We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cassie Fuertez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassie, thanks for joining us 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 often look back on what I could have done differently to break into a professional photography career more quickly than I did. I go back and forth—what if I had quit my corporate job sooner instead of waiting to be laid off? What if I had traveled more? Would that have given me a better understanding of who I am or helped build my confidence?

But I always return to the thought that every experience and choice I’ve made has shaped who I am today. They’ve made me confident in both my work and my self-worth.

I’ve always been a bit of a late bloomer—or maybe I just take time to truly learn and grow. From studying animation in school to working as a photo editor at Oakley, to shooting weddings, working for a headhunter, and eventually becoming a Photo Director/photographer—each step has added something to my journey. Whether at work or at home, I pushed myself to improve, driven by a fear of not being good enough or being overlooked because my skills weren’t memorable. My anxious, overthinking mind didn’t know any other way.

Still, if I could change one thing, I think I would have taken more time to travel. I found it to be always the best investment in self-growth.

And yet, even now, I feel the need to push myself toward a new avenue of photography. It’s time for the next chapter in my career. I owe it to myself to see just how far I can go.

Cassie, 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 actually started out studying animation—not something I ended up doing full-time, but it really helped me develop my eye for things like light, composition, and visual storytelling. Funny enough, I kind of worked backwards into photography.

I spent seven years as a photo editor at Oakley, all the while wanting to be the one behind the camera. Eventually, I bought a camera and just started shooting everything. I’d bring it everywhere, even to dog parks to practice motion shots—despite not even owning a dog.

That curiosity and drive led to a full-time photographer role at Sideshow Collectibles. I was there for seven years too, and that’s where I really pushed myself creatively—this time editing photos that I’d actually taken myself. From there, I moved into leading the photography department at PCS Collectibles in Huntersville, North Carolina. These days, I’m still doing that, while also taking on freelance work whenever it comes my way.

For me, great photography is about capturing a moment where light, composition, and subject all click to tell a story. I love being able to create those kinds of images, and a big part of that comes from really getting to know the people I’m working with.

I’ve found that clients generally fall into two groups: the ones who know exactly what they want and just need someone to bring it to life—and the ones who know they want something special, but aren’t quite sure what that looks like yet. I enjoy working with both. I keep things collaborative, open, and flexible, whether we’re following a clear plan or figuring it out together as we go.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

At Oakley, I worked as a photo editor for seven years. During that time, two different managers told me they had “dropped the ball” and weren’t sure how to support my career growth. It was disheartening—especially at my first real adult job. Eventually, during a wave of massive company changes, I was laid off under my third boss.

The silver lining? Oakley offered career coaching to everyone affected, and that helped me tremendously. I used that 10-month gap to take more classes in editing and photography. That effort paid off—I landed another full-time photo editing role, which eventually evolved into product photography. Over the next seven years, I grew from photo editor to senior photographer.

And then… yep, laid off again. But that time, I saw it coming. I had learned to recognize the signs of a struggling company. I had been saving my work, keeping my portfolio current, and preparing for the next opportunity. I freelanced for less than a year before I was offered my current role as Photo Director. I’ve been here for two years now—and let’s just say, I’m always ready for the next pivot if needed.

So really, it’s not a single moment, but a recurring theme throughout my career. I’ve been laid off from every full-time corporate job I’ve had—one company was bought out, another was hit hard during COVID, and maybe the next will be impacted by tariffs. Who knows?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: keep moving forward. Keep learning, keep challenging yourself, be versatile, and trust that every step—even the setbacks—can lead to something better. That’s been my version of resilience.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Honestly, it’s not so much books or videos that have shaped my thinking—it’s people. I’ve always unintentionally surrounded myself with others who are further along in their careers, whether in photography or running their own businesses.

Being around people who are better than me—or who simply think differently—is incredibly inspiring. It pushes me to level up. I regularly meet up with photographers—some doing the exact kind of work I aspire to, others in completely different spaces. Either way, I learn so much just by being around them: how they think, problem-solve, and approach their craft. And over time, these connections have turned into meaningful friendships.

A huge part of my work ethic also comes from my parents. They’ve run their own business for over 40 years, and watching them build something from the ground up made a lasting impact. I saw firsthand what it means to stay committed, figure things out along the way, and keep moving no matter what.

I’ve always been more of an observer than a theorist. I learn best by watching how people work, live, and make decisions—it gives me a much clearer picture of what it really takes than reading about it ever could. That said, I definitely have books for creative inspiration lying around. As a former animation student, I’ve kept a collection of art books—Miyazaki, Disney, DreamWorks. I constantly circle back to what first inspired me: color, light, composition. I also have photography books from artists I admire, like Irving Penn.

Image Credits

Photos by Cassie Fuertez