Today we’d like to introduce you to Hotel Party.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Moved back to Houston (my hometown) in 2016 after my sophomore year of college with the idea I would be working a server job to help me move to Boston for music school the following year. While I was there, I kindled some childhood friendships that were lost after going to different high schools and leading different lives. During that time off, I would go out to random trails or downtown with a few friends, Fredy and Sergio, to take pictures even though I didn’t own a camera. After a few outings and getting my first credit card I bought my first camera, Sony A6000.
Before that, I would always take iPhone photos and use VSCO to edit them to look and feel like something I would find on Tumblr. Ironically I took a photo course in high school but dropped it after like 2 or 3 weeks because they wanted us to draw, kind of thought that was pointless so I switched classes. Having no friends in the class also contributed to this. But on an orchestra trip to San Antonio, one of my friends let me use her camera every so often.
After maybe six months, I shot my first concert that I would also get kicked out off for drinking underage. Even though I thought that would be the last show I ever did, I got invited to SXSW in 2017 with Manila Killa and from there, it motivated me to shoot more shows. Going back and forth from Houston to Austin gave me more of a reason to stay, which led me back in San Marcos to finish school there. Tried getting into Portrait Photography but at this time IG was filled with that – and no disrespect to anyone who did and does that, since I kind of do that now.
As far as how I got to where I am now, it just always wanting to shoot concerts hoping to meet other artists, manager or whoever I could. At this time, I also started making music and I thought being at these shows would somehow further my music career, even though I never released anything. Even though I do less shows, YouTube was a big factor that led me to film photography and more “street” photos.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Never. Trying to figure out “my worth” and what I should be charging clients is still a struggle. Especially when it comes to smaller artists, I’m not trying to break the bank but at the same time I have to eat too and I know I’m good at what I do.
Having purpose. like “how is this serving me and fulling my creative needs.” I still struggle with this since I want to make photo books or collections of work. Like what is the end goal for all of it. Yeah, I can take a few cool show photos, portraits, landscape or street, whatever but what am I trying to say with this. and I understand that not all photos are supposed to serve some kind of higher meaning or whatever, but like “why am I doing this?” is something I ask myself a lot.
Also people seeing what I do as one fixated thing. I get I take photos and I can make some money off of it but I know I’m more than the generic meaning. Even if that’s not what they are intending to say.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an artist. I take photos, I make music, I am dj, I am a director. I’ve been a musician since I was a kid, a music producer since I started photography. Even though I’ve just start releasing more music most people know me for my photo work.
I think being able to travel and see places I never thought I’d go to all from a camera is probably the thing I’m most proud of.
In regards to photos, I still don’t know. Maybe it’s being able to capture moments that seem important to me or others. being able to depict a certain feeling without having to describe what was happening in that moment
What are your plans for the future?
No real plans. When I was younger, I thought I’d be a successful musician successful photographer living off my art. Now that I’m a little older, I know that’s more on me than anything. I don’t like planning much since life always changes. Just make more music, take more photos. Make an EP or photo book. who knows
Contact Info:
- Email: ahotelparty@gmail.com
- Website: ahotelparty.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ahotelparty; instagram.com/hotelphotodept
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCahAbdODddk8739sTx5tVWA
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ahotelparty
