We were lucky to catch up with Monique Huezo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Monique thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

As a photographer who started in high school, I learned the fundamentals of photography by taking classes and practicing with my camera. I also gained experience by taking a college course, and shooting events for friends and family at little or no cost, then later on learning from Youtube.

Looking back, I think one thing that could have sped up my learning process would have been to seek out more mentorship and guidance from experienced photographers in the industry. Learning from their insights and experiences could have helped me to develop my skills more quickly and avoid some common mistakes.

In terms of essential skills, I think that a strong understanding of composition, lighting, and technical aspects of photography such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO are crucial. Additionally, interpersonal skills such as communication and working with clients are also essential for success in the wedding photography industry.

One of the biggest obstacles to learning more was the cost of equipment and access to professional-level gear. As a photographer fresh out of high school, I didn’t have a lot of resources to invest in expensive cameras and lenses, so I had to make do with what I had. Additionally, finding opportunities to gain experience shooting weddings was difficult without a network or connections in the industry.

Overall, while there were challenges in learning and growing as a wedding photographer, I found that persistence and a passion for the craft were key to overcoming these obstacles and developing my skills over time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

In 2019, I realized that I enjoyed shooting weddings. Prior to that year, I had stopped shooting photography to pursue becoming an ultrasound tech. However, I did not get into the school, and my boyfriend encouraged me to pursue my passion for photography. I upgraded my camera and lens, watched YouTube videos to improve my skills, and ended up shooting a wedding in Hawaii that year. The intimate and love-filled experience made me realize that I enjoyed capturing such special moments for couples. Since then, I have been photographing weddings of all sizes.

Apart from wedding photography, I also do a lot of branding sessions for hairstylists, estheticians, and microblading artists. I enjoy helping these professionals elevate their brand through photography and content creation. Having cohesive social media pages helps to showcase their work and attract clients, and I enjoy being involved in their business and helping them succeed. My approach to photography, my style and creative thinking help me create unique images that showcase my clients’ personalities and businesses. This is always a huge a goal when working with my clients, I want to see them all win even if they are small wins.

I am most proud of the fact that I have been able to attract wedding clients who resonate well with my photography style and personality. I was initially worried about working with clients who were not a good fit for me, but luckily, all my clients have been amazing, and I have been able to become friends and keep a relationship with them. For my branding clients I am happy to see them succeed and grow their business through my photography, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be creative while doing what I love.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Quality of work: Producing consistently high-quality images that capture the essence and emotion of the wedding day is essential to building a good reputation.

Professionalism: Conducting oneself professionally, being punctual, delivering on promises, and providing excellent customer service are all vital components of building a strong reputation.

Networking: Building relationships with other wedding professionals such as planners, florists, and DJs can help to generate referrals and positive word-of-mouth.

Marketing: Having a strong website to guide clients to your work, can help to increase visibility and attract potential clients.

Experience and expertise: Continually developing one’s skills and knowledge, staying creative and thinking differently when documenting, and having a solid portfolio of work can all contribute to building a strong reputation in the wedding photography world.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2020, it seemed like I would need to make some changes to my business due to the pandemic. With weddings being postponed or cancelled, it was an uncertain time. However, surprisingly, that year turned out to be one of my most successful. I was fortunate enough to have a full schedule of sessions and weddings every month and was able to further develop my portfolio. This success had a positive impact on the following years as well, creating a domino effect

Contact Info:

• Website: Moniqueivette.com
• Instagram: @monique___ivette

Image Credits
Monique Ivette Photography