We recently had the chance to connect with Allen Boatner and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Allen, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me starts with me waking up around 7–8 AM and getting ready for work at 9 am. I am very blessed that I have a job that is not too far from where I live, so I usually don’t have to rush. The place that I work at is called CADY Studios. It’s a photography studio here in Austin, TX. I am usually there till 5pm with a lunch break in between. I have been there for almost two years, and it’s a really great job for me as I get to take some really creative photos for high school seniors in the area. Then, afterward, I head home and I try to get a workout in from home. I do a couple of at-home workouts or on a long walk since I am not that interested in a gym at the moment. Then I will make dinner and watch a movie while I eat. Around 8pm-930pm is when I work on one of my projects that I am currently focused on. Then I give myself some leeway time on my phone for a bit, then just around 10 or 10:30 pm I get ready for bed and then, I am out between 11pm and midnight.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Allen Boatner, I am 28 years old and live in Austin, TX. I am a freelancer working in the field of production. I have a variety of skills and jobs, like Photography, Videography, Content Creating, and Acting. I also know American Sign Language because of my deaf parents and growing up as a CODA. Sign Language was my first language. Which I actually use for my content creation.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
For a long time I believed that I was supposed to be a caretaker. Growing up in an environment that is different than some, I didn’t think I believed I could be anything else. That it was meant to be my life mission to take care of everyone. Until I got older, I started to realize that not everyone in my life wanted that or even if they did, they ended up taking advantage of me. So I was frustrated a lot of the time when I hit those roadblocks. Until around the time I was in elementary school, my parents pulled aside one afternoon and told me that I needed to focus on the person that I was called or meant to be. At the time I didn’t know it, but now I have figured it out. That conversation I had has changed and influenced me a lot into my adulthood.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
To my younger self, “you are stronger than you believe. I am very proud of where you are at despite a lot of heavy pain and sorrow that the world has thrown your way. Keep on going and it will be worth it”!
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I have always been told that honesty is always important to me. Anything that I do in life I always want to do the best that I can and be upfront about it. It helps me grow more as a person and artist. I know that some people will be a bit disappointed, but they come to understand that is what is needed of me in the end as an artist.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
The creativity and hard work that I have had in myself these all this time. From my pictures to my videos. They are unlike anything I have made or been apart from. Because they have been different from what a lot of people believe them to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboat97/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-boatner-745b41162
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@allenthecoda
- Other: TikTok: https://share.google/WpnfkCrtpO5uNtlq5
Image Credits
Most of the photos were done by me. Credit Allen Boatner
