We recently connected with Bianca Davila and have shared our conversation below.

Bianca, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk, and how it turned out?

The pandemic impacted everyone in different ways, both negative and positive, but for me I took advantage of it. In the spring of 2020, I was on my last semester of classes before I was supposed to walk on stage and receive my diploma, but then the pandemic hit. Our graduation was virtual and my goodbye’s to my peers were brief. The job opportunities that we were supposed to have as college graduates diminished as the state began shutting down. During the pandemic the only means of interacting with family, friends, and clients was virtually.

I believe social media proliferated during the pandemic and I saw this as an advantage. I couldn’t work a “regular job” because everything was shut down, so I focused on opening my Photography business, which was my true passion. I focused all of my energy into redesigning my website, re-branding, and increasing my social media presence that once the pandemic started to subside, I began doing photoshoots again and building a reputation for myself in Orlando, FL.

There are still moments that owning my own business gets overwhelming, but I say take a leap of faith when you’re doing what you love!

Bianca, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Born in Jacksonville, FL, Bianca’s interests in photography began at Sandalwood High School, where she was apart of the Yearbook Committee as Chief Photographer. This quickly developed her interests into passion, leading her to pursue the field professionally.

She started photographing professionally in 2011, when she began college at The Art Institute of Jacksonville and later pursued studies at The Florida Gateway College where she obtained an Associate’s in Fine Arts. Continuing her education, she then entered the Daytona State College, a branch of the University of Central Florida, where she then obtained another Associate’s degree in Photographic Technology. After several years of dedication to the field, she completed the program with a Bachelor of Science in Photography from the University of Central Florida.

She has also shifted her focus in providing her services to the community. She has interned for the Maitland Art and History Museum and provided social media marketing services to the Tarflower Chapter of the Native Plant Society in Florida. Early in her career, she also volunteered at the St. Luke’s Hospital in Jacksonville, FL.

Bianca Jeiselle is now a well-known portrait photographer in Central, FL, whose work primarily focuses on portraiture, beauty, and fashion. She has been featured in Vogue Italia Online, Coco Magazine, Envie Magazine, and the New York Post. An exhibition of her Thesis work had been put on display at the Southeast Center of Photography in Daytona Beach, FL and the University of Central Florida’s Art Gallery online.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I primarily use social media to continuously keep growing my clientele. Though, I will say most of my paying clients come from Facebook. Several of them are clients I’ve worked with before and some aren’t. Facebook Ad’s helps me promote my photography specials; I gain a lot of new leads from this tool. Instagram is another social media platform that helps tremendously with networking. I don’t usually gain paying customers from this platform but there are a lot of incredible like-minded individuals: photographers, models, make-up artists, fashion designers, and business owners who will reach out to me to collaborate. Collaborations are a great way on gaining exposure and having your work shared on multiple accounts.

Everything is heavily video based now and even though video isn’t my main speciality, I will advocate on posting reels and TikToks of your business and the work that you do.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a photographer is being able to make my clients feel confident with themselves. When they see themselves captured through my lens, they fall in love all over again. No matter what shape, size, gender you are-you are always welcomed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://biancajeiselle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bianca.jeiselle/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BiancaJeisellePhotography
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@biancajeiselle

Image Credits
Model; Amanda Hornberger (Lowkey_1) Model; Jennifer Morris (Beauty) Model; Nicole Glasnak (Bird_3) Model; Sarah Muth (Sugar_4)