Today we’d like to introduce you to Isa Pineda.
Hi Isa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since middle school, I had a passion for photography. At one point after high school I decided I just wasn’t a natural and would never be good enough to actually pursue it, I just didn’t get it. Almost ten years later, I got my hands on DSLR camera again and it all came back to me, I felt like I should give it one more shot. I had nothing to lose. I started shooting family and friends for free and was eventually able to build a portfolio. After a year of free shoots, I finally felt comfortable enough to start charging. I would typically book 1-3 sessions a month. Fast forward to 2020, my job at the time closed and it gave me the time to build up my photography business. I expanded my clientele, website, portfolio and gained a lot of experience during this time. When it came time to go back to work, I knew I didn’t want to lose everything I had gained. I never went back to my office job and continued to thrive with photography and I book 2-4 sessions a week now. And even though I’m not at the level I want to be yet, I know that if middle school me could see where I am she’d be proud.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. The first challenge was finding people to let me practice on them. I think I had 1 person that was actually willing to shoot with me consistently. Next was self-doubt. Creatives are so harsh with themselves. We love what we do and are so hard on our work because of that same passion. I’ve had to accept that even professionals make mistakes and continue to learn from them, but that those mistakes don’t define you or your work. Also, the whole starving artist thing…
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I shoot everything from maternity, couples to family sessions. I’m known for my before and after and I love showcasing the editing process. In a world full of filters, we can lose some of the creative credit. It’s nice to be able to show potential clients the work that goes into each image.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’m not sure that I’m much of a believer of luck. It’s been a long road and an even longer road to go. It’s more about the work you’re willing to put in for me than luck.
Contact Info:
- Email: soulflairphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulflairphotography/
