Creator of the week

When was the last time you visited nature?

We want you to meet a person who wouldn’t miss any opportunity to be in nature. Tiera Liby is our featured creator of the week and also an avid nature lover. Look at the photos she took from the places she’s visited; take her as inspiration to go out to nature on a weekend soon!

Who are you, and what do you do?  

I am simply a nature lover. I like to get other people excited about being outside. Digital images capture many visually magnificent aspects of the places I visit and document a place in time that gets people excited to experience their own adventures. My explorations also allow me to help others through consultation to travel, hike, and explore.

How did you get started?  

I started taking coworkers and friends on dedicated mountain adventures every month, starting 4 years ago. The group has gotten bigger and bigger through word of mouth. As interest has grown throughout my organization, I decided to start building a larger platform to expose even more people to the wonders that exist.

What sets you apart? 

I am approachable, open to sharing, and responsive to inquiries. I want to support people and help them feel comfortable in their explorations. The more awareness we have about our environment, when we can be out in it and feel how special it is, I am convinced we will all do more to nurture and protect our public lands.

What obstacles did you have to overcome?  

All of them! Starting when? Ha! There have been so many obstacles from driving on narrow, washed-out forest roads, to walking on steep and narrow trails cliffside, to making my computer turn on and then asking you a bunch of questions.

Do you have any tips for other creators?

Dream big. Smile – it’s good for the soul. If it doesn’t work the first time, try again. If you are stuck, ask for help. Be patient with yourself and know that all things are a work in progress. Those points are pretty much my life story.

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We interviewed this week’s features Creator, Aldo Smith from South Africa, and he told us about one of the challenges he overcame—load shedding!  We believe that challenges make us more unique and can inspire creativity in people. Aldo directly confirms this theory. 

Get to know more about Aldo and his experience through his answers to our five creator questions this week.

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Aldo Smith a Digital Designer based in South Africa and I work in a digital space to provide products, services and even people with an opportunity to present their brand or themselves on a professional level. This includes graphic and UX/UI design, photography, some fun with video and hopefully everything in between. 

How did you get started? 

My journey started in high school when I had Design as a subject for fun and IT as my main focus, but it soon became clear I was more interested in the details of design. I shifted my focus, but still had a love for technology so I combined the best of both interests. As for our website, it simply started as me just wanting to help my sister with professional representation and the next thing we know it is a popular little local store with thousands of followers.

What sets you apart?

Something I like to create with clients is not just a professional relationship but a personal experience as well. I consider myself quite the people pleaser, proficient in looking at the bigger picture and even a little bit of a perfectionist. Therefore if a client can flaunt their final designs I know we’ve reached a milestone to be proud of together.

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

Being a digital creator in South Africa had a big challenge over the course of my studies and still presents a challenge today. Namely loadshedding that most of the world doesn’t really experience (interruption of electricity supply) which is self explanatory for someone who works exclusively from their computer or needs to charge equipment. On a more personal note, I noticed I had something I refer to as “design commitment issues” where I had so many ideas for a single concept that I almost didn’t allow myself to get to the execution of said ideas. 

Do you have any tips for other creators? 

Being prepared is one of the best things one can do for yourself. So with that in mind, two tips I can pass down to fellow or new creators is firstly that research is your best friend in this line of work. It will provide perspective and insight to similar concepts as well as inspire you to develop those and your ideas even further. Secondly it is to learn and know your software. Most creators nowadays use very similar tools, but it is how you use these programs that will set you apart.

Check out Aldo’s site here!

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What do you know about tech surrounding coffee?

One of our creators of the week knows everything about it because he is the CEO and Founder of Coffee Cloud Technologies Ltd. This application helps one to monitor the world’s barista machines and understand how the espresso machines are being used, giving precise information that ensures the coffee’s quality and profitability. 

Let’s meet Miroslav Kovac from Zagreb through his answers to our five creator questions of the week.

Who are you, and what do you do?

Miroslav Kovac, CEO and Founder of Coffee Cloud Technologies Ltd. I am an electronic engineer, serial entrepreneur, and inventor. I am an author of one patent and a few pending patents, and actively working as a consultant for the protection of intellectual property around 20+ new products and inventions. I have received numerous honors during my career as an inventor and entrepreneur, the most important of which are the International Invention of the Year Award of the British Inventors Society, the USA INPEX Invention Food & Beverage Award, and the Croatian Chamber of Economy Invention Award.

How did you get started?

Everything started 15 years ago when I was running my own café. While working shifts with my employees, I realized that I was selling 20% more coffee than they were.That’s because, in the coffee business, there are a lot of things “under the table”. Sometimes, baristas provide free coffees to their friends or for themselves. So far, we have gone through various development stages with Coffee Cloud, and now CoffeeCloud provides full IoT software analytics for the operational management of professional barista coffee machines.

