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The creation of a brand that is able to resonate with your customers requires a thoughtful, methodical approach. You need a distinct look and feel, messaging that promotes your edge and a persuasive marketing approachand all of it is built upon the foundation of your viewpoint and a thorough knowledge of where you stand in the market. But how do you actually get started crafting that branding and expanding it across your business footprint?

In the video above the Atlanta-based entrepreneurial and creative Cam Kirk shares his advice for finding the essence of your branding, which is part of the CCNYC's 2020 Creative Curriculum, launched by partnering with . The entrepreneur also shared his thoughts with us about his own professional beginnings and the process of establishing a new professional career in the field of creativity, and then expanding on it into the digital world.

: What factors were influencing you as you began your career as a photographer?

Cam Kirk: I just graduated from college and the only thing I knew for sure I wanted to do was figure out a way to live in Atlanta. In the beginning, I wanted to get into the music industry through artist management and I had a camera that a bought several years ago which was merely collecting dust. I would use my camera to shoot my own artist, and I was able to earn some extra cash from local artists who also needed content however couldn't afford hiring an expert. I was the person who owned a camera, and was able to teach some of the basics so they would hire me at $50 here and there. Still, at the time I was not thinking about photography as a profession but simply as a side hustle until I found out how to break into the field. I was working at an online sneaker company part-time also to pay rent. However, I was fired from this job towards the end of the year. From there I decided to really focus on my camera and utilize it as a real vessel that would change my life. After two months, I decided to fully commit to the camera as my primary source for income, my career began to take off in a blaze of light and I found myself working with the most famous musicians worldwide.

SQSP: How did you market yourself to prospective clients in the beginning of your professional career?

CK: I learned so much of the industry by studying the perspective of an artist, which is why my main marketing strategy was to always mimic what the artist do. My motto has been to promote myself in the manner of an artist. If an artist is taking photos of them and I am shooting myself in photoshoots, If artist are doing interviews on their work than I should be too and the list goes on and on. etc.

The SQSP portraits you create are genuine depictions of your subjects and your unique aesthetic. How did you develop that style when you were first starting out?

CK: My personality is the most important factor in my personality. I am a pretty quiet and laid-back person. very soft spoken. In my first year as a photographer I was always afraid to ask my subject to pose or move therefore I was more of just a spectator taking candid photos to not disrupt their vibe. The result was a style that people loved and why I got the nickname "The Eye of the Atlanta."

SQSP: Why is having a distinct visual brand image important in a rapidly changing digital age?

CK: Nowadays, people consume visuals rapidly, which is why it's important that you make yourself stand out by presenting striking images.

SQSP: What part does your web presence play in your business today?

My presence on the internet is about half of my online presence. Outside of the work I perform at my home studio, what that we share on social media is equally important as it is important. There is always a way to communicate our lives across the web.