Today we’d like to introduce you to Fabiola Flores.
Fabiola, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
All my life I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that we have the technology to capture a single moment in life. In high school, I took pictures all the time of just about everything with my pink digital camera. In 2016, on Black Friday to specific, I bought my DSLR camera. It wasn’t until the following year, an old friend from high school asked me if I could take her maternity pictures. I was hesitant to take the opportunity because I had never done a shoot before. I thought about it for like a day and decided to go for it. The shoot was fun, and at the end she told me, “you’re really good at this, maybe you can start a little photography business!”
Shortly after posting a couple of the pictures from her shoot, I was getting messages from people asking if I could take their pictures. That’s the moment when Fab Photography started. With every shoot, I got more experienced, and my name started spreading. Around this time, I also started participating in pageants and some modeling, so not only was I behind the camera, I was also in front of it! Doing photography and pageants has led me to exploring different places, going on different adventures, and meeting so many people! I think the coolest experience was getting to participate in the shooting of a commercial for a law firm with some Atlanta United players at their training facility. Sometimes I think back about how hesitant I was at the very beginning of it all, and I’m so proud of myself. I did that.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Anything great will always come with small and big bumps in the road, and THAT’S OK. You really have to trust the process in order to grow as a creator and as a business owner. My biggest struggle was actually recent, and it was an incredibly rough time in my life. In July 2019, my mother was diagnosed with having a brain tumor. The following months consisted of doctor visits, surgery, post-surgery care, two part-time jobs, volunteering, and finishing my last semester of undergrad. Stress was high and my creativity just kind of gradually got fogged up by clouds. Fortunately, with the support of my loved ones, I was able to get out of that funk. The biggest thing I learned from that whole experience was that self-care and being a little selfish is important! Being a creator, I believe the best work will come out of you when your mind is at peace in order for the ideas and “creative juices” to flow.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Fab Photography is a business that specializes in portrait photography which includes maternity, graduation, prom, family, couples, and engagement. What I am most proud of is how quickly I can gain the trust of my client(s) early in a shoot. Being that I have been in front of the camera, I know what it feels like when you just cannot “connect” with the photographer, and you are there feeling nervous, embarrassed, shy, uncomfortable, etc. My goal with every shoot is to make it as relaxed and natural as possible. I think what sets me apart is that after a shoot, I like to continue that bond and friendship. With me you’re not just another client. You’re a person that I will cheer on and support when you graduate, have a child, start a business, get engaged, buy a new house, etc.
Another big thing that sets me apart is that I firmly believe in “community over competition.” I will always root on other photographers and compliment their work. It’s a really neat thing to meet photographers with this similar belief and to be able to ask for help, guidance, or support.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As I continue to learn and grow, I hope to gear my brand towards just maternity photography. They are my favorite type of shoots. I also have plans of going to grad school to become a physician assistant. Sometimes people will look at me weird for wanting to do both, but why not! Tomorrow is unknown, so I like to take things day by day and piece together the puzzle pieces of the bigger picture.
Pricing:
- 1 hr shoots start at $85
Contact Info:
- Phone: 678-327-7313
- Email: fabiolaflores1218@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_fab.photography_/
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