3. John Philp Thompson III: Transitioning from behind the lens
John Philp Thompson III is a men's lifestyle creator based in New York City. A true jack-of- all trades, John began his career as a freelance photographer in Chicago eventually becoming a content creator full-time. Known for his all-American style and Texas roots, John knows how to make any guy - urban or suburban – look great with the right pieces. John's followers trust his style tips and love to follow along with his fashion, food, and travel tips (complete with city guides for each of his trips) on his expertly-curated eponymous blog. John is one of just a few go-to men's fashion influencers and stands out for his expert styling, friendliness, and professionalism.
John and I talk about the move back to New York after a Covid hiatus, finding friends in a new city, the leap from a 9-5 job to full-time freelance, how he juggles multiple social platforms, and tips for how to stand out in a crowded industry.
MORE JOHN:
John's Instagram: instagram.com/johnphilp3
John's TikTok: tiktok.com/@johnphilp3
John’s Blog: johnphilp.com
The Risky Jackal Weekly Playlist: open.spotify.com/playlist/14LEc8bx19XIlJepJL4FBU?si=057cd47803764258
John's Grandmother's 1957 Oscars Acceptance Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHl9D9I0Sv
MORE CREATIVE JUICY:
Michelle’s Instagram: instagram.com/mich_wainwright/
Say hello to Michelle: creativejuicypodcast@gmail.com
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT:
John:
Oh my goodness I am so excited for you First of all and so honored to be speaking with you and talking through all things. So I'm so excited. Yes, of course.
Michelle:
You're so nice. Thank you for doing this. So when did you get back to the city?
John:
I moved back September Sixth and I'm so glad to be back.
Michelle:
Okay, Wow. Yeah so how long I mean I guess when did you move out.
John:
I left so I left last November Twenty Twenty thinking I was going home for like three months. I put myself in storage and ended up being almost. Ah yeah, like ten months um
Michelle:
Same.
John:
And it is. It was kind of nice because delta happened and Texas as you know was very open so it was and like it was just so funky everywhere. So it was kind of nice, not being based anywhere and like I spent three months in la and a month in Mexico so you. And a month in Colorado so it was nice to be elsewhere while I could you know but I was definitely like god just felt like life was so for me at least was so up in the air with what am I doing. Where's everything like you know everything was kind of just put on pause I feel like. Job wise but also personally too like I just didn't even know I don't know I don't know if you felt the same way too.
Michelle:
Yeah I mean I put my stuff in storage November Twenty Twenty also um spent three months in l a also and I came back to New York in July so. Kind of the same timing but my stuff is still in storage. Yeah I mean the rental market here. That's why I had to push our call back because I was running to go look at an apartment so we're in Williamsburg month to month and you just have to give the guy thirty days notice it's all of his stuff.
John:
Sure has it gotten any better because like I it took me forever as well in September to land in September but I mean I feel like I thought the winter would have lessened or gotten better easier has it at all or.
Michelle:
It's been a mix. We have found some amazing places but we haven't gotten them because they're kind of like everyone gives us applications and they basically put it in a spreadsheet and the Landlord cherry picks who they want. Um.But granted the places we've gone to look at they've been very unique like we're kind of since we're not in a rush. Let's only move on to places that look amazing. Yeah, but then I also haven't seen my stuff in.
John:
Yeah, you're being picky which is nice. Um, and it's so crazy that you're like wait. Do I Even need this like what's even in there you know like.
Michelle:
Long time. Yeah, yeah, yeah because I got some of our clothes delivered and half of the things. There are a few things I was really excited to see but then the other stuff I was just like I don't even need this at all.
John:
Yeah, and I feel like I mean not right now because I feel like the last month everything's been slow. You know, just on macron and holidays and it's been so cold. But I do feel like the energy you know felt at least in the fall like it was fully back to like. Normalcy you're like you know it was getting there.
Michelle:
There was a moment I mean when I got back in July I was meeting with some friends. Um, and I walked through Washington square park after we got drinks and it felt I mean maybe it was because I was removed but it felt more alive than I yeah, it was like. Not only is New York back but it's also like up at five notches so okay so John um, first of all I didn't include this in my questions I sent you but your middle name is philip not Philip.
John:
Yes, and you said it printed correctly and you said it correctly.
Michelle:
Yes, because I remember when I first started to work with you I would always misspell it in documents and then I wasn't sure and I wanted to ask you if it is a family name.
John:
It is. It's my great grandmother's Maiden name. Her last name was Philip and I'm the third so my dad and my grandfather share the same name so he just , you know, went from her Maiden name to my Grandfather's middle name. Um, but I mean they at high school graduation like Deb balls at everything. It's whenever it's announced like it's always said wrong and I could care less I respond to everything.
Michelle:
Ah I'm sure. Yeah. Well, it's also a part of your social media handle. So I mean people know it. You're not just known as John Thompson it's always Jpt or John Phil Thompson right
John:
Or yeah or just John John Philp like I feel like people think that my name is John Philp and I fully respond to that too. You know , it's funny. But I mean I just smiled. I'm like hey what's.
Michelle:
Is this the same great grandmother who won an Oscar okay, your grandmother? Okay.
John:
Um, the opposite side of the family was actually my mom. My mom is a mother. Yes, um, yeah, she won an Oscar in 1956 for best supporting actress for. Um, a movie with Lauren Bacall and Rock Hudson. Um, yeah, which is so cool. It's weird to like to have that as it is and it's so cool I guess too just because I do get to like I can watch rewasher movies and. You know it's cool to see her frozen in time like that and so many people don't have that with grandparents or parents and yeah.
