We were lucky to catch up with Lily Tapia recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lily, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

As a wedding photographer and business owner, I absolutely love being my own boss. Though I have to admit, it’s not always a walk in the park. I know I am living the life I always dreamt of

Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to have a steady income with benefits. But honestly, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else! After having a busy season it gets a bit nerve wracking when things slow down. That is when i tap into my creativity and surround myself with things that bring joy and experiment with things that I can use during a wedding day.

Eventually, everything falls into place, and the busy season comes around! Now that I know the trend that happens every year, I am able to manage the business finances, save for slower seasons, and prepare for upcoming business needs.

I always remind myself of why I started this business and the happiness that comes with capturing beautiful moments for my clients. At the end of the day, I always succeed in the financial goals that I have. I’ve become somebody who now has a team of people who help me make my business more successful. From a woman who did everything on her own, I now have a team of people who help me push my business forward. I do what I love to do, and I focus on that, and I have a team who help me with all the other parts of being a business owner.

I’m grateful for the freedom and creativity that comes with owning my own business. I feel blessed every day for being able to do what I love.

Lily, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

It all started with a high school elective that opened up a whole new world for me. As a shy kid, I found my voice through photography and discovered my passion for capturing the most special moments in people’s lives.

Growing up, I was inspired by fashion magazines like Vogue and started photographing people with their chic outfits in unique locations. Then, I began working with different photographers, which happened randomly, but I am delighted that this branch of photography found me. I can mix fashion editorials and emotions all in one shot, which brings me immense joy.

Over the years, I’ve become known for my artistic, and personable approach to photography. I love getting to know my clients, hearing their stories and preferences, and making them feel at ease in front of the camera. My ultimate goal is to create a beautiful masterpiece that reflects their unique personalities and style and captures memories that will be treasured for future generations.

I’m thrilled to say that my work has been published in several different publications. I’ve also been lucky enough to travel the world to photograph in some truly incredible locations. It brings me so much joy to see my clients happy and confident in front of my camera, and I take great pride in that.

My brand is all about luxury, modernity, and emotion. It’s taken me years to perfect it, but I’m so proud of where my business has taken me. I can’t wait to continue this amazing journey, and capture more incredible moments with my camera!

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

One of the biggest things I wish I’d known earlier is that it’s okay to follow my own creativity instead of always feeling like I have to keep up with the latest trends. It’s important to prioritize my own happiness and let that guide my decision-making process on how I photograph.

Another thing I’ve realized is the importance of building stronger relationships with wedding vendors and photographers. Working alone can be tough, but having a supportive group of friends who understand my journey has made a world of difference. By collaborating and sharing ideas with other passionate creatives in the industry, we can all succeed and reach new heights together. So, let’s surround ourselves with positive and supportive people and keep growing and succeeding!”

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, believing that my business would survive despite all the financial challenges was very difficult. Unfortunately, the pandemic affected many of my clients and their weddings, which made things even tougher. I was scared and nervous, just like everyone else.

However, during this time, I learned the importance of collaborating with other vendors and finding ways to support each other. By doing so, we became more creative and found work.

We even published several wedding publications. This experience strengthened me because I realized I could overcome any obstacle. Although I thought I had hit rock bottom, once I let go of my fear and began to explore the possibilities of what I could do during this time, my clients and other wedding vendors rallied together to create amazing projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lilytapiaphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilytapiaphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilyTapiaPhotography/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lily-tapia-photography-irvine

Image Credits
I took the photos