We recently connected with Armando Meza and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Armando thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

When I was in high school I had a slight interest in photography. I got a point & shoot camera for my 16th birthday and I carried it with me no matter where I would go. Fast forward to college, I needed to take an elective to get full-time and I noticed a photography class being offered. The course covered very basic stuff about how to use a camera but that was enough to bring back that interest I had when I was in high school. Since then, I started to learn about photography in my free time. I would take my camera and take pictures of random things around my neighborhood and college. It has been an auto-learning process and I’ve enjoyed it every step of the way.

Something I wish I would have done earlier is to spend more time understanding my camera more in-depth. At first, I felt very comfortable working with the settings that I knew how to use; however, that limited the different environment in which I could take pictures. Inspired by the work of other photographers, I started exploring different techniques which paved the road for me to expl**t my creativity. Now I try to experiment with different techniques everytime I can.

Besides polishing my camera skills, I’m constantly working on interpersonal skills. It is important to consider the client’s needs and requests. Therefore, I truly believe that the clients you work with are looking for someone they can feel comfortable making their request and sharing their ideas. That being said, having the ability to communicate well and empathize with my clients have allowed me to create a better relationship with them and provide a better service.

Since photography is not not my main job, I have always had other activities in my life that use most of my time. While in college, I had to study, complete assignments and work at my part-time job. Now, I have a full-time job which I have to prioritize in my daily life.Therefore, one of my main obstacles has been finding the time for me to be behind the camera and grow as a photographer.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Armando Meza. I’m a music photographer based out in San Marcos, Tx. I moved to San Marcos, Texas in 2020 and started working for a tech company as a mobile developer.

I’ve always been very passionate about music and I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in the music industry. However, I never thought about shooting live music. It was until I stepped upon a post from a festival I attended and noticed that the photographers were tagged in those photos. Seeing all the amazing work done by the festival photographers ignited my spark for pursuing a career in music photography.

I started asking local bands and venue owners if I could come and take pictures during the shows. Then, in 2017, I went to this festival that brought some local Austin acts to San Angelo. The lineup had artists like Shakey Graves, Wild Child, Calliope Musicals and others. I brought my camera, which I barely knew how to use. Although the pictures were not my best work, I had the chance to experience being in front of a larger stage and learn from it. Plus, it was very fun.

It was until I moved to San Marcos two years ago, that I started to have more opportunities to grow as a photographer. I started once again, scouting a few venues and reaching out to a couple of local bands to get access to take photos during their shows. After taking pictures of several local bands, I started to be contacted by some of them and asked for my services.

Since then, I’ve collaborated with local bands, festivals, and also I’ve been able to shoot some of my favorite artists. Currently I work as a freelance photographer where I provide artists with live music photos and portraits for their social media or material promotion.

The thing that I am most proud of is that I was able to mix both my passions for music and photography and use that as a creative outlet. I am also very proud of all that I’ve done in these few years of experience. I know that there are many other experiences to come and I’m very excited about that. Last and definitely not least, I’m proud of the relationships I’ve made with the people I’ve met over these last few years. We’ve had some amazing moments together and I truly appreciate them.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Photography for me has been very rewarding in so many ways. First, it has helped me grow as a person. I’ve been challenged to get out of my comfort zone which has given me so many learning experiences that I’m very proud of. Working as an engineer, made me used to working a lot by myself even when being part of a team. Everyone contributes individually to a larger project. However, while you can do a lot by yourself as a music photographer, one of the most important things of this is creating relationships with artists, photographers, managers, etc.

Another thing that has been rewarding for me is that music photography has helped me get closer to music and everything that surrounds it. I’ve always been very passionate about music, and being here has given me experiences that have helped me to paint a larger picture of what music really is. I’ve had the opportunity to meet staff members, managers, producers, and marketing coordinators, and they all provide a different perspective to what music is, and I really enjoy that.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I knew the importance of connecting with people earlier on. I know I probably mentioned it a few times, but I can’t emphasize enough how much it helped me in my career to create those relationships with the people in the music industry. I personally believe that art intertwines the artist with the viewer but only when the viewer feels that personal touch in art. In my case, hitting that shutter without having the artist in mind produces dull pictures that don’t captivate the viewer. However, when you take a photo considering the artist’s interests you are adding purpose to your art and that’s what makes it special.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mandomgfoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandomg.foto/

Image Credits
Personal Photo: Andrea Escobar Additional Photos: Armando Meza