Michelle:
That's awesome. I feel like whenever we hang out I learn a new tidbit about you and I remember learning that your grandmother won an Oscar and just thinking that was the coolest thing because it is yeah okay, um, so John why don't you introduce yourself. And describe what it is that you quote “do.”
John:
So my name's John Philip Thompson. I feel like I've gone by quite a few things in my career. I always introduce myself as a photographer and blogger. The names for what I do has shifted so much in the last ten years, really 5 years Um, but I started out my career in photography doing freelance work and has kind of morphed into. Starting a lifestyle blog lifestyle and travel blog and I've been called an instagrammer when that was kind of pre-influencer and then now I guess an influencer is what's on you know, contracts and what people refer to what I do now. So like my middle name I respond to everything. Like call it what you want but I always just say I'm a photographer and blogger just because I do have a website that you know is a blog where I House City guides and style tips and kind of everything else in between and that's kind of like the central hub I guess for what I do so influencer. Um, I definitely work as a content creator. Um, yeah, they all work. Um, but yeah.
Michelle:
Man-of- all trades! Yeah so when did you start dabbling in photography.
John:
Growing up I didn't. I never took photography in high school or in college I always wanted to and I don't know why I never really pursued it. I always thought I always had a little camera. That I would tinker with and take pictures with as a hobby as hobbies growing up and um I also had Steven Spielberg do a collaboration with lego and this is like 2002 2003 maybe in. It was a little camera that you could plug into your computer and create little sets with legos and make like little legos stop motion movies. So I was super into that and always liked making little movies. Um, so I always liked having that passion. Photography video storytelling and but yeah, always just yeah, creating and but it wasn't until college graduating college that I bought myself my first Dslr like big boy camera kind of it's like a. Pat on the back to myself for making it through college. Um, and that's when I kind of took it more seriously and kind of really started leaning into it.
Michelle:
Cool. It's funny. You are my third guest and everyone has brought up legos in some way. Yeah, yeah, every single person I interviewed Aaron Vasquez um he's my first guest and then Rio who is an incredible visual artist. Last week but yeah everyone has mentioned lego so.
John:
I mean I love that so much it really I mean and yeah, it's It's cool that it kind of is one of those things where it is a blank slate. You can fully know creation within the Lego world. Um.
Michelle:
You and I're saying this to you with a little lego on my desk both yeah which is funny. Um, okay so you bought yourself a camera and then how did you decide to move to Chicago. You went to UT Austin, graduated from college and then what was what drove you to Chicago.
John:
Yes. Um, at the time as you know being from Texas I feel like most it's pretty much you're either going into real estate oil and gas or finance and honestly none of those really. Inspiring to me and I had my Texas real estate license I was already working in commercial real estate I had a job lined up back in Dallas for commercial real estate and everyone was kind of just moving back to their hometown like moving back to Dallas or Houston or staying in Austin for maybe a year or 2 and then going back? And I was kind of waiting. We're all like we're 22 and everyone's staying in Texas and moving back to their hometown is like hold on. I am not. I'm not ready for that and I kind of had this epiphany , this nightmare epiphany and I just saw myself. Sitting in a cubicle in a swivel chair and I turned around and looked at myself and I was overweight so unhappy I was 30 at the time that sounded very very old but I was. 30 and I was just like me so I fully saw where my life was headed and I was scared that scared me so much. Yes I'm and I'm glad to say I'm over 30 Now. So I'm glad to say it gets better.. But yeah, so that's kind of what shook me and kind of made me like take 2 steps back and be like hold on we're where am I going? What do I want to do and what's going on ? I really hated New York at the time. I had always been for family vacations and you know we're doing toury things and this is when I was like 12 to 15 and um, yeah I just did not like New York and l la was my mom was born in l a so we've been to la growing up and. And I kind of want to live somewhere where it was a city urban field where I could have you know hop on a train and not have to have a car and just like I don't know living in I like the idea of living in like a big city. So I kind of came across Chicago and fully got hooked on it. It's. Such as. It's literally in the middle of New York and it's like ah a chiller New York it's got it's like New York with elbow room a little cleaner bigger sidewalks and you have the skyscrapers but you also have the water right there. So I yeah fully got. I cooked on Chicago moved there thinking I'd be there for like a year or 2 and ended up being six years total that I was there and and I I loved it and I was um I ended up traveling to New York a lot for work and being so lucky to get to work with you and um, yeah. Through that I definitely started falling in love with New York and what led me here. But yeah, that's how I guess I pivoted and ended up moving to Chicago um I knew 2 like friends of friends. Um, they weren't like that.
Michelle:
Yeah. Cool. Did you know anyone there?
John:
No, I didn't have any close. Um, so really no, but I had 2 like friends or friends, one that I like went to college with. She was 2 years older than me and um, a family friend who I had never met yet. But um.
Michelle:
People you could call if you needed to.
John:
Yes, and I definitely did because I had nothing going on once I did move there. So.
Michelle:
Good for you I mean I feel like moving to a new place. I mean actually when I moved I felt like the migration of people I knew to New York came maybe 4 years after I moved here. I had some distant friends here. But There's something really scary but also exciting about not knowing many people where you're moving, especially at a young age in your twenties, so yeah.
John:
Um, yeah, it is. It is kind of nice like you're like oh no one knows me here I can just do you know? do whatever I want be whoever I want to be but then you're like wait I need someone to grab drinks with I want to I want to.
Michelle:
I met you through your photography work. Um, we both went to Ut Austin but didn't know each other there. How did you start getting clients and just getting better with the camera?
John:
Um, well I guess I moved to Chicago for a job in PR. I was working at a boutique agency that was very niche. It was. It was very like half of the staff were registered dieticians. It was all a health and wellness um slash scientific pr agency but everything we did was mostly b two b and um, but it was all in the food industry. So all of our clients were. Either brands or like food commodity boards like the national cattlemen's beef association or the pork board. Um, so it was a super super interesting, interesting space and I think the only reason I got that job is because I was I did political science at ut and I took a one class which I love.Which was the politics of food in America and it was that was kind of like what we were doing. Um, so that's kind of what got me what brought me to Chicago but I was literally looking for anything. Yeah I was just like I need to be in Chicago um, but. So I started I had no friends like I said earlier in Chicago and I literally just had my camera there. So I on weekends I would bundle up and go around the city and snap pictures and this was this was 2012 such a different era such a different time but there were these things that ever happened in every city called instamees and photographers or people that just like loved Instagram would go on insta meets and meet up and say hey we're going to walk like you know we'll meet at central park and then we'll walk down.
John:
Through Soho and everyone just like taking pictures and mingling and I don't know so I I met some of my great friends in Chicago through that through intimates. Um, which is so funny to think about now. But that's truly what it was like and it was an instant community for me because.
Michelle:
That's amazing.
John:
These were people who were photographers or you know other artists but just loved Instagram and there would be like 60 or 100 of us just like meeting up and walking around and taking pictures so it was like such a fun way to like meeting such a different group of people that I would never have.
Michelle:
Yeah, but with similar interests.
John:
Feel like I've never come across it. You know it exactly so that's kind of how I started making friends in Chicago and um, it was nice because a lot of them were working for themselves. So I gotta see oh people you know, like that can be a full time job like that is that that that could be a reality. Um and I started going to night classes for photography at the Chicago photography school and um.
Michelle:
Very cool.
John:
And yeah, after a few years I started taking off from my Pr job for a I I was only really shooting. Yeah, after work or during the weekends. Um, and I would take work off if I booked a full day shoot. That way and I was making enough money to make that reasonable or that day of pto you know make it worth it. So that's kind of how I started shifting from my full time job to photography. Um.
Michelle:
Yeah, good for you.
John:
And yeah, it was. It was definitely like a slow process. But I wasn't like you know I wasn't trying to to really do that as my full time job. It kind of just slowly morphed and when I realized I was not happy with my job I was like okay do I. Can I do this do I want to do this? Um, but yeah, so that and that was 2014 when I ended up quitting full time and pivoting to photography.
Michelle:
Yeah, um, it's funny I mean you mentioned insttames and then you say twenty twelve and I'm like holy shit that was ten years ago but it really was a completely different time especially in social media I feel like it goes just at the beginning of that kind of. Ah, at least for brands brands weren't even creating their own content at that point they had an event or something and they would shoot as many photos as they could or if you worked like I worked for c 3 present. So like Acl I would be backstage at a concert shooting a video of lord. Upload it to Acl's Instagram and that was what it was. Yeah no approvals fully when I was 21. Writing my own caption doesn't matter about random hashtags. Just throw it up there. Um.
John:
Um, like in the moment in the moment you know? Yeah. Simpler times and I do feel right now like we are so I feel like we're still in the infancy of all of this but you know that almost feels prehistoric you know of how. Everything was functioning online and how we were interacting.
Michelle:
Yeah I mean I think so I think one of the first projects we probably worked on you were I believe our photographer for cleko journey aka used to be Clio mail in Chicago for Veuve Clicquot champagne and we basically had this tour where we would drive around on a cliko truck and go to different cities and host events at restaurants and as building the social media channels for that. We needed to find photographers in every city. And Sydney obviously who I worked with knew you and so I'm sure that's how that relationship formed. Oh really, no tell me but I'm also seeing her for lunch tomorrow. So. It's good to know I will.
John:
No, it's actually not no, do you know the story behind this? Oh we'll tell her I said hi um, but I was I had been this was like 2015 maybe 2016 and I had been working with a fashion blogger who is going to a clio brunch that we all were hosting I think it's saks Fifth Avenue or um I Forget it was a it was a I think it was saks with Avenue but a department store and i'm at their restaurant and the photographer they y'all had hired. Backed out or couldn't go like the day before so she was like oh I've been working with this photographer John y'all like here here she passed along my information and then she reached out was like hey like can you are you free tomorrow during brunch we have this ah brunch with like 20 girls and. It's a shame for a champagne brand and I was like I'm there. Absolutely so that's kind of how and I literally was like I remember helping. I don't think you were there but I was helping Sydney move boxes in the back like during the event and we kind of put together like oh I'm from Texas and she's like me too. And I was like oh like I'm from Dallas went to ut and she's like I went to ut I graduated 2012 I graduate like we're like no way wait. What and that's how Cindy and I met like that's because we didn't know each other in college. Yeah no, and then.
Michelle:
Wow. Okay I didn't realize I just figured he did. That's hilarious.
John:
And we also realized that my friends, my dear friends and that had moved from Texas to New York were now in her friend group up here and like Charlie and Monica and Allie Smith and Caroline Johnson like that whole crew was my group of friends in college. It's like that.
Michelle:
Okay, that okay, that's awesome I mean I understand what it's like when I interviewed for laforce you know I interview with someone from Texas from Houston like me you you move to New York and you don't think you're gonna take a job and have a manager from your hometown who can come over over Christmas break and you go get Kso together. So um, okay, so then you're working in Chicago I guess what did it feel like when you quit your job I mean do you remember.
John:
I Love it.Um, it was and it's one of those things though looking back I'm like I should have been a lot more scared at the time like I was just so unhappy with what I was doing that I felt like there was just no other no other way. But you know I just had to quit and um.
Michelle:
Was it scary?
John:
It's one of those things in hindsight I probably should have you know, beefed up my client list a little bit more and waited six more months but it's one of those things like you. Well yeah, you will, you just don't know ah until you jump into the deep end. You know what is going to happen but you have to jump.
Michelle:
I think it's good.
John:
And you're gonna figure it out like you're gonna you're gonna survive. You're gonna stay up above water but you know it just but I do think there it was kind of good on my part um of not fully realizing and knowing you know what I was doing and I kind of had the same thing when I moved to Chicago I was like i.Don't know what's it next but I just know that I need to move I need you know like I I've got to do this for myself. So it kind of was that same gut instinctual feeling where and then after I was like wow I moved Chicago with and didn't really know anyone and I should have been a lot that was. Was kind of ballsy of me, you know like I can't believe I did that but it's after that you kind of like realize what you just did um because I feel like in the moment sometimes it's when it just feels right? You don't, you kind of can't even question it. You're like me. I just know I have to do this or shouldn't be doing that.
Michelle:
Yeah, yeah, I can completely relate to that and it's also something when you move to a new city. Especially when you're a young part of me. I remember when I moved to New York I wasn't sad that I didn't have friends because it was kind of expected. At least at the beginning like if my first whatever weekend I had a roommate who I was really good friends with but you know if I didn't have plans I didn't feel bad for myself because I was brand new and I'm supposed to not know anyone and I'm supposed to figure it out because I'm 23 24 years old um but I wish I was. As fearless as I was as you get older because I feel like it's on a separate combo. Um another time. But what was it like? I mean you've always been behind the camera and really excellent at shooting. And creating beautiful photography. What was the transition like from being behind the lens to in front of it?
John:
Um, it kind of was a natural progression or like I don't . It was something that I wasn't fully trying to do but I feel like I worked with a few of my photographer friends. If they needed a body I would like to jump in front of the camera. You know. Pose or do something for them and um, ah, a few times I helped out friends on a project for a campaign if they needed a model I would like jump in there and I did that enough where I was like I mean I could be getting paid for this, you know like and and maybe I should be so. I ended up joining an agency in New York and I did do some modeling work there mostly ecommerce and um, kind of stuff but I do think it was a natural or it also helped me having the foundation of being a photographer because I Knew exactly what they were looking for or what they were trying to get me to do So I knew where the light was coming from which way I should be facing you know I kind of and it kind of just makes makes it so easy to play with photographer um and kind of just have that in it. Yeah, and in Instant Wavelength of yeah chemistry. Yeah, um, but yeah, so that is definitely with social media that I definitely like because if you scroll way back. Um, most of my most of my posts were like travel photos and food photos. Um. Because that's really what I was shooting in Chicago I pretty much were shooting everything but weddings were kind of my mantra. Um I I have shot a few weddings but it's just not my passion and not my thing and there's so many wedding photographers out there that. That's all they do and they kill it So I'm always more than happy to be like I can't know I I won't shoot your wedding but here are a few people who would be amazing at it. Um B I Mostly shot interiors and food and um, started working with some.
John:
Tourism and travel brands or companies and then also kind of with the onset of fashion Bloggers um started working with some passion bloggers as well and that's kind of what led me to kind of also at the.
Is all kind of happening at the same time but I also jump in front of the camera and then also start my little corner on the internet and my blog as well. There just was no one no guy all the guys doing it in the states were either in New York or la and there was no one in Chicago and I'm not from Chicago but I was like. Need some midwest representation. Um, um, but yeah and also this was kind of in the height of like the menswear era like 2016 and 2 of my favorite and like the best known menswear shops in Chicago they both folded in 2016 which is.
Michelle:
Oh really, what were they?
John:
Surprising um it one was called haberdash and one was called apartment number 9 but they were both like one off you know, just like really well curated menswear shops that had stuff you kind of couldn't get anywhere else. And so when both of those kinds of shutters I was kind of like okay maybe maybe I will do a little something on the side kind of in the fashion and travel space just for fun.
Michelle:
Yeah, and that reminds me of what I was going to say before about my instimmates. That's what I would look up trying to find photographers in different cities because everyone was either in New York or l a like you said and then I would try and find photographers in I mean you name it. Anywhere and I could only find if anyone I could only find wedding photographers and for what we were shooting for our clients and the brand work we were doing we needed someone with a different perspective not to say wedding photographers wouldn't do an amazing job. But we're looking for more lifestyle photographers and. I mean I would just Google instamates and then search the hashtags for that city and then see who was tagged in the photo and then look at their profile and it was just this constant scouring of the internet. Yeah.
John:
Um, yeah, search. Well y'all y'all really did kill it because I mean I so I'm I was lucky to be part of it but that I feel like Cleo's whole digital. Life has been I think one of the best brands looping in creators and also creating beautiful storytelling. Um, and I'm being so furious right now I'm like and but'll and y'all also were doing it before like what y'all were doing was.
Michelle:
So sweet. That's so nice.
John:
Probably three years before like other brands were either even like catching on to even like the blueprint of what y'all you know what you were doing which was great. So kudos steel for sure.
Michelle:
Um, yeah, yeah, thank you John that's so nice I mean it's true. No one was one of the things we did was tag our creators. Like hey we want to work with you and we want to share 6 to 9 posts on our channel at John Phil Thompson and then that caught on thank god because I mean it's amazing to hero the people who are actually creating the work instead of just white labeling it but a different time.
John:
Yeah, totally totally.
Michelle:
For sure. So how did you mean speaking of different times? How have you adapted to the constant changing of social media?
John:
Um, I feel like and like I kind of said it you know I still do feel like we are in this infancy period where some there might be next week there might be some new buzzy social media that is coming out and I feel like my first reaction is to sign up for it jump on it and secure my username like get my handle make sure that I have that secured because that is especially if you're trying to create you know, alignment along across the board on all your platforms.
Michelle:
Smart.
John:
You want it to be as clean and simple as you can so that I do that. If I like to hear a whisper of a cool new thing I'm like okay I'm on it just in case like you never know. Um and then I don't know I feel like.I mean I feel like we are all at this point where just of just consuming social media of like there's a threshold you know like I'm going to wake up and like I can't check Facebook Instagram Twitter tumblr tick talk and you know and do that all before I go get my coffee like I can probably only do one of those maybe 2 you know like and then throughout the day there's just too much to keep up with and there's too much going on and I feel like that's even it's just you know there's been more and more noise. So I feel like as a consumer we all have to figure out okay maybe I'm really only checking. Instagram and Twitter these days that's like what keeps me entertained and what I'm like loving and loving the people I'm following on there. So maybe that's you know where I'm kind of like living and yeah and as a creator too. I kind of am at the same crosser as where I'm like okay, what am I doing. On these platforms. What makes them sense is what's helping me, what's not and what's not you know? and so I'm like I'm not active on Twitter right now because I don't use Twitter often and I feel like I don't really need to be so that's. That's 1 thing you know like that's a social media that I am not crazy active on and same kind of for Facebook um I have my photography page on there I have my blog page on there but like those aren't active and I I don't see too much community growing on those so I don't put much.
Michelle:
Um, yeah, um.
John:
You know stock into those but you know something like Instagram which has been constant for the last you know 10 years um and then Tik Tok which has been fun. You know, crazy things in the last year and a half. So I do feel like we have to kind of figure out from a consumer standpoint of like what do I even have the time for and also as a creator. It's like where is my energy going, where do I feel the most community or you know the most. Yeah, the most community and the most um maybe feedback from that community.
Michelle:
Yeah I think that's a smart way to look at it because I mean I can only imagine from where you sit. It must be so overwhelming to have amazing and incredible but also overwhelming to have all these different platforms where people can. Communicate with you and engage with your content and you know whatever talk to you but I think that's smart to kind of double down on the platforms where you're seeing the most engagement or the most opportunity or sense of community and then just work to. Build those relationships and make them even stronger.
John:
You know, absolutely and um, and yeah, it'll be interesting to see what you know the next five years and next ten years look like um, but yeah I definitely feel like there is a threshold you know.
Michelle:
Yeah, do you have an idea what's in your crystal ball?
John:
Oh my gosh. No I mean you know I don't know I it's like I don't know if they're gonna all. It's kind of like streaming services right? now you know like they've all fragmented Now there's you We can't keep up with how many you know that's. Hbo it's Netflix it's peacock. It's paramount pluss then now there's too many to even juggle and then it's like okay in 3 of these and this a totally different space but like in 3 years these are going to be now bundled. Where you can buy you know like and I don't know if obviously Instagram is trying to condense everything into like 1 and it and it has been successful with you know, doing that to snapchat and now it's trying to do the same thing with Realels for Tiktok. So it's interesting to see like I don't know if we will just have like amega social media for you know. Houses everything or will it always kind of be. You know the cool new cool new kid on the block. That's yeah, doing something different but.
Michelle:
Yeah, yeah I mean with streaming services I think they're definitely all going to consolidate and kind of basically turn into cable again. Which package do you want? Um I mean it has to, it's just getting. It's too much.
John:
With what we have yeah have yeah you yeah.
Michelle:
But then I mean I've always been thinking when is Instagram and all Tiktok I mean I feel like Instagram isn't even top anymore. But it's just where I am the most. I feel like it is all just going to disappear one day, not disappear, but just people will lose interest, you know, spending so much time on the phone on a screen. Will you value your actual physical in-person life and I feel like you see a little bit of that with gen z like you are more mindful of the harmfulness of how much time you spend scrolling and such and I don't think it'll ever completely go away but it is just interesting to understand. Or to watch really how things ebb and flow. Yeah.
John:
Yeah I mean yeah and that's that's almost a whole other podcast situation because it is I mean it is scary. How much time we spend on our devices and I mean I'm so guilty you know I'm it's I don't even want to tell you my daily average.
Michelle:
Um, do you put it? um limits Do you put time limits? I feel bad. Yeah, and then you feel bad. Yeah.
John:
Um, but it's it no because I used to and then I would just say ignore for the rest of the day. Yeah, yeah, and then I kind of like lump it in is like oh I'm doing work even though like you know and it's not always work sometimes I am just.
Michelle:
Yeah I was when I was talking with Rio on the last episode. Ah, he said it really beautifully. He said that people are always so negative about the phone and the screen but it's like a knife can either.
John:
Scrolling to scroll you know, like um, but yeah.
Michelle:
Cut you free or stab you and it's how you look at it and so he's really, he's creating visual art and digital media kind of on the flip side of all this negativity around you know, scrolling and whatnot and how it can be used for good which is a beautiful way.
