We recently connected with David Cruz and have shared our conversation below.
David, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.
I’m a product of the second largest public school district in the nation, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). And all throughout high school, the idea of success hinging with attending college was heavily pushed, and I disagree with that idea.
Because one, not every student is cut out for higher education and two, just look at the modern workforce. Who’s making bank right now? UPS drivers, OF models, YouTubers and TikTokers.
And it’s why I believe some focus should shift towards emphasizing practical skills, recognizing that not everyone excels in traditional academics. Since it’s the practical skills that get you through life after all.
Think about it, how often do you interact with anyone with advanced degrees compared to those in a skilled trade? When there’s a water leak, a malfunctioning alternator, a flat tire, need an Uber ride, or planning a wedding, who do you call? Certainly not someone with a Master’s in Quantum Physics.
If it were up to me, I would replace subjects like chemistry, trigonometry and physical education with a two-year life skills course. To equip students with the essentials of tax filing, maintaining good credit, opening a checking account, excelling in job interviews, counting cash, and negotiating fair pay.
As well as a final project applying what students learned through two years of community service and sharing their experiences with the class as a graduation requirement. Because sadly, the days of woodshop, mechanics, gardening, and cooking classes are long gone.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m David Cruz (The Drunk Wedding Photographer), politically incorrect Oaxaca native and self-proclaimed Mezcal & street food connoisseur named the best film wedding photographer in Los Angeles by my Meemaw. I eat with my hands, despise wearing shoes and prefer to drink in the morning, like the old timers in Mexico.
And believe it or not I’m a photographer because in 2003 I read an article in Men’s Health saying a photographer was the number one sexiest job. I was in 10th grade living in South-Central L.A. at the time.
After high school, I worked for a handful of camera shops, moved to East L.A. to work in the fashion industry in Downtown L.A., and went to East Los Angeles College (ELAC) full time around 2017 after a work-related accident. And though I have been a film photographer forever, only recently did I focus on film wedding photography full-time.
Because being a film wedding photographer isn’t just about aesthetics alone; it’s a hands-on, practical trade because film must be printed. Giving clients something tangible to hold in their hands years after the wedding day.
And it’s why I believe the future is hand made.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I’m the last person to be give advice on building anything, let alone building an audience on social media.
However, my current Instagram audience was cultivated over a span of ten years while anchored in East L.A., with a significant boost during my four years at ELAC. And it wasn’t anything fancy either. I would simply upload daily Instagram stories, sharing whatever was on my mind that day, whether it was about the street vendor I was hitting up or photo department antics with classmates.
Now, when it comes to the future of social media, we all know it’s video. For a while, I’ve contemplated with video because that is THE way to build an audience today. However, there’s a clear distinction between building a following and building a client base.
These days, if you’re looking to build a client base and attract people who are actively seeking your services, Search Engine Optimization is the name of the game. This is where I’ve shifted the majority of my focus—good old-fashioned blogging. Don’t get me wrong; having fans and followers on social media is great, but ultimately, you want clients, not friends.
My advice for those building a social media presence is this: if you want to attract clients, invest time in SEO. Create content that resonates with your target audience and help them find you when they search for the services and expertise you provide.
Building a following is one thing, but building a client base is where the real value lies in today’s digital landscape.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I was just talking to a friend who commutes by train. She’s an author with a new book out, haven’t had a chance to read it yet. And it made me nostalgic for the train rides I’d take to work when I lived in East L.A., which used to give me about three hours of reading daily throughout the work week.
And it’s not that I don’t have time to read now a days, it’s just that I found reading during commutes to be the best time to dive into a book.
Now, about the books that have shaped my business approach, three stand out: “Film is Not Dead” by Jonathan Canlas, “Own It!” by Tabatha Coffey, and “Feck Perfuction” by Victore, along with several self-help books that have provided valuable insights along the way.
Each of these books, in their own way, have reinforced the idea of doing things on my terms. Sounds assertive I know, but when you’re dealing with demanding clients day in and day out, maintaining your own path becomes essential.
Otherwise, you’ll quickly burn out, and nobody wants to be flattened by a metaphorical road roller like in Roger Rabbit.
We’ll leave it at that.
And if you like to keep up with what I’m doing or planning a wedding in the near future, hit me up on the socials linked below.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thedrunkweddingphotographer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedrunkweddingphotographer/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedrunkweddingphotographer