Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriella Montemayor.
Hi Gabriella, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been shooting portraits since my dad gave me his old camera when I was in high school. I always loved doing it, especially seeing the reactions on people’s faces when they saw the pictures I took of them. When I started college, I stopped shooting for a couple years due to the pandemic and a lack of people who knew about my hobby. Then, as a favor, I took some of my friends’ graduation pictures when I was a senior. Once I took their pictures, I knew I wanted to start photography as a side hustle despite being a full time student. Since I’ve graduated, I’ve started a job at a hospital full-time. Even though I’m not able to spend as much time as I’d like to promoting myself, I always have so much fun when someone books a shoot with me. I’ve done a couple of small weddings, sporting events, graduation photos, and more since I started advertising myself.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was definitely a struggle balancing school and work with my love for photography. I often feel like I don’t spend enough time practicing when I don’t have clients booked. I think about how much better I would be and how much art I could create if I was able to devote more time to photography. I also struggle to advertise myself for the same reason. Money is also a huge factor; photography equipment is expensive, and learning to work with the equipment I already have has been a challenge. However, I think this challenge has also made me much better at other photography skills such as manipulating light sources and editing.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a photographer that mostly specializes in portrait and event shooting. I also do weddings, sports, nature, graduation, and more. Really, I’ll take shots of anything that is interesting to me. I really enjoy photographing people; that’s where my passion lies. I’m most proud of my individual portrait shots, particularly the ones I’ve taken of my friends. I think a lot of people enjoy working with me because I’m flexible, fairly cheap due to my lack of experience and availability, and it’s clear that I love taking pictures that will make other people see the beauty in themselves. I love showing people a view of themselves that highlights their natural, radiant beauty.
What’s next?
I plan to put more time and commitment into my photography business. I want to book more clients and gain more experience. Currently, I’m planning on setting up a more streamlined way to send the final photos to clients and give them easy access to make online print orders. I’m also currently working on a website! While I likely won’t make this a full time career due to my passion for healthcare, I do want to create a strong and reputable business as a photographer that I can dedicate my free time to.
Pricing:
- $150 + $50/hr for normal photoshoots
- Additional fees may vary for large events such as weddings
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/memoriesbygabbs
Image Credits
Myself
