Inspiring Conversations with Destiny Martinez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Destiny Martinez.

Hi Destiny, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was around 13 or so I was in my YouTube era and was super invested in watching video content, so when I got my first dslr camera, I decided I would start making my own content. I made music videos, sketches, you name it, I probably tried it. Then I started taking photos of my best friend at the time. These first moments of me picking up my camera and working with people one on one built the foundation for the rest of my life. After time passed, people started to see the photos I took of her, they asked me if I could take photos of them, me being the daughter of an entrepreneur, I quickly realized that I could make money doing something that I loved. So my 8th-grade summer, I started charging people for photos. My clients would pick me up from my parent’s home and drop me back off afterward because I was too young to drive. As the years progressed, I continued doing this until I turned 18 and then made things official and got my business license. I have been doing that ever since. Alongside photography, I’ve always had a love for theatre, so much so that I got my degree in it at VCU in stage management. So, since I was about 15, I have always been taking photos and doing theatre. Just recently, I decided theatre wasn’t for me anymore. I worked for myself full time after college doing photo and video for my company “Destiny Martinez Media” and then before I could even hit the year mark, I was offered a job at NKHS for being their photography teacher. So, I’ve been doing that since September which has been an entire other interesting journey.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being an entreprenuer is full of challenges. I dont think working for yourself is ever easy at first, or maybe even ever. Even after working in the same field for all of these years I still face some of the same challenges I did when I first started. When I decided I wanted to go to college I quickly learned how much money that was actually going to take. I had to figure out a way to make 11k minimum every semester. This made photography a game of survival instead of being able to just create things I wanted to create. Since I was in this position, it pushed me to work hard and try everything, but it also limited my creativity and instead pushed commercialism.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I started Destiny Martinez Media LLC in 2021 after I graduated VCU when I knew I wanted to do photography and videography full-time. I began narrowing down what I specialized in, which led me to focusing solely on couples, weddings & boudoir. I like to provide a comfortable, empowering portrait experience where people can walk away from feeling more confident and creatively fulfilled than before. I like to get to know the inner core of folks and allow that part of them to shine through. This year I want to continue my mission on narrowing down my niche, finding my ideal client, and moving my style more towards a more photojournalistic, fine art approach.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is no matter how hard things may seem, consistency is key. You must keep going and you must keep showing up day after day if you want to see change within anything in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.destinymartinez.com
• Instagram: destinymartinezmedia & destinymartinezdotcom
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/destinymartinezmedia/