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

Hi Irene, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

Every time I have a second to reflect on my journey as a photographer, a part of me wishes I would have started sooner.

I decided to follow my passion for photography during a really overwhelming period in my life. I had convinced myself that in order to be successful in life I needed to go to college and study something that payed well. Once I was in college and got to live an independent life, while, living on campus I realized that what really made me happy was being creative. I always found myself being creative in one way or another growing up, but everyone told me that I would not find success in that field.

During my early adult years I came to realize that I needed to be a little selfish for myself and for my happiness. I became more self aware and accepted the fact I struggle with anxiety, it is essentially led me to drop out of college. Not long after that I decided to start my photography account on instagram in 2018. From 2018 to now I have grown in ways I would have never imagined. Somedays the imposter syndrome really gets to me and I can’t believe that I have the support system I do. All this to say that I have changed my mind about wishing I had started this sooner. I would not be who or what I am today if things had not occurred the way they did. I am a believer and my faith is strong in God’s timing which is why I know I am exactly where I am meant to be.

Irene, 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?

Hello readers, I am Irene, your friendly neighborhood creative! My passion for photography goes back to the age of 8, I vividly remember always convincing my baby sitter to let me style her and take photos of her. Little did I know that this little hobby of mind would be one of the biggest parts of my adult life. At the time, I didn’t own a phone or a camera but I did have a laptop with a webcam. I used the webcam to the best of my abilities to shoot portraits of my sitter or anyone who would let me. Eventually, I started learning about editing and filters! Anyone remember CamWowRetro? because I do.

As I got older, my love for photography continued to grow. For my 12th birthday the only gift I wanted was a camera of my own. My dad surprised me with my first camera, a Canon Powershot that I still have til this day. I ended up becoming the photographer for my church for a couple of years until I went to High School. I went to a school where college/university was not optional. From our freshman year to our senior year we were being prepared to be university students. Through those years I found myself not picking up the camera anymore. Social media and our phones had taken over our lives. I found ways to stay creative through those outlets and started becoming interested in aesthetics and “Tumblr” photos.

Through all of that I found myself picking up my camera again towards the end of my senior year. In the back of mind I knew that I wanted to be a photographer, a creative. However, I decided to choose a different route and it eventually led me to where I am now. I am a wedding + elopement photographer in Los Angeles. I have been in this industry for almost 6 years and I have evolved so much as a photographer and finally found my voice. I am a hopeless romantic and feel so lucky that I get to tell other peoples’ love stories. I say that my photography is for the romantics + the nostalgic. My goal is for my couples to feel the same feelings they did in those special moments while viewing their photographs. I always say that my intention is to enhance your relationship with your significant other.

I am very fortunate and proud to say that one of the most common reviews I get is about my ability to make my clients feel comfortable and like themselves during their session. My mentality when preparing for a session is mainly focused on ensuring my couples have a great experience. To me my clients are more than just a simple transactional relationship, I like to leave my sessions feeling like I made new friends. I heard the phrase, “If you don’t think photos are important, wait until they are all you have left”. I carry that phrase with me to every session because I know how valuable those images are and will be. There is a beautiful nostalgia behind knowing that you can never relive the same moment twice.

Inquire via throughireneslens.com and we will create a lifetime experience!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

The best piece of advice that I can give someone who is working on building an audience is BE YOURSELF! As cliche as it is, it could not be more true. I am a living proof that people are drawn to people who are relatable. This is how I built my community and how I have continued to grow.

In the photography industry it is really difficult to stand out, especially when there are so many talented photographers out there. Whether you want to or not you end up finding yourself comparing your work to the work of others. It’s even more challenging when you find that other creatives steal your ideas or your concepts. You have to put yourself in the mindset that you are YOU and no one can take that way from you. You need to be consistent and let your dream clientele find you.

Being authentic is bold and challenging but it will lead you to your audience. I also do strongly advice that you invest in your branding. Branding will change the ways clients perceive you and it will set you apart from competitors. I personally began offering Branding sessions because of my love for supporting small businesses.

On another note, I understand getting inspiration from others that are in the industry you are trying to be a part of but trying to be exactly like someone else will be a disservice to you and your business. If you stay consistent and true to who you are you will grow. You will find some of the kindest strangers on the internet that support everything you do because they believe in you and what you stand for.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I debated for a while whether or not I wanted to share this story but decided to because if this story encourages at least one person reading it, than it was worth it. I will keep it short and not too detailed out of respect for the people involved. I booked a session a couple of years back that I was pretty excited about, it was a little different from what I usually did and could not wait for the day to come. The day comes, I greet my client and their family and I automatically start feeling a little off. I noticed one of the people in the group was being condescending and dismissive of me. To save my client and myself from discomfort I ignore the behavior, but then the person looks me dead in the eye and says, “I do not believe you are a professional because you are a woman”.

In the moment, my instinct was to shrivel up into a ball and cry my eyes out. Although I didn’t do that, I pretended that I didn’t hear the comment. The person then proceeds to say it again but louder. I laughed it off and in that moment decided that I would let my work do the talking. I kept my cool and finished the session like I would have any other. In the end I thanked them for letting me document such a special moment and that I would be in touch once they were ready. Before I left, I showed them a photo from my camera and expressed my excitement for them to see the final images. The same person that made that awful comment to me says, “I guess I believe you now, that you are a professional photographer”.

This happened years ago and it has replayed in my head endlessly. Especially on the days when I feel like maybe I am not as good as others think I am. However, I remember that if I did not have something good to offer this wouldn’t be my job. I think back to all of the trial and error I have endured. I think of all the women out there that are looked down on by people who envy their success and it makes me want to work harder. Although during that time I was still learning and finding my voice, I am now able to say that I know what I am doing and I love my work.

Let this story serve you as a reminder that you are more than what people think of you! Never let anyone make you feel less than because of your gender, sexual orientation, race or anything in between. Those people are the reason why we need to keep fighting for the things we love.

Contact Info:

• Website: throughireneslens.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/throughireneslens
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/throughireneslens

Image Credits
All images are Through Irene’s Lens