We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bili Escobar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bili below.

Bili, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned mostly through hands on experience. I’m so grateful to have had equipment available to me, from the camera on my phone to eventually investing in a camera of my own. I probably would have take more chances if I knew then what I know now. People skills are the most essential, you can tell in a photo when a client is comfortable and genuine. Patience is also key, taking my time with the work I do has helped me appreciate the process more. Knowing that not everyone will like my work but that there will be people that will was a pretty big personal obstacle I’ve had to overcome. I’m still learning this, but, I want people to be able to see a photo and know that I was the one who took it. Not by its colors but by its story.

Bili, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I initially grew an interest for Photography through a family member of mine who did it as a hobby. I’d ask him to take me along his shoots and to teach me how to use a camera. I took a course in college and borrowed cameras until I was able to afford my own. Eventually I bought my very first camera in 2012, a Nikon D5100 . Then throughout the years got my hands on different brands and now have been shooting with mostly Sony and have found a great love for it! I strive to make my clients feel very comfortable and to enjoy the process of the shoot. I know it can be a very nerve racking experience so I ask a lot of questions and am open to client’s suggestions. I couldn’t say what I feel sets me apart from other photographers because client’s choose their photographers for many reasons. I am proud to say that I’ve grown small relationships with all of my clients. My greatest goal when putting out my work and sharing it with my clients, is to have us and anyone who sees it to feel the photos. I want my photos make people smile, for my clients to relive each moment all over again. It’s such an honor and privilege to be a part of moments and memories that will last forever through the photos.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Word of mouth marketing has been my best source. Anytime anyone asks me what I do for a living I tell them I am a photographer. I currently lead worship and am the lead photographer at my local church. Church for the City here in Yuma Arizona, so most people see me there. Outside of work, I have gone out to local businesses around town and offered my services for free just to get my name around. I then post the final work on my Photography Page on instagram and have found that this has helped spread my work and grown my clientele.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I’ve had to unlearn saying “Yes!” to every request. There will always be opportunities to shoot. Money comes and goes but I’ve had some poor experiences as a shooter than left me realizing that no amount of money is worth more than my well being.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biliesphotography/

Image Credits
Bili Escobar