Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Travis Esposito. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Travis, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Yes, I now do what I love full-time and make a living from it which is always the goal when you pursue your passion, but it comes with a lot of hard work and determination. Three and a half years ago is when I decided to turn my passion for photography into a business. I was working full time back then and any spare minute I had I dedicated to learning everything there was to know about my camera and the art of photography. I spent the first six months going out in every weather condition and just taking landscape pictures and eventually selling a handful. I then created my very own Facebook business page where I could showcase my work.

After building up a little bit of a portfolio and showing people I could not only take great pictures but that I was serious about taking this to a more professional level I decided to charge for my very first shoot, I offered an hour Christmas session for $60 and got one person to sign up with their child. That was my first paid client in December of 2020 and then things snowballed from there (pun intended). I slowly started getting more bookings and then created an official website where I listed all my pricing and created a nice portfolio. After I booked my first wedding there was no looking back. I went down to part time at my job for a year before finally saying goodbye and taking this head on. You will go through some rough spots…times where you may think about giving up but I urge you to keep moving forward. There were a few months in the beginning where I wasn’t getting a lot of traffic and thought “well..i peaked” but then that very next day i booked four weddings. Just stay focused, don’t get discouraged and believe that it will all work out.

I have now done over 400 sessions and roughly 50 weddings. In year 3 1/2 i’m currently booked 6 months out. There is no secret to this other than giving it everything you have, believing it’s possible and taking risks. Finally leaving my comfy job last year to take this on full time was scary. I’m a husband and father of four girls…could I still provide for them? Is this the right move? So many questions ran through my head but I just took the jump and it proved to be the best decision of my life. Doing what I love on my own terms, spending more time with my family and still providing for them is so rewarding. Just go for it.

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.

My name is Travis Lee Esposito and i’m the owner and lead photographer of Travis Lee Photography. My Wife is my second photographer (Jennifer Esposito) when I do my larger weddings and helps me stay organized when things get a little crazy. She is in the process of getting her Wedding Planning License as well and starting her own sister company called LUXE Weddings and Events.

Travis Lee Photography mainly focuses on Wedding, Family, Maternity, Event and Band Photography. As a team we are unique in that when we are hired to do any job you’ll get much more than just photos. We build lifelong friendships with our clients and go the extra mile on every job we do. Our clients are alway number one and we make sure we exceed all their needs and expectations.

I think I’m most proud of taking an idea, putting in the work and making it a reality. There is a great quote about entrepreneurs that says “Entrepreneurs are willing to work 80 hours a week to avoid working 40 hours a week.” by Faruk Deveci, and there’s a lot of truth to that but it’s so worth it. I urge anyone at any age to just go for it…if you love something and you put in the work you will be a successful.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Life has not been easy..matter of fact it’s been quite difficult. I’ve had many obstacles, tragedies and hurdles to overcome ( like most people). Two things are gonna happen..one is it breaks you and you blame the world for your “tough life” OR you get stronger and take some responsibility for where your life is at and make the changes necessary to set yourself up for success. You will have to make some tough choices and most likely cut out some toxic habits people in your life. Pro-tip…Surround yourself with the people you aspire to be.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The amount of free information on the internet about any endeavour you may be perusing is unbelievable. People always ask if I took any schooling and I always say ” YouTube University” I spent and still spend so much time learning about my craft on their as possible. Also, befriend people in your field. Collaborate with them and build relationships. I’m friends with many of the great photographers in my area..we all have a bit of healthy competition but in the end we all support each other and want to see one another succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.travisleephoto.com
• Instagram: travis_lee_photography
• Facebook: travisleephotography85

Image Credits
Travis Lee Photography owns all the rights to the photos uploaded.