We recently connected with Vanessa Miranda and have shared our conversation below.

Vanessa , 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?

I have found that success in business is a constant practice and conversation of balance:

• Put in the time to grind AND carve out moments for yourself to recharge.
• Celebrate the big wins AND find the success in everyday victories.
• Keep a humble mentality YET allow your confidence shine through.
• Never stop learning and evolving BUT remember to trust your art and expertise.
• Stay hungry for more AND be grateful for the present.
• Find inspiration in others WITHOUT the feeling of comparison.

Above all, I believe the most crucial part of success is surrounding yourself with people that inspire, motivate and are productive within their industry.  It is essential to find people who are uplifting, supportive and help to level you up. One of my favorite quotes says it best- “Iron sharpens iron.”

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 background and context?

My name is Vanessa Miranda and I am a Denver-based, free-lance photographer. Casey Van Horn (owner) and I are the two lead photographers and editors for Two One Photography, specializing in wedding and engagement photography. This company has won Best of Weddings with The Knot Magazine for nine years, Wedding Wire Couples Choice Awards for eight years and recently won Lux Life Magazine’s Global Wedding – Best High-End Photographer for 2018 & 2019 and Luxury Travel Guides Wedding Photographer of the Year. I am thrilled to be a part of this incredible company and proud to say that I was a part of the Knot, Best of Weddings Lux Life and The Travel Guide award, 2019-2022.

As I grew within wedding and engagement space, there was a natural expansion towards portrait photography. I was able to develop a secondary business purely through word of mouth and Vanessa Miranda Photography was born. VM Photography specializes in all things people, including; lifestyle, corporate, event, family, maternity, senior, etc. Where I really find my passion is the ability to collaborate with clients and bring their branding visions to life. Whether it is a brand-new company or a reinvention, I want to help my client find their authenticity and character behind the brand they’ve created.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

At the start of my 2021 season there were a series of events that changed my life forever, beginning with the unexpected loss of my father. My dad, Jerry, was my best friend. He taught me so much about life, business, and relationships and I was so incredibly lucky to have him for the time I did. After he passed, I felt like I was at a standstill. I quickly realized that life and work were still there and continuing to move on around me. But how do you move forward when everything else seems to have unraveled? Here is the thing- you aren’t supposed to have all the answers in that moment.

When the unimaginable was presented, I had to find the strength and resilience in the human spirit. The unwavering support of my family and friends was imperative, but I also realized it was up to me to find my way. Through a constant practice of moving forward, I began to find ways to adapt, accept and cope while continuing to live my life. Adversity can either be a wing or a weight you carry, and I try my best each day to choose the wing. Eventually it was not merely existing, but learning again to find joy.

We can’t always control the timing of things or life’s circumstances, but we can control how we respond and how we take on the burden in front of us. My dad was my biggest fan and he loved to hear about the strides I would make in business. In the toughest moments when motivation and spirit are low, I know, the best thing I can do to honor my dad is to keep the wheels turning, keep my momentum, create, and cultivate all the things he loved to see and hear about. Now, I live and work for both of us, as if he is along for the ride and cheering me on.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

So many times, I will meet with a new client and hear, “I am not a fan of taking photos, I am very awkward in front of the camera.” or “I have never liked a photo of myself.” My goal is to shakeup that feeling and allow them to find a new appreciation within the process by forming a trusting relationship. Through this connection I am able to learn about their story and provide a platform for the individual to feel seen, understood, and comfortable, thereby creating space for authenticity.  The art of photography then lies within the ability of the photographer to capture the feeling of a moment and immortalize it within a beautiful picture. There is nothing better than delivering the gallery to hear that it is better than they ever could have imagined. At that moment, I truly feel like I have done my job as an artist and as a creative.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TwoOnePhotography.com AND www.VanessaMirandaPhotography.com
• Instagram: @TwoOnePhotography AND @VanessaMirandaPhoto
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-miranda-77792245/

Image Credits
Two One Photography and Vanessa Miranda Photography