John:
Interesting. Oh Wow Yeah I love that I mean that is that is true. It's like it's powerful. You can let it you know, get the best of you and mess with you or you can try to really use it to your benefit And yeah.
Michelle:
So how do you create boundaries? I mean are there certain days where not just with social media but just with your work because so much of it revolves around your lifestyle and traveling and you know health.Food How do you entertain spending time with friends like how do you? How do you create a work life balance if that even exists anymore?
John:
I mean I feel like this is now something so relevant because now all of us have been. You know the last year and a half have really been dealing with work life balance from home or you know work has just gotten so much more even for someone with a 9 5 like it's just gotten so much more omnipresent where. Even if you leave the office work's not done because we're always in contact and always available by email and you know it's just so now I think it is so hard to act to really leave the office or you know our parents would leave leave work and that was like their papers were on their desk and they left you know. They didn't have cell phones so they actually left everything back at the office which sounds so beautiful now. But definitely with what I do I I mean you would think that I have a pretty clear cut situation since I've been working for myself since 2014 but I feel I Really don't um. I mean I definitely have like gone on some trips and done some things where I'm just like this is for me this is vacation like I'm not putting anything on my story I'm not like this is not making it to social media and it's kind of like and it's I kind of like really can relax and treasure that. Um, because it's like it's not shared. You know it's kind of like keeping close. Um, but I do like I don't know how even if I wasn't doing what I'm doing I would still be like taking boomerangs with my family cheersing a glass like where I would still be doing all you know and like. Taking pictures of where I am like I would still be doing that Even if I wasn't doing it for social media. So I kind of can't even turn it off if I am off. You know I'm still. I'm still personally doing that for myself. So um, be I mean. I do love it because every day is different for me like I don't. My tomorrow is so different from my yesterday and I thrive off the change in the newness and um, the fact that no day is the same. So I really do love that. But i Mean I feel like I'm to be honest I feel like I'm still dealing with the work. You know that work from home. Yeah.
Michelle:
Figuring it out I mean I feel like that's life. I say that I'm turning thirty next week and you know you think when you turn 30 like oh yeah, I'll have my life figured out by then and then you realize it doesn't matter how old you are you never have your life figured out.
John:
No, and no one else does either? yeah.
Michelle:
And yeah, and it's all just a shame but i'm so how do you keep your ideas fresh when working I mean you obviously work for yourself, but creating content for yourself for your own. You know you don't have a client behind it. But also for client work.
John:
Um, I feel like I'm much better like in the moment on the go coming up with Concepts or coming up with something um or playing around like while shooting to. I mean it definitely have to have like a bigger picture vision of what we're doing but I feel like um, whether it's like gravitating towards color play or shadows or contrast at least in kind of aesthetically um I feel like I thrive more like in the environment which is why I love travel so much and being on the go because it's. Being in a new environment just inspires me so much and it's not. It's new and it's exciting and I kind of feel like that's when I kind of get new Concepts new ideas working and um, but I I feel like well. If I'm on I do get very inspired when I'm like sitting on a plane with like pen and paper writing down you know, like if I'm sitting like for some reason it's only on a plane if I'm sitting at my desk at home like brainstorming like nothing gets done I can't. Nothing comes to mind and like it's just it'll be blank for the rest of the day. Um, but for some reason on an airplane I get like crazy inspired. Um, yeah, yeah, well you know how like people cry so much more I because I think it's the altitude they cry more on planes during movies and for some reason I get really emotional like on a treadmill if I'm like I've like watched like Dr Phil with subtitles on a treadmill at the gym before and I will like be balling crying multiple occasions. Um.But yes, back to the plane I for some reason I get I do get like crazy inspired on a plane and I don't know if that's like mixed with the excitement of being heading to a new place or maybe it's just being confined to like 1 one little tray with like a pen of paper and um, like.So I yeah so I feel like that's maybe when I get some good ideas done but in terms of just trying to keep it fresh. Um, you know I have to always be cognizant of what others are doing in the space and what is happening around me. And I do feel like it's a thin line of being inspired and then also the comparison game because if you're like oh they're they're killing it. They're doing this and that and then you're like why aren't I doing this and that you know like I definitely feel like. I try and I try like that is kind of I feel like it's a negative of social media that we all do you know whether because obviously it's the highlight real like everyone's living their best life. Um, but I don't know I was just talking with a friend last week and I was like you know we say it's the highlight reel but I'm like it's.It's really not like like they aren't tasting this margarita in this like like they aren't like in this fun Divy bar with me and you like wherever I am like it's actually so much better than the hide The high quote unquote highlight real like I don't know like there's so much you know what I'm saying like there's so much that you can't capture. On social media and it's also I don't know I'm like it's even better than the highlight reel like it's even better in person like life is so I don't know life So good life. So fun.
Michelle:
That's how I feel with my phone all the time. Granted I do not have I can't use a camera or the camera on my phone well but every time I want to hold it up to take a photo of something I'm just like damn that does not look like it looks yeah.
John:
Cannot capture. Yeah and it can't it can't capture how good this margarita is or how fun this night is or you know how funny my friends being like no I agree.
Michelle:
Well first of all being on a plane and by travel in general How did you cope with covid and not traveling for at least the beginning of it I assume and. I mean what was that just like in terms of work.
John:
Um, 2020 was a funky year for sure. I feel like I mean I had some really fun projects in the works like outside of Instagram which kind of fell through which were so sad. But
Michelle:
I'm sorry.
