Today we’d like to introduce you to Mercedes Meranda.
Hi Mercedes, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My first memory of using a camera started back in 1999 when the Polaroid i-zone was first released, haha. I was around seven at the time and an only child. My next photo memory fast forwards to 2008, I’m 16 with three little brothers. I was so obsessed with creating little setups for them and doing photoshoots. I remember using my mom’s old canon rebel and picmonkey to edit them. lol
I moved out at 18 and worked misc jobs like American Eagle, Zaxbys, and waitressing. I dabbled around with photography here and there during that time offering $50 shoots. I quit photography completely in 2013, age 20 when I started working at Geico selling insurance. From 2013-2017, I stayed with the company (wishing away time and hating what I was doing) before something clicked and I decided to make a jump to pursue photography as a full-time career. I started with a basic camera setup and free shoots to build my portfolio, slowly started charging, and created a Facebook page and posted all my work. I worked really hard to create content and post consistently. Slowly but surely word of mouth spread and I started getting clients. I slowly raised rates and developed an editing style that really seemed to stand out. I am still learning and growing, but I am so grateful everyday to be living the life I once thought wasn’t possible.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My editing style is unique, in the beginning I got a lot of negative feedback from other photographers which was pretty discouraging. It took years of practice and a long time to consistently book clients/gain confidence in my art.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in wedding, portrait and maternity photography. I definitely think my editing style is what sets my work apart from other photographers. I strive to make my images feel more magical than real life.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’ve yet to pay for a single advertisement. Word of mouth alone has helped me grow and I am sooo lucky my business has came so far organically.
Pricing:
- Weddings / 8 Hours – $3500
- Weddings / 4 hours – $2500
- Weddings / 2 hours – $1500
- Portraits/Family/Couples/Seniors – 400
Contact Info:
- Email: mercedes.meranda@gmail. com
- Website: www.mercedesmeranda.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/mercedes.meranda
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mercedes.radford
- Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdkYy3fA/
Image Credits
By me: Mercedes Meranda