We serve famous brand customers in the coffee and HoReCa industries, like Lavazza, Illy, Metro C&C, etc. We are currently fascinated with the development of our analytics tool for coffee quality diagnostics. Our mission is to bring the perfect cup of coffee to every customer.

What sets you apart?

I am passionate about a good cup of coffee. At the same time, I am passionate about new technologies and innovations. I am disappointed with people who live in the past and do not give new things a chance.

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

As is typical in startup companies, there are a lot of obstacles here, including challenges with people, finances, and unexpected events like COVID-19. As it is, our challenge is to try to survive in all circumstances.

Do you have any tips for other creators?

Look forward, never backward. Don’t worry about other people’s opinions. Do what you feel is best, and stay persistent.

So, it’s time to prepare a good cup of coffee and start building your own free website with IM Creator!

Today’s inspiring story is about a path beginning with a Bachelor degree in Physics, that found its way to wildlife photography. Yes, you’re thinking what we’re thinking, something like National Geographic. Girish Menon lives in Mumbai and he is the first creator from India to be featured in IM’s “Our Creators”. These days he continues to learn and acquire new skills such as Journalism and Mass Communications. 

Let’s get acquainted with Girish Menon and his experience through his answers to our five creator questions of the week.

Who are you, and what do you do?

I’m Girish Menon and I’m from Mumbai, India. I’m a photojournalist/storyteller — I like telling stories about wildlife and natural habitats and the people and cultures that live among nature. I also document Corporate Social Responsibility projects in the fields of healthcare and education. I teach photography workshops in person and online through live video chat and lead photography tours to wildlife sanctuaries and exotic destinations. I’m presently pursuing a Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communications through a distance learning program to deepen my insights on storytelling. My hobbies include sketching, creating audio documentaries and listening to music.

How did you get started?

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and started my career as a software developer. But I had an unfulfilled desire to study fine art— which I still might someday. I was interested in photography throughout my childhood. My father was an excellent photographer, and we have lots of black and white photos and some colour slides that he clicked at different places in India during the 60s and 70s with his rangefinder camera.

He also took lots of pictures of me growing up. I grew up yearning to travel and click pictures while scribbling on his collection of National Geographic magazines.

Two years into my software career, I enrolled for a private mentorship with a renowned photographer in Mumbai. During this one-year mentorship program, I published some travel stories in airline magazines and started doing freelance work.

What sets you apart?

I am able to simplify and present thoughts, ideas, and concepts. This simplicity shows in the photos that I click — and the clarity with which the story is told. I like to learn as much as possible about the people and wildlife that I photograph.

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

The biggest challenge for me is marketing and business development — reaching people who require my services. I realised that offline marketing and presenting introductory workshops at offices, schools, colleges, and these days — online, and building a community is necessary to grow my outreach.

I find that the number of people interested in learning the basics of photography is lesser than it was about five years ago. That’s perhaps because the results of smartphone cameras and compact cameras have significantly improved. That makes it important for me to communicate exactly what I bring to the table. And why anyone who wants to take their photography seriously must learn the basics of photography and lighting.

Do you have any tips for other creators?

“Don’t die with your music still in you” is a quote credited to Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.  There can be vestigial thoughts such as “what’s the point of doing this?” or “it’s not going to be that good anyway, so why bother?” I think that we must be willing to create — and take action rather than let ideas that are close to our hearts wilt and die away in our mind. One can then decide whether to pursue the idea or let it go — after looking at some tangible outputs.

When I’m preoccupied with other things, I write down or voice record my ideas so that I can revisit them in the future.

Check out Girish’s site here, and take up his advice!

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Here’s a professional story that a lot of us sometimes have from our childhood: the first simple camera, the first full roll of film, and the magic of waiting and being ready for pictures to print. 

Rowan Forsythe continues making time for the thing that he loves, despite his full day of work and his studies. His professional story is happening right now. Read this interview, and support him in continuing to shoot his beautiful pictures.

Who are you, and what do you do?

First and foremost, I am your typical overworked, stressed college student with far too many hobbies for my time or money. However, on the side, I have managed to take what started as a passion for photography and turn it into a source of income, finding creative fulfillment along the way. I work wherever I can, producing journalistic content for schools, providing event coverage, and doing portrait shoots on request — I’ve even gone so far as to photograph and design a website that was used as marketing material for a boat. (Check out www.owens30.info, which is hosted on IM Creator!)

How did you get started?

I took my first photography “class” at the age of eight — I’d burn through three or four disposable cameras from the drug store on school field trips. (Do you remember when these cameras were a thing?)My first DSLR camera, purchased on a Costco special sale, of course, was given to me as a Christmas gift in middle school. Though it was never my aspiration to become a pseudo-professional, I was propelled in that direction by a three-year tenure as lead photography editor with my high school yearbook. I became highly proficient in a very short time — shooting thousands of photos a week will do that to you. Eventually, the school’s marketing director reached out to me, paying me with gift cards under the table to fill in for him at events, which opened my eyes to potential income. Rub two pennies in front of a student, and they’ll find motivation. 

