We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bruno Rivera a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Bruno, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Learning photography was a natural process for me. I went to school to study Communications and took many elective classes to find out what I liked doing. I took journalism, graphic design, theater, video, and animation classes, but what I liked the most was producing videos. After working in television for 3 years as a video editor, I went back to school to get my master’s degree in Media Arts. Throughout my studies, I was exposed to graphic design and digital arts, so learning photography was a natural progression for me. I realized that I have always liked taking photos, but I started taking it seriously when I bought my first Sony camera and started posting my photos on Instagram.

People started noticing my photos and wanted to hire me as a photographer.

 I really enjoy learning, and I’m always trying to learn a new technique or a different type of photography. Everyone has their own path and their own pace for learning a new craft, and for me, the learning never stops.

Having a background in media arts gave me an appreciation for aesthetics and beauty, which I like to capture in my photography.

I find that my main obstacle in learning more is the lack of time. I am quite busy with my full-time job as a videographer and part-time job as a photographer, as well as running my small business, therefore, I try to learn as much as I can while I shoot and watch various photography-related videos on YouTube.

Last year, I had a fantastic learning experience attending Adobe Max, a 4-day conference for content creators in Los Angeles.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In essence, I am a content creator: I produce videos and take photos for a living. I went to school to study Communications, and after working in television for three years, I went back to school to get my Master’s degree in Media Arts. I’ve been working with video for two decades, and about two years ago, I started my own company, Clearwater Visuals LLC, where I create content for local businesses.

I never intended to start my own business, but while doing freelance work in photography and videography, I realized that I already had a clientele who kept returning for more content, including event photography and portraits, as well as social media videos and promos. I think most business owners know the importance of having a presence on social media, and the need for content is always there, but what sets me apart from other content creators is that I can combine my background in Communications, experience in producing video, and passion for photography to deliver a product that attracts customers.

Social media has changed the way I produce content now. Everything is faster-paced, shorter, and to the point. I make videos for Instagram that are 10 to 15 seconds long, and people who notice my work send me direct messages to ask if I can do the same for their business. Sometimes, Real Estate agents ask me if I can make a Reel to promote their services after watching a timelapse video I did just for fun. Or I would get a person asking for portrait photos after seeing one of my photos from a recent trip to Peru. Instagram has really helped me reach a broader audience, and most of my client work came from people who found my content on IG.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Most creative professionals are passionate about their craft and invest lots of time and effort into perfecting their skills. They may pursue formal education or seek guidance from mentors to learn their craft; however, what they often lack is knowledge about running a business and managing their finances wisely.

I learned about financial management much later in life, and I wish I had known about it earlier. Despite going to college and grad school, I had no clue how to handle my finances. Financial literacy is a crucial skill for anyone, especially for aspiring entrepreneurs, and I think it’s important to teach financial literacy to young people as it provides essential skills for their future.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

Contact Info:

• Website: www.clearwatervisuals.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/clearwater_visuals
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/clearwatervisuals
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/brunorivera
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKQddqgPjpiGkYFm1LmbBZw

Image Credits
Clearwater Visuals