Today we’d like to introduce you to Mario Welch.
Hi Mario, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started out making YouTube videos about sneakers and tech. I bought a camera from my sister and got right to it. I kept at it until it got too hard to find sneakers, and money got tight. So in late 2019, I had to sell the camera for some extra cash. When Covid hit, I was furloughed by Best Buy but was still making some money from grants and unemployment. So by June 2020, I had enough to buy another camera and jumped back into YouTube. But then, sneakers were hard to come by again, and I thought, why not try photography? My friends who are photographers really inspired me. I sold my current camera, picked up a full-frame one with a 24-70 lens, and started building my portfolio by taking pictures of friends and family. It didn’t take long for people to start talking, and now I’ve got steady work. I do all kinds of shoots now – portraits, sports, graduations – really anything people want pictures of.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In the beginning, it was because it was word of mouth and not having consistent clientele. I had to learn how to advertise myself and just show up to places with my camera.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I run my own photography business. Right now, I don’t specialize in one particular area – I take photos of whatever people need. Every day, I’m working on getting better, whether it’s honing my photography skills or learning new marketing strategies. I know there’s still room for me to grow, but I’m confident in my ability to bring clients’ ideas to life. I make sure my prices are fair because while I don’t want to overcharge, I also understand the value and the quality of the work I provide.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As a kid, I was pretty typical, playing sports, with football being my main focus through the years. I played from the age of five to my senior year of high school. I’ve always been interested in technology, which led me to pursue and earn a bachelor’s degree in IT. Growing up, I was the quiet type, usually only speaking when spoken to. I’m still like that to this day, although I’ll sometimes start the conversation if I’m in a good mood.
Pricing:
- Creative Session ($225 – 1 Hour) *Details on my site
- Graduation Session ($275 – 1 Hour) *Details on my site
- Headshots ($60 – 30 Minutes) *Details on my site
- Group Sessions ($300 – 1 Hours) *Details on my site
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shotbyrio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shotbyrio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551427282053
Image Credits
Picture of me was shot by Joshua Rowland. His instagram is @Joshflics_
