Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to TERRELL LOPEZ. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
TERRELL, appreciate you joining 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?
When it comes to learning my craft I am proud to say that I am a self-taught photographer, as I started with nothing but my desire to learn and a passion for the art. I made the initial decision to purchase my first camera and from there I turned to YouTube as my source of education, as I learned how to use my camera and embrace the fundamentals of photography. This format of learning allowed me to grow at my own pace, as I enjoyed studying the complexity of my craft. While learning anything new can be challenging, the one thing that I set my success on is consistent practice. Practice is what allowed me to become a better photographer, as it gave me the opportunity to execute my learnings, discover my angles, explore locations, shoot in various conditions, create my style, edit with confidence, instruct others and most importantly find my voice. Photography is not something you can conquer, it is an art form in which you can continue to evolve, be inspired and create. The most important skills you should have in this field are communication, vision and passion. These are the three components that drive me in what I do and because of that nothing stopped me from exceeding my craft. I feel the only thing that can stop you are the limitations you place on yourself and your drive to want to learn.
TERRELL, 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?
I am a photographer located in New York, NY and I am owner and operator of T.Lopez Photography. I offer portrait and events services to suit my client’s needs for every occasion. When it comes to portraits I do headshots, maternity, family, birthday, and fashion. When it comes to events, I offer solid event coverage to ensure I capture the moments you will cherish for a lifetime. I got into photography after being inspired by various images on social media. This gave me the idea to see if photography was something I could do, as I always enjoyed taking pictures but nothing further than a cheap digital camera. I decided to jump headfirst into this journey as I started with the purchase of my first camera, a Nikon D3400. I turn to youtube as a way to educate myself on the fundamentals of photography. I was excited to learn and even more eager to practice and develop my skills. I started shooting family and friends to gain the experience and confidence I needed to strengthen my progress. From there I started to use social media as a way to reach out to potential models I could work with; specifically Instagram. Upon reaching out to models, I pitched an opportunity for collaboration where I was not seeking payment, but a chance to work and provide free images. It was during these shoots that I was able to continue my passion for photography as I found my footing in my shooting style, my communication with my models, my adaption of flash, my understanding of composition, my eye for locations and most importantly the confidence I was given. I was not one to hide my work as I posted shots from all of my shoots and I could clearly see the progress that I have made, progress that has not gone unnoticed as I started receiving inquiries about my services and packages offered, it was at this point I appreciated that I was able to produce work that people loved and wanted to be apart of.
My brand is about the passion I have for my craft and wanting to share it with the clients I produce with. That is what sets me apart from others as it is not just about the money, I care about the work I create and want to ensure that my clients are happy with the product. I am very vocal when it comes to my client’s needs and the creative process, I ask many questions in regards to their goals for the shoot. What is the vision are they trying to accomplish? What wardrobe are they looking to wear? What location falls in line with their theme? How will these images be used? These are questions that better help me understand my client’s needs and what I can contribute to creating their art.
I am most proud of the journey that it took for me to get here, as photography was never my dream, I did not go to school for it and never even thought of it as a career. I started simply out of curiosity and a drive to learn. I put in the hours to educate myself, the determination to practice and the passion to fall in love with the art. I honestly can say that I never thought anyone would pay me for photography, turn to me as someone to capture their moments, ensure they are beautiful and trust me with their image. I am proud that I can say that what I achieved is completely attainable as it came from hard work and consistency. I only hope that my story can be used to inspire others to be open to learning something new as you can discover what you are made of.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Social Media is one of the main components to how I have become successful in my photography business. Most of my inquiries and opportunities come from my Instagram, as people see my work and then DM me with open dialogue to collaborate. Building my presence on social media has been done through a level of consistency that I follow everyday. The first of those steps would be to post your work as often as you can. This is important as you have to stay fresh in people’s minds and a constant presence on their timelines. I know so many photographers that shoot and never post their work, you will never be seen if you do not put yourself out there. The second step would be to ensure that credit is given, as you tag the model, the makeup artist, the designer or anyone else that is involved in the production of your shoot. I am a firm believer that credit goes a long way, as others will tag you and ensure your work is seen on other pages. The third and final step is the hardest to follow and it is to have patience; we all want overnight success but the truth of the matter is that it is slow burn. Sometimes you may not get the followers, likes and comments right away, but the goal is to remain consistent and believe in your work and the rest will follow.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Aside from the amazing images I know I am able to produce, I feel the best compliment I’ve been given is that I am very easy to work with. My biggest strength is personality as I offer a safe and comfortable environment to conduct my business of photographing my clients. I understand that everyone has a different personality so it is hard to imitate something that you are not, however even though I am very serious about my work, I don’t believe that the actual process has to be. I am vocal with my clients, open to their ideas and I like to add humor and words of encouragement during my sessions. These actions for me tend to lighten the tension and brightings the atmosphere in the room to conduct a fun and engaging shoot. I live by the idea that a client will remember how you made them feel and that is what keeps them coming back.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tlopezphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tlopezphotography1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlopezphotography1
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tlopezphoto