We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bailen Estrada. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bailen below.
Bailen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
I think back to my first time getting paid for my creation often. Ever since I was young, Im talking 8 years old young, I would look up to “camera gods’ and just get filled with so much anger. I would get so jealous becasue I wanted to be like them so bad and was worries it wouldnt happen. I thought they were cebrities because they were getting paid and having fun. Flash forward 8 years later and I was hired to take pictures for a soccer tournament. I didnt do it for the money aka I didnt know there was any money involved I was just happy someone wanted me to take pictures. That jealously I was talking about started to fade a little and I felt on top of the world. Well after months of “hard work” I was told I would be getting paid. He gave me a whopping $70 for my months of work. Let me tell you this, Ive never felt that much pride in my whole life. I cant even put into words what it felt like. Imagine getting paid to sleep, thats what it felt like. I was doing something I loved and getting paid
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
So at the ripe age of 16 years old, during the lockdown in 2020, I started watching as many YouTube videos and read as many blog posts as I could about filmmaking. Then I told myself to pursue more photography to get better at cinematography. Little did I know a year later, I would start my photography business, BAIFLIX LLC. Then a year after that, I moved to Los Angeles to go even deeper in my career. In Los Angeles, I’ve just been meeting as many people as I can and taking advantage of every opportunity as I can. I do both film directing work and photography here in Los Angeles.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Something I think non-creatives don’t understand is the fact that we do this with no vision on the outcome. We dont know where it’s going to take us or even if it’s going to take us anywhere. We wake up and we get to work by ourselves. No one tells me to work I just do it because I want to. Yes it’s scary and yes we do wish we had some comfortable way of living because it gets exhausting. It really does. Although, at the same time theres nothing more rewarding than improving yourself with your work. Maybe that one is just me.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I had to move to LA from my small town in Illinois. I went from listening to the crickets on a warm summer night to listening to the sound of traffic and people yelling. I could see the stars in my hometown and now the only lights in the sky are the airplanes. Okay that one isnt that crazy but you get the point. However, with that big change also came with positive changes like meeting creators who want to make cool things with random people. In my hometown that didnt exist. Having a beach nearby with mountains in sight will always beat the cornfields in Illinois. Every change you make in your life is going to come with the good and the bad thats just life.
Contact Info:
- Website: baiflixphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baiflix/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Q1bP4aNO5oGJ6UpjnrKVw