Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Odalys Linares. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Odalys, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?
Growing up in the states, as a toddler I was introduced to the Montessori Education. Today I vow to all my friends this is how I learned to speak English coming from an Immigrant family, first generation child, I only spoke Spanish. At a very young age, this program left an imprint on me. I learned that creativity and education can be used at the same time to help students learn and grow in areas they pursue. I have carried this all my adolescent life & now as woman at the age of 27 I aspire to bring the opportunity to learn how to quickly visualize, photograph, & create an idea to life by using Fashion & Photography as a base. I seek to teach this one day in communities around the world and help growing creatives tap into their full potential if they are interested in learning more about Sustainable Fashion & Creative Photography. Today, I have connected with a Creative Academy Studio in Phoenix, Arizona to teach our community about Sustainable Fashion & Creative Photography. Studio 93 MD offers a variety of creative classes that focuses specifically on the skill you wish to learn more about which focuses mainly on Fashion. Angie the owner, has been such a blessing to meet & has helped me bring this opportunity to the creative community. I plan to make these classes virtual one day and be able to offer them to people everywhere. Until then, as I tell the students in these classes, “Network, connect & create so happily as your heart desires. Inspiration will never stop if you do the research, plan ahead & make time for the art you seek.”
Odalys, 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?
Everyone has ideas & goals they want to shout & tell everyone about. The moment I realized the market for content creation was growing vastly, it was like fireworks in my head. The idea of starting a business with all the creativity that comes to mind, well this is where my photography business was born. While running a mobile bartending business called BARMAGIC with my husband, I quickly realized Photography was of the essence for any business looking to portray real life. Which is why I came up with the name Oshoot.az for this business.
To me this meant, “OH SHOOT!” Not not only do I specialize in creative Business Branding but I have made a living creating special memories for families, friends & many strangers I so kindly have had the pure pleasure to meet. Within my photography business I offer Women Empowerment when a client books a Boudoir or Portrait Photography session. This is part of my creative process when posing and experiencing a photoshoot with me as your photographer. I believe it is very important to empower those that come into your lives as a way to uplift their spirits and help them see what they perhaps do not already see.
Oshoot.az has helped me grow in the areas I love most which has been the creation of outfits from recycled fabrics I have used in backdrops from my photoshoots and now to be able to teach this skill to others has brought true joy.
Teaching the community about a sustainable way in which we can create was not something that was offered to me as a child or teenager. I had to grow in skills and see what worked best for the projects I was seeking. Today I teach this, and I only hope to continue to share with the world and bring awareness to this subject in Sustainability. This is where you can learn to protect your resources and reuse the skills we learn in this process and education to create bigger and better ideas in which you may be able to apply to any business creations.
Today, many photographers including myself have turned part of their home into a photography studio. I actually rent my space to help other creatives that do not have the space to do this on their own. I also offer my help in setting up creative displays and give creative direction if they so seek it. I make sure all my equipment is portable so that if my client cannot come to me, I can at least go to them and bring their ideas to life. Today, I am most proud to be able to connect all my businesses in a way that work for all clients who come to seek services. There definitely is one thing my husband & I have learned as young business people in this industry and it is, “In any business convenience is always key.”
Feel free to follow our socials on Instagram, @oshoot.az @thereddoorstudiohouse @tacoontherocks @barmagic.az
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I have a particular style and aesthetic I love to portray in my photography and business. As much as I love this style I am creating for my business I understand it may not be for everyone. Which makes you think, well perhaps that’s all they are capable & limited to right? Wrong.
When I connect with other companies for a shoot, it brings me great joy to see similarities in the goals or ideas when deciding on the factors for the photoshoot concept. You attract what you seek. Everyone’s journey is different and there is no correct way of doing it but only doing what correctly works and aligns with you.
For me, this is the best way to explain how beautiful this creative journey has been. It hasn’t been all roses and rainbows, but when I look back at this journey it’s definitely the roses and rainbows I like to think of.
How’d you meet your business partner?
My business partner is my husband Felipe. This 2023 year as a couple we will be 9 years together and 2 years married. A few weeks into our relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend back in 2014 we started our mobile bar business called BARMAGIC. Today, we have been able to grow multiple businesses and help our community with job opportunities and bar education. I run a photography business Oshoot.az, while we help my parents grow Taco On the Rocks, a mobile catering service. We both also teach within our community. Felipe offers cocktail classes through BARMAGIC & I offer creative classes that include creative photography & sustainable fashion through my photography business.
Today we are working on starting up an electrical company & hopefully be able to include solar in the works, but that is all a topic of conversation for my husband. Together, we have grown and matured in this business and only hope to go up from here. When people ask us why we are in our late twenties and have let nearly a decade go by without having had any children.. well our businesses technically have became our children. Together as partners we have learned this is not an easy journey but are certainly glad we decided to take it together. It’s funny to look back and think, this all started because I had a crush on the bartender at Applebee’s and we both decided to take a chance and love each other. Despite the fact that I visited this man for nearly 1 year or 2, sheesh! Talk about dedication, to this day I am full of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oshootaz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oshoot.az/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oshoot.az
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/oshoot-phoenix