What sets you apart?

I think the biggest difference between myself and others in the industry is how I’ve refused (or perhaps failed) to pigeonhole myself into a specific genre of photographic work. The challenge presented by something new has always been exciting — I see it as a learning experience to relish rather than an unknown to shy away from. Everything that I have tried to do has been invaluable in my development as an artist, and I don’t envision myself ever working in just one photographic sub-discipline. 

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

As a full-time student who also works 20 hours a week, the biggest obstacle to my development and success has been (and is) a lack of spare time. Before work, it was athletics — I was a varsity track and cross-country athlete throughout my freshman year of college. Most recently, it had energy at all. An unexpected resurgence of mono and an unhealthy relationship meant I left my cameras collecting dust for nearly a year, until recently. 

Do you have any tips for other creators?

Most importantly, never let anything or anyone make you lose touch with your creativity. There is always time — ten minutes re-editing a photo before bed, a half-mile walk while dinner simmers away in the oven. You will only improve by making time for the things you love — you’ll find life gets better, as well. 

What things do you love to do? What can make you happy these days? Now, we are all staying home with nothing to prevent us from being creative. 

Today we want to tell the story of a group of friends who met in school, decided to open a film making company and are now successful. This is a very inspiring interview, one we are sure will motivate you, especially if you’re about to start something new and are looking for a push to make the first step!

Who are you and what do you do?

We are a group of filmmakers, who decided to follow our calling to make content that can inspire others.

How did you get started?

About ten years ago, as recently graduated film students, we created Tempano Films. We started by doing any small production we could get and focusing on making it look like it had cost 10 times what we were getting paid. It took a lot of creativity, drive and relentless focus on quality, but it worked and soon enough we were making projects with exponentially higher budgets.

What sets you apart?

Our backgrounds. There are people from very different backgrounds in our company. All the partners are from a different country, we had very different life experiences and this informs a lot of what we do. We also pride ourselves on hiring people who we think can bring a very particular point of view of the world to the table.

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

There have been many obstacles as in any company, but convincing people that we are able to do bigger things has always been one. Fortunately, we have been able to grow at a fast pace and there are people who have trusted us with huge productions.

Do you have any tips for other creators?

Don’t quit, no matter how hard it gets. In our experience, we’ve always bounced back ten times higher when we hit a low. Ah, and don’t do business with people you don’t like. It’s not worth it, trust us.

Thinking about telling your own story? Waiting to build your own site? Take the advice from our friends at Tempano and Just Do It Already! It’s never been easier to build a site, let alone for free.  

The creator for this week comes from Melbourne, Australia. Stephanie Chung does digital/online products more friendly for people, and she also likes all technologies that include virtual reality!

Get to know more about Stephanie and her professional way through her answers to our five creator questions this week:

Who are you, and what do you do?

I’m Steph Chung, and I work with companies to design solutions to make their digital products friendlier for people to use, a.k.a., UX/UI design. An added bonus is if those companies work with emerging technologies like virtual reality and so on.

How did you get started?

My short answer is working with startups doing social impact initiatives. My long answer is being an eLearning workshop creator, then dental startup employee #1, then startup community manager, and finally, product owner-UX/UI designer at a social enterprise startup. Don’t forget gourmet food magazine graphic designer and front-end website development for odd projects sprinkled in there.

What sets you apart?

I always, always want to do better and be better. It can be tiring, but I find that once I become passionate about something, I can’t let it go until the project has finished, and I know it was done to the best of my abilities. That doesn’t mean I’ll go all lone wolf or bulldoze my way forward, because working with amazing people along the way makes it even more worthwhile. Plus, I have a superhuman love for curry—any time of day, any kind of curry.

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

One challenge is living in another country, for sure, and Australia is my second one! Japan was my first. Besides that, taming my curiosity and constant craving to learn/try something new is my other challenge. You could call me a digital Renaissance woman

Do you have any tips for other creators?

I think Marie Kondo put it best: “Find the thing that sparks joy in your life.” But sometimes, it takes a little trial and error to find it!

What makes you joyful?
We are really enjoying your sites, and we know how difficult it can be to start! That’s why we made IM Creator so easy.

This week, we want to give you a new dose of inspiration!

Nathan Gregory is a photographer from California. He told us about his approach to work. Generally, preparation and pre-production for him is the hardest stage in work because he likes to do things as perfectly as he can. At the same time, he loves the real details in photos without a lot of retouching.

Get to know more about Nathan and his experience through his answers to our five creator questions this week.

Who are you and what do you do?

