We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alvinita Gonzales a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alvinita, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
I grew up around photography and videography. My mother always had disposable cameras, as well as giving my brother and I one during vacations or school field trips. She would let us photograph whatever interested us. My grandfather was also always videoing memories, school programs, holidays, birthdays, etc.
Fast forward to when I start college in 2013, I studied music production, as I thought that’s what I wanted to do career wise. While doing that, I was doing photography as a hobby. That same year I started college, I started to get models and potential clients – not just family members – reaching out to me, and wanting to work with me, and pay me to take their engagement photos, maternity, etc. Which I did, and continued to do on weekends, when I wasn’t busy with school. At a very low rate too. However it started to pick up more, and with that I started to enjoy doing photography more than studying music. Which made me sit down, and really think about if I should continue on the music path, or take a turn and do photography more seriously.
I chose photography!
It’s so much fun to me! It’s creatively stimulating, and I get to see and work in many beautiful locations. It is like any job though, it can be hard, but when you deliver the final images to a client, and they are ecstatic and in love with them… it’s such a rewarding and happy feeling! Always puts a smile on my face when a client is happy with their photos, because my goal is capture beautiful moments that they will get to keep and cherish forever!
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?
I’m a portrait and fashion photographer! I specialize in fashion photography, headshots, branding, couple, engagement, elopement, maternity, and graduation photography.
I grew up between two different cultures, being mixed – Mexican and Hopi (Native American) – I got to see the many different fashion styles, beauty, traditions and customs, different celebrations, etc. Which has and will always make me see the beauty in different cultures, and traditions.
With that upbringing, it shows in my work. My goal with every photoshoot, is to capture the beauty of every person – model and non-model – and their life moments, whether they want it more casual or more culturally traditional. I love capturing it all!
When capturing all the beauty, I color and retouch all the photos. My retouching is natural. I only remove flyways, people in the background, that pesky bright yellow trash can, dirt spot on your shirt, and small blemishes. I don’t retouch out wrinkles, age spots, body modifications, etc, as those are part of you, part of life, and are beautiful! You are beautiful the way you are!
I want all my clients and models, and anyone I work with, to feel beautiful! By doing that is to capture that beauty, and show you that beauty in the final images!
My services start at $150.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source of new clients for me has been through Instagram and Facebook!
With how big social media is now, the best marketing route is to gain a following on social media, and to post frequently.
I get most of my clients through Instagram and Facebook. Those two social media platforms are my go to when posting my work, and advertising my work and services.
Also, when clients and models post the photos you captured of them/for them, and tag you. They are giving a great review, advertisement, and sharing your work all at once!
So thank you clients, models, etc, for always sharing my work!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The joy and love from clients when they love their photos!
I love getting texts or emails, from clients right after I deliver their finished galley, and they’re so ecstatic and overjoyed with their photos. Absolutely love getting the ‘OMGGGGGG I LOVE THEM SO MUCH” text/emails!
When I get those reactions, it gives me comfort and joy! A sense satisfaction, and job well done! Pat myself on my back!
On top of that, when they order large prints, for hanging in their home. I’m always thinking to myself, “Aww they love the photos so much that they want to show every person who walks into their home them (the photos)!” It’s such joyous feeling!
Contact Info:
- Website: photographsbyag.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/photographsbyag
- Facebook: facebook.com/photographsbyag
- Other: Tiktok: tiktok.com/@photographsbyag
Image Credits
Models: Elizabeth Nicole, Hailee and Darrius G., Kendal Ybarra, Suzy Hill and partner, Hamdi, Jordan Woodley, Monica Bulnes and Josh Riquelme, Joseph and Tatianna C