John:
I mean as did so many you know as did so many people and so many things but it was definitely like such a pivot. Um I feel like my old roommate Olivia and I. I feel like we did a good job of going a little cabin fever crazy in our New York apartment. Documenting everything along the way. Um, but it was fun. We had so much fun on Tiktok. You know it was just such a different time of baking banana bread and movie marathons.
Michelle:
Cointreau cocktails…
John:
Yes, Cointreau cocktails! But I mean it was we you know shot our apartment upside down so you know and turned it around in so many ways to shoot it. Um for like the first yeah, six or eight months but I definitely. It was such a pivot because I obviously had stopped traveling and whatnot. But I definitely pivoted more to doing it in 2020 . I kept going on and on but doing more local city guys or travel things so I really did a lot to win a lot of cities as a lot of people were traveling just in the US and now not going to Europe for the summer but maybe. Taking a trip up to Maine and doing you know doing some kind of road trip here or there so I definitely started leaning into more local travel guides and um excursions and also and then I moved home for a bit. Um I was like I really just want to lean back into the blog and maybe look more into digging a little deeper into style. So I started a series called the the staples and every like every of the week I did a deep dive into like white t-shirts like why I would go into the history of the white t-shirt how it became iconic and like why it was all staples that guys should have in their closets so it was like denim. You know, white t-shirts, these like sneakers, like it was kind of just every basic. That the guys should have and it was pretty much a little history on it and then why it should be in your closet and then it's like here's what I here is what I recommend this is what I wear every other day and you should too and then here's like top 5 of the best out there in my opinion. So. I did have to kind of like you know, lean back and create some other fun things that travel as travel wasn't happening but.
Michelle:
Um, yeah, do you think it's important for someone in your industry to kind of have certain themes of content to always deliver against like the staples. Or I know you used to share and still do I think the quotes on Instagram do like do you feel like your audience craves repetition or.
John:
Yes. Um I think it's definitely good, especially people like me who also like a weekly podcast or sorry, not not a podcast or a playlist on Spotify. Um wait yeah and it's I'm on week I think this week was two 8 so I've been doing it for like 4 years
Michelle:
Oh my God Congrats How many songs are on them.
John:
Yeah, but it's I mean so it's just it's the same playlist but I every Tuesday I delete the songs and then I put a new batch of songs of like what I'm listening to and what's new for this week and I like I kind of have a little pocket of community of people who are like. Dude, where is it this week like I need it from the gym like and people will send me. They'll send me songs that they're like hey this look at this for next week think you'd love the song so in it's cool to I love music I can't play.
Michelle:
That's Awesome. Oh.
John:
So I appreciate music so much because I feel like I can't contribute to music as a whole. Um but it has been fun to like to connect on that level. You know with people. But yeah I think it is great to like whether it's a series or something that people can rely on you for. Um, yeah I mean I think it is. I also share a daily quote . I'm taking a pause right now because I've been doing it for 5 years and I just needed to find funny 17 quotes a day.
Michelle:
I was going to ask really 5 Wow yeah wow. Well those quotes really hit home in covid I have to tell you we're still in it but like you know the hard times.
John:
Um, or well thank you thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it and yeah I'm probably going to start back in the next few weeks but um, one.
Michelle:
Also no pressure. I feel like I don't know just to stay healthy. You probably need to retire some things at a certain point.
John:
Yeah I mean I I really enjoyed him though because I do them as like a morning meditation I kind of like scroll and look for a quote that is like hitting me that day and that's what I post so it and then I'm like if someone it hits someone else that day you know as long as it hits one person I'm like job's done. And even if it doesn't I'm like it was for me. So either way like you know, just sharing it.
Michelle:
Ah, yeah I remember when you started doing that because it felt really special also because I know you as a person and how amazing you are, but then to see you put these quotes up every day It was just so nice.
John:
aw Well thanks. And yeah I was definite I definitely was trying to like fine I Always try to find quotes that aren't like a quote that you've heard before you know like I try to go for something a little obscure.
Michelle:
Um, yeah, well it was appreciated So Then what would what kind of advice would you give someone who is trying to become you I want to say but. You know, make a name for themself in this industry. I feel like when you started and really rose up I mean the landscape just looks completely different Now. So What kind of advice would you give to someone if they were to ask you hey like how do I.
John:
Well I mean I feel like you kind of sit back and say like what? What do you do? What are your passions like? What do you do? What do you enjoy? What do you like to do um because I feel like it's really your passions or your weird quirks that you enjoy like you. You really need to lean into those. Um, and I think combine them too like if you're if you love nail art you know and like you love big Nails Colorful Nails. You change them every Week. It's a thing with your friends like everyone you know like that's your thing and you like you love Sushi. Like how can you combine those like that's a niche like that if you know how you can just like lean into these things that are so you and because I mean there's a lot of noise out there. But I feel like the only way to kind of like to step out or stand apart is to just. Be yourself and do these things that are just so you when you reduce yourself down to like your passions or your little corks or what you like so I don't know do something with nail art and sushi like it's maybe it's you eating sushi but like maybe that's your thing. And people like and people will love it because you're not the only one that loves nail art and you know sushi is sushi and everyone loves sushi too. So I don't know like that's I guess what I would say but so don't just try to be you know, like if you're. I Don't know, don't try to be something. You're not I Guess yeah.
Michelle:
Yeah, or don't try to be like everyone else I feel like I mean hopefully a lot of people listen to this and we see a bunch of nail art Sushi influencers pouffing.
John:
You never know you never know you heard it here first.