I am a freelance commercial content producer, so I create media for advertising campaigns — photos, videos, GIFs, etc. Over my freelancing career, I’ve worked in different industries. I’ve done food, cosmetics, politics, but now I focus mostly on commercial fashion work.

How did you get started?

I’ve always loved photography. When I was in college, I took a photo history class and was introduced to the work of Nick Knight. That was when I first encountered the idea of commercial photography being very artistic, and I loved it. Since then, I’ve aspired to emulate my inspirations like Tim Walker and Nick Knight.

What sets you apart?

I have a saying that I feel makes me different: maximum pre-production, minimum post. I prepare heavily for all my shoots because I like things to be perfect, or as close to perfect as possible. But I don’t like things to be heavily retouched. I like to see wires and strings and set pieces propped up. I think they add a sense of realism to the work. So I think it’s those two conflicting ideas about “perfection” that give my work a unique perspective.

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

I’ve had many difficulties as a freelancer, but because of them, I’ve learned so much. I think learning to be true to yourself and trust your own vision is hard. I wanted work that would sell and be successful, so I copied what sold and was successful. It wasn’t until I decided to do work that I liked, regardless of what people on Instagram thought of it, that I really started to get my bearings.

Do you have any tips for other creators?

Figure out what excites you. Find the kind of work you like or the projects you want to work on. Your enthusiasm will help attract clients and collaborators to you who love the same things. Don’t try and be someone else.

Check out Nathan’s site here, and take up his advice!

Are you ready to build your own beautiful portfolio site? Get started today for free!  

This week we want to introduce you to a digital advisory and transformation firm, Provatera. They work to help clients build unique and long-lasting partnerships with their clients.
Let’s get to know how they got started. What do they do that is unique in the consulting-related services market? Find out through their answers to our 5 Creator Questions this week.

Who are you and what do you do?

At Provatera, we work as a digital advisory and transformation firm. We make sure our clients are working as effectively and efficiently as possible in this constantly changing digital landscape. Our goal is to make sure that the people we work with are able to actualize their goals and create unique and long-lasting partnerships with their clients. This industry is always changing and advancing, so it’s important for us to remain diligent and to adapt continually. With the speed that information moves nowadays, we always have to be aware of new and creative ideas on the horizon.

How did you get started?

I originally started by finding the right team of people who shared my vision. Once we realized that our goal of creating this unique company built to help others would be possible, there wasn’t any turning back. We thought of doing this because we all saw the multitude of different companies struggling to create meaningful engagement in the digital environment, and we knew we had the tools and knowledge to help them.

What sets you apart?

What makes us good is our strong mentality that there really isn’t a problem too big to solve. Our team really puts in the hours to make sure the ideas and solutions we present to our clients every day are thorough and uniquely designed to support and accomplish their initial goals.

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

I would be lying if I told you this journey was easy. One of our main difficulties was establishing ourselves in the over-saturated market of consulting-related services. Once our clients realized how adept we were and how hard we would work for them, it became much easier to grow our business as a whole.

Do you have any tips for other creators?
Nothing is impossible. Whatever it is, it just hasn’t been done yet.

Do you like this interview?
You, too, can be our “Creator of the Week.” Just start building your site with IM Creator! Start now for FREE!  

This week’s dose of inspiration comes from France. Nicolas Germain is CEO of a consulting firm that works in the Normandy and Hauts-de-France areas.
He told us how to keep faith during the first steps of a project when you don’t have much experience.

Let’s get to know his goals and aspirations through his answers to our 5 Creator Questions this week.

Who are you, and what do you do?

I am an entrepreneur specializing in public affairs. I have set up Cabinet 37, a public affairs consulting firm covering the French regions of Normandy and Hauts-de-France (both areas constitute the northwestern part of France). My goal is to act as an intermediary between private and public actors. I support my clients in their strategy of influence.

How did you get started?

I decided to start this project after several short experiences in the public sector, including the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy. By launching this project, I wanted to participate in the economic development of the regions I love.

What sets you apart?

I have never considered influence to be the result of an opportunistic network strategy. In my opinion, it is a matter of friendship and trust based on shared values. I really like the Chinese concept of guanxi, which refers to the idea of mutual interactions between several people.

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

As I have little experience, the biggest obstacle has been to always keep faith in this project. In addition, I operate in regions where public affairs are not a self-evident matter. Therefore, a necessary step is to constantly explain the details of my services (getting informed, meeting, promoting) and how they can be useful to stakeholders in my regions.

Do you have any tips for other creators?

The most important thing is to surround yourself with the right people because of their competence and ability to always be positive.

Check out Nicolas’s site here, and take up his advice!

It was the first creator of the week in 2020! With the year just beginning, it’s time to create something new and follow your passion and ideas!

With IM Creator’s easy-to-use site builder, you can build your site for free today!