Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julian Rivera. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Julian, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I learned I would assume like anyone else would I had a general interest in photography and I felt like trying and pursuing a life in that sort of craft. I got started off of a canon rebel t6i I bought off of Amazon it was cheap and easy because I wanted to make sure I actually wanted to do this after just getting out of high school. When I started I really just got out there and found what I could that interested me about life it mainly started with shooting photos of my friends at the time because I thought a lot of them where interesting from sports to skating to bodybuilding. I guess if I could go back and do something different to speed up the process I’d tell myself to not be so shy over the years my people skills grew with the more I did photography the more I did it the more I found out how to net work but I think my greatest obstacle was just myself I was very shy and insecure with my skills even though I knew I was good at what I did now I’ve grown into the person I needed to become to get these skills to where they are now.
Julian, 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?
My name is Julian Rivera I’m a professional photographer that got started for the love of art after highschool I’ve seen many people try their hand at this craft and fade out in many way but I stuck with it to prove to them and myself that this is possible to strive in a passionate career that I’ve created for myself I shoot everything from real estate to skating to custom build bikes, concerts, modeling, clothing you name it if there’s a photographer that’s needed I’m your guy there’s no task I’ve never backed down from or style of shooting I haven’t done I live this world I’ve created for myself and I love it dearly it’s a part of me and my message to the world. The project I’m most proud of that I’ve done this year is get myself officially into choppers magazine I did a full five page article and spread of my friends custom built 1977 Harley Davidson shovel head it was a year long project that definitely paid off in the end and was well worth the wait when it was all done and in print. For any and all new clients or people who are interested in my work I’d love to work with you and show you what I’m capable of I am the one of the most dynamic and versatile photographers to ever come from socal I love what I do and want to share my experiences with the rest of the world and do what ever it takes to remain in this title as a professional photographer
Have you ever had to pivot?
For myself the first real test was not that long ago though I’ve been doing photography for about 7 years now I’ve always held down a full time job I’ve always been a hard worker in many ways. For about 5 years I worked as a heavy equipment mechanic it was a very rigorous tough job that took all my time up it was great money for the time being but I always found myself miserable working day to day endlessly hurting my body and tiring myself out I needed to get away from this life. For those years I was always a weekend warrior for my photography but needed my out and finally I made that jump I quit my job to work full time as a photographer but even though I started out to have a few good jobs I quit at the slowest time of the year which was winter I lost some momentum and averted my focus to moving out to a new city and struggled with money I never made enough on shoots I got turned down I lost all my money I took it far enough to even scrap copper Id find at my parents home I was recycling cans I did shoots I never even wanted to do I donated blood worked as a bar back cleaning and bussing tables I did everything in my power to make a quick buck to just stay afloat in my apartment and stay living my dream it was depressing and hard but I fought through to get to where I’m at now. Now I feel as if I’m in complete control of my life getting the clients I need and doing the work I want to work on it’s a long way in such a short time but I needed it everybody every artist should experience being flat broke it’s a true testament to weather or not this way of life Is meant for you
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Trying everything and talking to anybody that crosses your path people often mistake that shooting to shoot gets you anywhere but the reality is the more you experience the more work you get to do. Don’t be so stagnant with just one subject the glory of it is that the different places you go the different people you meet it’s always exciting getting that new person of interest
Contact Info:
- Website: https://julianrivera.picfair.com/
- Instagram: _julianthephotographer_
- Facebook: Julian Rivera
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-rivera-61327b30b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
