We recently connected with Iliasis Muniz and have shared our conversation below.
Iliasis, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Since I was born my mother Evelyn took me all over the world with her. She moved from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico which is where our family roots are from, and decided to give birth to me in Hampton, Virginia in 1990. She married a man in the Navy thus allowing us the opportunity to experience living in and out of many unique cities. We began to travel around many stunning locations around the world such as Hawaii, Italy, and New York. Eventually I ended back up in Puerto Rico for a few years while my mother figured out her next move after her divorce. That is when I realized around 15 years old that I needed to truly seek what my desires were, because I needed a different way of living. Bouncing around as a child can be fun and amazing. However, my soul craved stability.
Move number 5 here we come. Evelyn called me while I was still living at my grandmothers and says, ” I am ready for you now, want to come to Texas?’ As a 15 year old girl who just became consciously aware and knowing that Puerto Rico wasn’t going to be my forever home, I jumped for joy and said yes! I will never forget my first ride home when I arrived in Texas. It was late at night when my mother picked up in a red pick up truck with a young man with dark black hair, full beard, and a very unique nose. We drove for what felt like hours down one straight long road with nothing around us. I knew that where they were taking me wasn’t as luxurious as many of the other cities she had raised me before.
Welcome to South Texas! I ended living in the valley for 16 years. Evelyn left on her own journey again when I turned 17, but because of my courage and sense of intuition I needed to stay even if that meant figuring out how to survive alone for a while. I am so grateful for not only my bravery of trying to figure out my life at such a young age, but for my mother who believed I could do it. Yes, she gave me many once in a lifetime adventures and opportunities, but I needed stability in my life. The only person I knew who could give that to me was myself. So why do I tell you this was my biggest risk I have ever taken, because if I hadn’t jumped then I would have stayed on my mothers path and never would have found photography. Photography came when I turned 22 and without all the experience I needed to learn while surviving alone I wouldn’t have had the tenacity, dedication and desire to actually make something of myself. It was and has been the best risk I have ever made for my future.
Iliasis, 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?
Photography found me when I was about 22 while working at a boutique called Isla / Rica on South Padre Island, Texas. I had been working with them since high school, so I grew from being a sales associate to the start of what is a called now a Social media brand ambassador. I would take photos of the clothes on display and share them online. Once I started to photograph people with the items from the boutique it hit me. How is it that I am at work and having fun at the same time? I knew I had found something special and just went with the feeling.
Since the age of 17 I had been all on my own, so I acquired a few other jobs. I worked not only at the boutique, but also at a bank and as a bookkeeper for a restaurant. The most crazy thing I learned about life later down the road was that I was being set up. Set up with owning my own successful business one day. During my early 20’s I was just trying to survive honestly, so I didn’t know where I was going to be led into next. For some reason photography always stuck and made me feel this unexplainable emotion inside. It almost started to become a drug for me. Once I realized that I had the power in my hand to become something more profound for myself with owning my own career I quit all my jobs and got to focusing. The trainings I was paid for by the bank and as a bookkeeper came in handy, because when you begin the entrepreneur life without any education it can get a little confusing. Thankfully Youtube was my university if I had any questions. I taught myself how to learn new things with my camera, disciplined my finances, and always kept a positive mentality. I carried those three factors for the past 10 years now and haven’t looked back since.
If you would have told me at age 15 I would one day be making over 6 figures while doing what I love the most I would not have believed you entirely. Money comes and goes, but knowing I am happy in the future was all I could have ask for. I feel what sets me apart from others is my story. My story of needing something and not someone. Photography is my something that keeps my spirit, hope in myself, and passion alive for life and others. I am most proud of my hustle mentality and how I keep that 15 year girl inside me happy no matter what.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Living in one place for more than a decade is amazing. Everyone knows you by now, you have your favorite spots to go eat or take photos, you built a loyal client base. Life is good and comfortable. I had just purchased my first home all by myself when suddenly I was hit with a heavy question. Is this it? Am I going to settle for comfortability, for having everything I have ever worked for, yet I was all alone again. I mean I have my amazing clients, my loyal friendships, and my adorable pup. Still I felt like I had done it all here in Texas. My soul was calling at me again for something and deep down I knew what she was asking for, change and challenge.
Now, I am from Puerto Rico originally and still have family back on the island. Flying from Texas to PR isn’t cheap, so when I visited my younger sister last year in Florida I was so happy to know we were just 3 hours away on a plane ride from visiting my family. My visit to Florida was my challenge. I loved it there. I loved being with my little sister and I truly loved the energy Florida had to offer. Never in my wildest dreams would I think I could buy my first home and suggest to myself I would move out almost 8 months later. Welp, I did. I planned, dedicated, and focused on moving my photography business and life to a whole new state. I made the decision while sitting at a coffee shop with a friend who told me if I could have created such a successful life in South Texas I had enough power to conquer this new journey to South Florida.
6 months later I am living one of my hardest yet bests life. I have visited back home to Puerto Rico a few times now and have met so many unique souls. I don’t regret any of my pivotal moves, because the growth that I have done was exactly what my soul needed.
Let’s move on to buying businesses – can you talk to us about your experience with business acquisitions?
Yes, I actually purchased a little girl clothing company called Kutie Kouture Boutique. I bought it because I was working with the prior owner in helping her promote her brand by taking photos of all the adorable outfits. I would book models, photograph them in studio and outdoors, and then she would have my work displayed on her website. I ended up becoming owner of the company and changed the name to Tyane’s Baby Boutique. I flew to Arizona before buying it from her to see how she ran the business and get a better understanding if what was for me or not. I eventually wanted to have children of my own one day, so the opportunity felt like it fit just right. Once I purchased the company, she shipped everything to me, and I began my journey of owning my second business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iliasismunizphotography.com
- Instagram: iliasismunizphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IliasisMuniz/
- Other: https://iliasismunizphotography.pixieset.com