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

Brian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.

I love this question! This is something I would recommend anyone in any field to ask their mentor(s). I remember sitting with my own Photography mentor, John Gress in a cafe this time last year, and just asking him this exact question. I still remember his answer. As short and sort of general as it was, it really was great advice for at least me. At that time I wasn’t just starting my business but I had also just started learning the fundamentals of studio lighting.

Starting over for me would mean relearning my photography technique as well as my business practices. For learning my photography technique, I would work as hard as I can to rebuild a small portfolio using the skills I can find on the internet and putting them into practice. The practice is the most important part but the moment I found a photography mentor was when my skills went to the next level. Finding someone in the field that already knows what their doing will help narrow down those skills and fill in those gaps of information you don’t already have. Just offering your time or giving consistent positive interactions on social media- giving GENUINE and Constructional compliments on their lighting or composition could be enough to make a positive impression. No photographer is ever complete without business practices.

The way everyone is going to need to target an audience and run their business is going to be different. That’s the beauty of it. No one gets anywhere without niching down though. The moment you niche down is the moment you know who you need to market to and who would actually be in need of your services. Niche down to something you truly believe you can be the best at in your local area. If you can’t be the best or it’s not working out for you – niche down even further. In my instance, I niched down to the fashion and beauty market and the clothing / local designer side of things. No one in my area was using studio lighting in a dramatic or bold way to show off the product like how Photographers such as Desiree Mattson might do so. I decided this was my Niche and I would find a way to be the best at it in my area and someday the world. That is what you need for yourself to keep going.

The advice my own mentor gave me was, “If he was to start over, he would go commercial and create relationships with companies that would give him consistent business.”

I took this advice, learned as much as I could to be the best at what I do and I went commercial. Continue to reach out to potential clients and get used to no reply or plain not interested responses. You’ll eventually get a yes and when that comes you give them your best. They will see that and be grateful in the form of support and future business.

Brian, 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’m Brian Guzman a Fashion and Beauty Photographer based here in South Austin, TX. I first got into this industry as a hobby in high school. I was never artistically inclined but was very creative. Photography became my outlet for that. Fast forward a bit to graduation and going to school for nursing. It became my way to pay for school. Nursing school was a great time and I hope to go back soon, but shortly after I started school, my mother passed away and it became a way of paying the bills. I started working at a camera store, then a photo studio, and learned/practiced my photography for the next year.

My photography has evolved to where it is now and I’m more than happy with where I stand at this moment. My general services are Studio Lighting portraiture but generally geared towards local designers showing off a clothing/jewelry product, etc. My sessions tend to range anywhere from Corporate headshots to Fashion editorials. I’m most proud of my versatility to capture a range of photos and my knowledge of studio lighting.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I bought my initial camera in high school by working a part-time job and saving up for a camera I saw off craigslist. This helped build my initial portfolio. I got the majority of my gear from my job at a camera store. I networked with people in my area through social media and got lucky with a photographer that also worked at the store. During those 5 months I worked there I would buy a new piece of gear each paycheck and we had plenty of reimbursement plans for new camera bodies. I bought all my current gear from there and use DIY alternatives to things like V-Flats or other photography accessories. It’s up to you to decide what subscriptions you might need to get the job done with your photography so I don’t really factor that in.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The easy answer to this is that I want to get to a point with my photography where I can live off of it part-time and go back to nursing school. However, through my work, I’ve come to realize that nothing is more special to me than the relationships and connections I make and continue to make while pursuing my creative dreams. The connections and other creatives inspire me to keep creating with the amazing art I get to see on a daily.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shadowstockphotos.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadowstockphotos/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shadowstockphotos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-guzman-53bb231b8/

Image Credits
Jesse Guzman – Makeup Artist Shayne James – Photography Assistant Jonathan Ackley, Sarah West, and Lauren Parsons – Models