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

Eliza, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success is rarely achieved without facing obstacles or setbacks. Without perseverance, individuals may give up too quickly and never reach their full potential. Being able to push through difficulties and work towards your goals is important. I believe you’ve got to have that desire to want to reach something bigger than yourself. Prioritizing goals over short-term pleasures. Whether that means putting in more time and effort. Sacrificing time away from your family or friends. Without discipline, individuals may be easily distracted or lack the motivation to put in the necessary effort to achieve their goals. It all starts with you. Believing in yourself. You got to trust yourself and believe that you will reach the heights you set for yourself. Even when people doubt you or have opinions. Turn the noise off and continue to believe in yourself. All these traits are essential for success.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m a sports photographer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. I’m currently an Athletics Creative Intern at UNLV.

Growing up, basketball was a significant part of my life. I enjoyed playing the sport in high school, and I would also watch basketball games on TV with my brother. I was fascinated by the way athletes moved on the court and how they worked together to score. As I got older, I started to appreciate the art of photography. I was drawn to the idea of capturing moments, and I found that I had a talent for taking pictures. My brother lended me his camera, November 2019. That’s when I officially started photography.

Eventually, my love of basketball and my interest in photography came together. During the Covid lockdown, I had more downtime to learn and practice with a few of my friends and go to basketball runs. I found that I could capture the energy of the game through my lens. During this time, I connected with a few coaches that introduced me to many of the athletes I still work with now. I want to actually thank Coach Sed for introducing me and allowing me to take photos for the culture. It’s insane to think about all the people I met along the way. For those 2 years of Covid, I never expected myself to be taking photos of Demarcus Cousins, Pierre Jackson, Gary Payton II, and so many more. Over time, my passion for sports photography grew. I enjoy the journey. I meet and get to know all these athletes and where they’re from. I think that’s the best part of it. The combination of a love for basketball and a talent for photography led me to discover my passion for sports photography.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

The creative process can be messy and unpredictable, with many twists and turns along the way. Non-creatives may not understand the importance of experimentation and taking risks in order to arrive at a unique and original idea. They may also not appreciate the emotional investment that many creative people have in their work. Creativity can be a deeply personal and vulnerable process, and rejection or criticism of a creative work can be difficult to take.

Personally, mental health has been a difficult road for me. Self judgment is one of the main reasons for it. It can hold us back from achieving our goals. I believe there’s a lot of creatives or even content creators who may fall into comparing their own work to others. They may feel like they are not measuring up to the standards set by others, or that their work is inferior in some way. It can lead to a focus on external validation and competition, rather than on the intrinsic value of one’s work. I found myself becoming overly focused on metrics such as likes, views, and followers, which can distract from the joy and fulfillment that comes from creating something meaningful. It’s important to approach comparisons with a sense of balance and perspective, and to prioritize the intrinsic value of your own work.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect is the sense of community and connection that can come from being a creative. Building a following of like-minded individuals, collaborating with other creators, and receiving feedback and support from supporters can all contribute to a sense of belonging and purpose. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that I can positively influence, entertain, or inspire others, especially for other content creators, or those who just started photography.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: ElizaBiglete
• Twitter: BigleteEliza

Image Credits
Eliza Biglete