We were lucky to catch up with Laurie Perez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Laurie , appreciate you joining us today. Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Photography was not always my full time career, originally I set a course in college to become a pharmacist. However, after losing everything in a house fire, I realized life is too short to not explore what I loved. Art was that love, but coming from schools that focused on traditional careers, art felt like an unrealistic path. With no on really supporting the choice to go from pharmacy to photography, I had to navigate the waters alone. Eventually, a few mentors who saw some potential in my work took me under their wing. I wish I could say that there was something to sped up the process of being a photographer, but the only way to sharpen your skills is to do the work. Best advice is to practice as much as possible.

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?

In 2004, my passion for photography was ignited after a house fire left me with the cloths on my back and a miraculous unharmed 35mm canon film camera. Making the best of the situation, I enrolled in a photography course as a form of personal therapy. It was the moment that I saw my first photograph emerge in the darkroom that changed my life. With a newfound love for photography, I was dedicated to learning the craft to become Houston’s go to photographer. My superhero photographer power…I can create awesome lighting in any situation.

My current mission is to help companies dominate their market with story telling images and provide magazine quality photos for all. Clients swear by our ability to take lead, give great direction and by our advance lighting. My promise is you will not only have a fun time, but your will feel confident we captured your vision.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2017, after having my first child, I decided to take a leap of faith and focus mainly on Commercial Photography, specifically Interior Design and Branding. Weddings had been a bulk of our clients and I battled with giving up that revenue stream. However, weddings often fall on the weekends and I wanted to reclaim time back to spend with my child. It was the best decision and now we only take weddings by referrals.

My current pivot is introducing Industrial photography into my portfolio. The challenge is mostly men dominate this market. Although, I am seeing more companies become more inclusive in their hiring.

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I see many clients who have a great brand but lack strong visuals. I think many companies will hesitate on spending on a shoot because they do not have a creative idea or agency to help. Having a creative mind myself, I can flush out an idea fully in my head and articulate that idea to a prospective client. For the non-creative client who does not have the vision to see what you are pitching can be a challenge. Essentially, we are pushing a sale of a product that hasn’t been created yet, because the end product is developed in the photoshoot. Non-creative clients have to come in and fully trust what we are proposing will indeed work. That is why is is important to due your due diligence when selecting a professional who not only can operate a camera but can conceptualize.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.laurieperez.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurieperezphotography_htx
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurieperezfanpage
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/laurieperezphotography/
• Twitter: ww.twitter.com/Laurie_Perez

Image Credits
©LauriePerez.com