Most Influential Photographer on the Internet (Jeremy Cowart ep. 150)

Jeremy Cowart is the most influential photographer on the internet by Huffington Post. His photographs of Sting, the Obamas and Taylor Swift are fantastic, but what’s truly remarkable is how he’s using his photography for social good through programs like Help-Portrait and Voices of Reconciliations. 

As a speaker + author, Jeremey shares his journey from “normal, quiet kid” to internet fame by “exploring the intersection of creativity and empathy” through photography. He has spoken for the United Nations, TEDx and today – for us.

 Jeremy is a creative entrepreneur making real, sustainable change. If you’d like to be reminded of the power one person has to change the world, don’t miss this conversation.

SHOW NOTES

• "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13 was a running theme in his life, taught by his parents.
• Stay curious + jump into fear: Take safe risks. Jeremy shares that he took advantage of an opportunity to get a now-iconic portrait of Sting.
• In addition to photographing celebrities, Jeremy's philanthropic projects include:
  • Help-Portrait: a global movement to give, not take, pictures of people who otherwise couldn’t afford photography, a chance to capture a moment, a memory + a whole lot more.
  • Voices of Haiti: After hearing endless media reports on the "devastation", Jeremy's photo essay wanted to capture individual people + their stories from the 2010 earthquake.
  • Voices of Reconciliation: project showing survivors + perpetrators of genocide who have reconciled and are living life together peacefully in the same community.
  • The Poza Project: Through art therapy, rescued child soldiers and children orphaned by war share the pain of their past + dreams of their future.
  • The Purpose Hotel: a 250-hotel to be built in Nashville, TN where everything from soap to internet fees are connected to a cause or non-profit, allowing guests to "change the world in your sleep".
• In addition to needing humanitarian organization, Jeremy shares that we need new, creative ideas to rebuild after a disaster. 
• Leave a legacy of knowledge. Learn more about Jeremy's See University here.
• Ideas lead to ideas: If you're too afraid to pursue your first idea, you might be prohibiting a lifetime of ideas.
• Get Jeremy's latest book I'm Possible: Jumping into Fear and Discovering a Life of Purpose here.

If Jeremy's humanitarian efforts inspired you, you'll enjoy Live Inspired Podcast guest and charity: water founder Scott Harrison on ep. 104. Get ideas on how to serve others with Live Inspired guest Tom Logan and the Marion Medical Mission on ep. 96.

JEREMY COWART'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Confidence.

3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? My hard drive. My life's work is on my hard drive. I don't want to lose all the things I've created in the last few decades.

4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? Outside of Jesus himself. A lot of artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Billy Graham, Bono, and Pablo Picasso.  

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? A friend of mine told me I should quit my job and work for myself. Then two years later he said I should buy a camera and start shooting. In addition to my dad and Philippians 4:13.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Don't be afraid. You got to go for it. You've got a lot of ideas and a lot of creativity. Just believe in yourself. Even if you fail, you're still going to learn.

7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? He made the world just a little bit better.

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