Creator Spotlight with Photographer Mikel Carr
This week we’d like to introduce you to photographer and content creator Mikel Carr. Be sure to follow him on Instagram @recklessthor4.
What was the inspiration behind becoming a creator? What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
I have wanted to be some form of creator since I was really little. I’ve always enjoyed the feeling when I am making something and it looks like my vision, whether that be a woodworking project, a dance, a photo, etc. Recently, I made my first YouTube video where I actually put music to it and I really love the cohesiveness of it.
Can you talk through your creative process? How long does it take? Does everything you produce make money?
Most things I make are useful in some way, like building my personal desk. For each new creation, I approach it with a method that I think goes with the project. When I am doing carpentry, for instance, I write down the problem and then try to draw up a solution before I even touch any wood. For photography, I try to capture the moment in an artistic way but I also try to stay true to how the moment feels in real time.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about your line of work?
That streaming isn’t a “real job.” Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, etc. are a lot of work to maintain. There are long hours of recording content, building, researching, and networking, and then you have to edit, hashtag, post, and share everywhere. It can be mentally and emotionally draining!
When did you first become aware of copyright, and why?
When I was researching IP protections as a teenager to protect my creative interests, I learned about patents and copyright. I was successful in obtaining a provisional patent but pursuing the full patent was deemed unnecessary. If I only wanted to protect the drawing itself, then a registered copyright would have been plenty.
What is your biggest copyright-related challenge?
Deciding what is worth the effort. I post a lot of content on several sites, so figuring out what to protect and at what level is very difficult for me, as I just want to make art. However, I know how important it is to protect one’s work.
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