Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diana Zapata. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Diana, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I am currently earning a full-time living from my creative work. It was slow progress to get to where I am and I certainly feel like there is still a long road ahead, but I remember dreaming of the days that I’d be able to live the life I currently live and it makes it all worth it. The process from day one, I’d say involved a lot of patience and dedication. Being open to exploring different paths within my field to get to a point where I’d feel comfortable living out of my craft. I started photography part-time, only taking in a few clients every year, and I think that finding the right people along the way helped me build a network that would eventually support me. Most of the work that I do today comes from referrals and I now know that being creative and talented is not enough, you always need support from others in your industry. I was able to earn a full-time living from my creative work after about 5 years of doing it part-time. I didn’t have a defined framework of how to get to that point but I definitely worked on my online presence a lot, I worked on meeting people in the industry, honing my craft, getting more experience to feel fully comfortable in what I’m offering nowadays.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a wedding and portrait photographer. I found my way into this industry after going to school first for Biology and then graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising. I currently own a photography services business, offering mostly wedding coverage, family portraits, and also headshots, lifestyle, and brand photography services for small businesses. I think what my clients love about my work is the way I approach photography, as a blend of documentary and editorial styles. I keep my editing very clean and true to life so that my client’s images are timeless, but I also make sure that the images I deliver have a pop of color and liveliness to them. I genuinely love to photograph people so instead of directing or posing, I interact with my subjects a lot, I want to document life for them so their photos reflect their real lives. I want them to see themselves in those images in the most authentic way possible. I guess you could say I am a true romantic, I love photos of people hugging, laughing with each other, photos of people sharing a moment of sustained eye contact. And what I hear often from my clients is that even though they were present in those moments, they never knew they could re-live them through the photos I capture for them. I think that photography has the power to evoke memories for a lifetime, and being able to document these milestones for people is a huge honor for me and a job that I don’t take lightly.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I have a few books that have helped me along the way. Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller is a great resource to help you understand your own brand and how to reach your audience in an effective way. The other book that I think is a great resource for everyone (not just creatives) is The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It gives you tools to learn about yourself and a dedicated practice to foster a sense of creativity and passion in your life.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

In my experience, it’s truly living in a state of creation, and passion for what you do and how you do it. It is true that sometimes you get burned out, and that putting pressure into making your art also your source of earning a living can be stressful. But I find it rewarding to think about how beautiful I can make my life and my client’s life with my creativity and artistry. I truly believe that we all have different talents for a reason, and while working in a corporate environment is not my biggest strength, photographing life for my clients is, so I feel grateful that I get to design my life this way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dianazapata.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluesparkphotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmzapata/

Image Credits
All photos Copyrighted BlueSpark Photography