We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Saldivar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.

Alright, Stephanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

It all started with an introduction to photography class during my freshman year of high school, where I learned the basics and history of film photography. This opened the door to my creative passion, and from there, I have sought opportunities to expand my creativity through self-taught techniques. As a teenager, I had big dreams of becoming a full-time photographer; however, I was unaware and misguided of how to turn my dreams into reality. The only to have “sped up” my learning process was to eliminate self-doubt and steer clear of the “safe path.” On the contrary, my life choices have taught me valuable lessons that I would have never been able to redirect into my craft had I not overcome my obstacles. My challenges and victories have shone light on my willingness to believe in myself and my work and pushed me to learn more about how to turn my craft into a business.

Stephanie, 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?

My mission as an artist is to explore ways of reconnecting with our space in the natural world. I believe many would agree we have become far too disconnected and distracted from what brings us peace. As people experience my art, my goal is for every soul to be captivated by the juxtaposition of power and beauty within Mother Nature as they explore their relationship with the outdoors. Behind my art, I share my personal experiences through written stories and visual insights, hoping to showcase the importance of living life outside and demonstrate anyone is capable of submersing themselves into nature. I am filled with pride when told my work brings peace and wonder to the viewer. Equally, I burst with excitement when asked how I manage to experience the areas I visit. The very question illustrates just how imperative our relationship with Mother Nature is to our mental and emotional hardwiring.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Most importantly, I had to learn that success is not a linear path. Rather, progress is a series of ups and downs as we navigate what works best for us. At one point in our society, following a paved path would guarantee a decent living for a group of people. This regiment always confined me to something that depleted my energy, but for too long, I toggled between playing it safe and going for what I loved to do. That constant “maybe I won’t make it” voice stuck with me and often kept me from jumping on one side of the fence. I had the epiphany that if I kept following that doubt, I’d forever remain stagnant. The scariest thing I’ve ever done is bet on myself, but it has freed me to become creative in other ways that make me think, “I can most certainly do this because I AM doing this.”

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I often hear I’m “all over the place,” but to grow big, one must think big. This requires creativity that doesn’t always translate to art. Whether looking to make a lot of money in the stock market or have your art seen by millions, you have to calculate what risks are worth taking. I’m willing to try what I believe will work best for my art, brand, and business until I can find my version of success–that might look very different six months from what I’m doing today, but the work and mission will remain the same. I’m still committed to what I want to achieve. However, I am willing to try different routes to get where I want.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stephaniesaldivar.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie.e.saldivar
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniesaldivarphoto
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/stephsaldivar
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@stephanie_saldivar