Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Barnes.
Hi Nick, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I was a doodler. I was awful at it–there was this kid named Tyler in my kindergarten class that could draw well and subsequently considered the cool kid. Screw you Tyler.
Skip to around 5th grade, I began to teach myself a little program known as Photoshop 7.0 on a Mac G5 Tower that crashed every 10 minutes due to faulty RAM. YouTubing “cool photoshop tutorials” and clicking on whichever video had the best thumbnail led to where I am today–An obsessive photographer, designer, artist, creative, want-to-be stand-up comedian who enjoys making really cool work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. Starting out, I had trouble finding consistency. I was always hustling to try to find the next gig and make sure my calendar was filled. The opportunities were there, but they never seemed to find me, so I had to find them myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of 51st & Eighth. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am the owner and creative director of 51st & Eighth, a creative agency based here in Austin, TX. I specialize in commercial photography, but we are known for our creative work in general. We pride ourselves in prioritizing strategy just as much as the creative work. Without great strategy, the work is meaningless. I’m proud of our client roster and retention. Our clients love to work with us because of the speed and understanding that we have. Although we are running a business, because we work with so many small brands it’s important to us to show some grace and flexibility with projects we take on. It always pays off in the end.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Just keep going. There’s always going to be struggles and another hill to climb. But if you keep moving forward you’re guaranteed to carve yourself a new path. It isn’t always the one you planned for, but its reflected by the work you create.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.51-8.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/51andeighth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/51andeighth
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/51-8/
