My Photo Journey So Far...

Behind the scenes shooting model Bella

“You should be charging more..” said a random photographer in response to me posting my small headshots event on Facebook. I acknowledge that I have not existed in the photography space long enough to be charging my clients $300 / $400 for a shoot that won’t take me long to plan, and will take me less than a few hours to edit. I just recently began putting a price tag on my art and have gotten a great response from the community of Orlando. I don’t want people to have to break the bank for a photoshoot that I will often use their collaboration to execute. This is a one-man show. The still and moving picture has always been something that has been dear to my heart. I don’t want to be a master businessman; I want to bring meaning back to having your photo taken and freezing a moment in time. Being a part of that journey for people is what pushed me to start photography full-time instead of going back to minimum wage. I lost my job in early January and had not received any offers, even after graduating and having worked two rigorous media internships. I want to blame the economy, and though photography can seem like an oversaturated market, networking and meeting people at events has really allowed me to have a space where people know me, my story, and want me to create art that depicts their journeys. 

I was the honorary president of my TV production program in high school and have always wanted to become a film editor and that dream is still a work in progress. I still work with a few of my friends from college creating films for festivals and still havent fallen out of love with the craft. There is always something new to stitch together or manipulate. I also recently kinda figured out photoshop and have been having the most fun. My brother went to school for digital design and I always thought that the designs he was able to create were so freaking cool. I opted to learn literally most the rest of the cloud, having had web design projects, video clients, and even a magazine editing opportunity, when I worked with the Brooklyn Cafe in Boca. 

I started shooting creative portraits because I thought a school fashion publication was really cool! I joined another publication called Eclectca Magazine which gave me my first opportunity to shoot and learn with some already talented people I had met around campus. I ended up getting on Strike my sophomore year and continued to work with them throughout my time at college. I tried the freelance / remote route when trying to find film jobs to no avail. Trust me I’ve tried, all the websites and spent more money than I've ever made back. After working remote for so long, I really enjoyed putting together shoots and meeting new faces when I was creating my political zine project in early August last year. I realized I had all the tools I needed to do this by myself. I have been a lover of makeup and fashion for literally my entire life. I have been practicing makeup on different skin tones throughout my life, which I honestly think is one of the things I love having control of as a photographer. Though i haven't always made the greatest fashion choices, I love that I know how to take a risk and challenge conventions. And there is no shortage of creative people in Orlando who also want to contest the ordinary. But trust I will never push you beyond your boundaries. No type of photoshoot is a waste of time for me if it has value to you! I am endlessly grateful for all the love that exists in this community. And all the support I have been shown so far. <3