and over until I achieve results. It can also be quite taxing emotionally to always be searching for what is meaningful, when shooting, and in post-production. When I complete a photograph, it is my hope that it will be thought-provoking and maybe even inspirational to others. Inclement weather can be problematic, and yet the weather plays a big part in much of my photography, so I always try to make the best of it.
Exhaustion from physical activity(walking an average of 9.5 miles, 7 days a week) can also be a significant hindrance in my process, but it can allow me to access a different type of creative mental space throughout the day as well. All good things take time, so I shoot every day and try to learn from my mistakes as I steadily build a larger client base. I believe perseverance is the name of the game.
If you had to start over, what would you have done differently?
If I had no choice but to start over again from scratch, I would have picked up a camera much earlier in my life. I didn’t play with cameras when I was growing up, and I didn’t take photography in high school, and in those days there were no fun little digital gadgets to shoot with either.
I first started using and experimenting with a camera when I was around 20 years of age, and it was really just a hobby for many years afterward. I didn’t take my art seriously, and I also felt I had all the time in the world.
My attitude toward my art has changed dramatically at this point, but I don’t regret anything. It’s one day at a time for me as I’m always trying to learn patience and the value of incremental progress.
Contact Info:
- Website: williamvaughngriffin.com
- Phone: 207-632-9108
- Email: williamvaughngriffin@gmail.com
- Instagram: @bostonmessenger
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