We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stephanie Espinal a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success looks different for every individual and every field. For me it’s a safe home, healthy life, doing what I love with the people I love and sharing my art with others. Society conditions us to tie our definition of success and our value to working non-stop but I’ve learned I can’t do my job well (even doing what I love) when I’m burnt out. I aim to stay motivated while finding a good balance between work and rest. Easier said than done so I often will schedule/block out time in my calendar to do so. Also, surrounding myself with good people and community had been key to my ability to maintaining balance. I’ve been very blessed to have an amazing support system that will urge me to take vacations.

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?

I’m an Afro-Latinx freelance photographer, creative director and videographer based in Rhode Island. I strive to help empower any person or business by curating an unforgettable elevated experience. Over the years I have found true joy in the visual field specializing in kink friendly boudoir, creative portraits, product and personal branding. I started with sports photography but have been blessed to continue learning and expanding to offer a range of services based on what my client needs. All of which the public can find on my website if they are interested in working with me.

My special power is being able to bring ease to my clients that they forget the camera is even there within 5 minutes and helping them bring their vision to life even when they aren’t sure how they want to tell their story. I enjoy learning the ins and out about their story, product, company etc to present several options and creative direction.

Since I was a child I loved looking at things from all angles. I would take my mom’s disposable cameras and take photos of everything, my cat’s paws, light hitting a blade of grass, water dripping from the sink. I remember my mom being so confused getting these images back and wondering who was taking them. As a first generation Dominican American, my mother was not impressed at first.

When I turned 12, my sister got a digital camera for Christmas, I screamed and took it then never put it down. I knew then I wanted to do this for the rest of life, but at that time a photographer wasn’t considered a real career choice in my family. They expected a doctor, teacher, lawyer, more secure options. I almost didn’t go on to study photography but I remember my older sister, Diana asking me “Does photography make you happy? If it does, do what makes you happy. If anyone can do it you can.” She’s always been my number one supporter, believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. That always stuck with me.

And it’s what radiated in my mind consistently in 2019 when I left my corporate job and took the leap to pursue photography full time. I could no longer balance a 9-5 job and my passion. Deep down I knew if I wanted to pursue my dream it had to be now. It was a scary, overwhelming, thrilling moment, but I’ve never looked back. This time I even had the full support of my mother and family.

Now I was able to take on more incredible opportunities like teaching photography camp during the summer, yearbook and graduation portraits and even becoming co-owner of Studio Eleven26 in Rumford, RI.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the concept of comparing myself to others. When I first went freelance, I had a vision in my mind on how my path was supposed to go and consistently comparing my journey to others. Consumed with hitting specific numbers by a certain point or feeling like I was failing because my calendar wasn’t as full as theirs. I had to unlearn everything society and social media was telling me my life was supposed to look like by this age. My path is not going to look like others, because it’s mine, it’s what I make it.

I am everything in my business, photographer, editor, marketing department, customer service, creative director, studio manager, etc. Instead of looking at the day to day, I had to step back and look at the whole picture. I am now on my own path, my days can be what I want them to be. As long as I’m happy, I want to continue doing what I love the way I’d love to do it. Plus it’s so much more interesting to be able to exchange journey stories with others and for them not to be the same.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I believe the most rewarding aspect of my job is witnessing my clients photography journey. I love being a part of their story. Whether it’s bringing a businesses vision to life through a campaign, seeing the confidence build in my client after a boudoir session or watching families fall in love with their images.

So much of my life before going freelance I was just watching creative art happen around me but now I get to contribute to that art. I get to voice my story and help others tell theirs. There is true magic in meeting and connecting with all different types of people. Extra bonus to see my art out in the world as well!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.espycreativephoto.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/espycreativemedia
• Other: Google reviews : https://g.page/r/CRqDhDnzbA_3EAE/review

Image Credits

Makeup by Wicked Makeup Boston