Michelle:
But I think that's great advice like what makes you you and what do you like and then just figure out how you can put a spin on that and make it uniquely yours. I think that's really good advice. Um, okay. So John I have 5 final questions that I've been asking everyone rapid fire style no pressure. Um, but looking forward to your thoughts so question number 1 is what drives you to create. Why do you do it? what? you do.
John:
Um I think on a really deep level. Um I think it I Maybe this is why anyone creates or is an artist that is an artist and I think we all are artists um, in our own right. And I think it's just to leave a mark. It's to have this expression in you that you just like to have to get out and want to. It needs to get out in the world and I feel like whether it's um, whether it's. Writing and if you're passionate you know you want to be a storyteller and you write novels or if you're um, a chef and want to create beautiful food like it's I feel like it's all just leaving a mark somehow. Um, and I Also I guess I kind of touched on this. A little bit earlier but I always want to be creating more than I'm consuming. Um, and that's kind of you know with social you know with social media but also just like it's like what am I contributing to this when I leave Earth like I don't know my dad always says like you know leave every place and. Like better than you left it or leave every place better than it was when you got there. That's what it is. So it's like what am I? How am I like when I leave this place? How am I leaving it in a better way? What am I leaving here that is hopefully creating a mark or. You know, just yeah mate bing. Yeah, leaving a mark.
Michelle:
Yeah, yeah, um, question number 2 This one fills in the blank feeling inspired feels like.
John:
Blank Um, um, maybe it kind of feels like surfing. Yeah um because I feel like it kind of means it for me.
Michelle:
For someone who has never been surfing, what does that feel like?
John:
Well, it kind of comes out of nowhere like you know you're like sometimes you're looking for the wave but sometimes the wave turns into ah a big wave and then you have to hop up on your board and Paddle Paddle Paddle and then ride that wave and I don't know it's a very like symbiotic Also like as you're. As you are riding a wave and I'm not a great surfer I've done it a few times but as you are riding the wave like you you like you're pushing. You're leaning back into it. You're pushing off of it. You're fully like riding it and I feel like that is kind of how being inspired works too because once you like. Kind of grab an idea you kind of have to just roll with it. You have to bounce it off people. You have to like to bend it a little bit and mold it a little bit. Um, So yeah I feel like it's That's what to me? That's what being inspired feels like when you're all of a sudden like catching a wave and you.
Michelle:
Question number 3 Where do you go to get your creative juices flowing? How do you overcome creative blocks?
John:
Um, kind of like we said earlier, like I if I sit at home with a piece of paper in front of me like it will stay blank. Um, and it is true that such a creative block like a blank piece of paper is the scariest thing. Um, but I feel like. Feel like when I do get in a rut or am I kind of creatively stuck I'm like I always forget this. But it's just you've got to do it. You've got to just go out and do it like I will be feeling so uninspired, so unmoved and if I just put my camera on my bedside table. And go out and shoot like I would like to create. You don't run out of creativity like creativity is not something that's like you're born with 100 points of creativity and as you get older and use up your creativity like those points don't diminish like it is something that is constantly. You know, flowing and coming. You know it's something you do so you can't. You can't use it all and you just you really have to like just doing things because there's some quote I'm going to mess it up, but it's it's talking about like as long as you're writing. It is. It's more for writers. But it's like as long as you're writing like the ink will flow like you just have. But if you don't write nothing is going to get written like you just have to start writing and just do it and the inspiration will come. The ideas will flow. You know like that's kind of the creative Juice will.
Michelle:
If you could tell your younger self 1 thing or 1 piece of advice. What would you say?
John:
Um, I would say again lean into what makes you you because that's kind of not all you've got but that is like something that is going to separate you and also I think I think we all grow up and the scariest thing is to be. Um, to be on the outside like you you want to just fit in with everyone you want to do what everyone's doing you want to kind of just like not get picked on and I feel like at least for me and then I feel like as you get older, you're like wait all these things that like are my quirks or my passions that are. Weird or different like these are actually my superpowers like these are actually things that are that no one else has and I have them so I need to be using them and I so I definitely feel leaning into what makes you you um, us s for one but I'm gonna give you two because it's also just such a good reminder.
Michelle:
Please.
John:
Feel like I tell myself that everyone you meet in life is a recurring character like everyone people you meet in high school people you meet via work like everyone you meet they're gonna come back whether that's in six months and be in your life in some way or if that's in 101520 years like it's basically just don't burn any bridges like be kind, be nice because every like everyone's paths cross so much more than we think they do and um. Yeah, it's just like everyone is a recurring character in the series of your life. You know.
Michelle:
Yeah, how cool I've never thought about it that way and then finally what are you looking forward to today? Anything coming up. That's keeping you feeling motivated and inspired.
John:
Um, I feel like I do have a few projects that I'm excited about, sorry I can't divulge too much right now they're not. They're not matured enough but I'm excited to share with the with you those later but I'm definitely I've Feel like video is just something that I've been doing much more casually and I feel like I've finally kind of like conceptualized and just gotten like a roadmap of where I kind of want to take things so excited to be leaning into video a lot more in 2022 Yeah, and just kind of taking ramping that up for sure.
Michelle:
where can people go to follow you and keep up with all that you're working on.
John:
My handle on all my social media platforms is at John Philp three ph I l p with the number 3
Michelle:
Well John, thank you so much for joining me.
John:
It was such a pleasure. Always so good to see your face and hear your voice and yeah I've missed you so much so it was so great to catch up on all things and I So appreciate you having me.
Michelle:
Likewise. Thank you! Yeah, we need to get drinks soon. Um I'm going to hit stop but stay on just until the recording.
John:
Yes, I'm going to be holding you to that.
