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

Victoria, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Hey, there! Thank you so much for having me. I am completely self-taught. Everything I’ve learned about photography has simply been through experimentation and plenty of trial-and-error moments. For me, learning through experimentation is what made the entire process of learning photography just so incredibly fun. I believe that when you learn a new skill out of wonder and curiosity and you allow yourself the space where you can just play (without pressure) is where a lot of growth and learning happens. While I’ve never taken a formal class on how to learn photography, I did take a class on how to develop black and white film in college and this extremely deepened my love for photography as a whole.

Knowing what I know now, I could have sped up my learning process by taking a formal course on photography or having some kind of mentor, but I never felt a push to go that path. Essential skills would be understanding how aperture, ISO, shutter speed, composition, and lighting all work together to create an image.

Victoria, 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?

I discovered my love for photography at such a young age. I was only five years old when I came across my grandfather’s Polaroid 600 camera and started snapping away. The instant gratification that Polaroids gave my five year old self immediately drew me in to photography as a whole and it’s been that way ever since. I spent the majority of my youth photographing with many different kinds of cameras (film and digital) and documented anything and everything my eyes could see. Photography has just always been a part of who I am and has always felt very innate to my core.

I first got into the wedding industry when I was a senior in high school. I had a friend who was getting married and because she loved the way I photographed people, she hired me as her wedding photographer. I was beyond nervous as I felt a huge amount of pressure to “get it right” but simultaneously, I LOVED the energy and the adrenaline rush that came with the day. I loved knowing that I was capturing moments that could be relived over and over again. That felt extremely special to me!

Besides wedding day coverage, I also offer engagement sessions, bridal sessions, rehearsal dinner coverage, fine art heirloom albums, and of course a bespoke client experience for all of my couples.

A lot of couples tell me that they feel anxious and/or nervous to be in front of the camera. I completely get it (ironically, I’m not exempt from this!) so my job is to make them feel as comfortable as possible. I offer engagement sessions not only because those photos capture the fleeting time that a couple is engaged, but also because it is essentially a trial-run of how it will feel like on the wedding day. This is where couples get to see how I photograph, use light, and direct and pose but with MUCH less pressure so that they can start feeling comfortable in front of the camera. I find that couples who book an engagement session are so much more relaxed on the wedding day because they already know how I work and what to expect! Along with feeling anxious/ nervous in front of the camera, couples also just want to be super present in the moment. When couples book with Victoria Trevino Photography, they are allowed that since my team is covering all key moments along with the fleeting, in-between moments as well.

A moment I’m really proud of is some of my personal photography being exhibited in a London art museum called The Print Space in 2014. I had impulsively entered a photography contest named “Life Framer” where the judges were looking for photos that captured the essence of “An Instant” moment. Whoever won would have their image displayed at The Print Space in London, England. On a whim, I submitted a couple of my photos and one of my images ended up winning first place. It felt absolutely beyond surreal. Because the contest was based in London and I am based in Texas, we’re obviously in a different timezone. I remember staying up until about one or two in the morning (which was when they were announcing the winner of the competition) and I’ll never forget refreshing their website and seeing my winning image displayed with my name below. I immediately woke up my mom from sleep (sorry, mom!) and blurted out how my image had won. Next thing we knew, we were looking into booking a flight to London so we could see my image displayed in person and the rest is history! That entire trip felt like a dream and is, to this day, one of my absolute favorite core memories.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Yes! Influence: The Psychology Of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini, Selling Luxury by Genevieve Tour and Robin Lent, and The Paradox of Choice – Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz are all books that I’ve found to be incredibly insightful and would recommend to business owners.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that the work I create lasts an eternity. The photographs I capture allow my couples to be reminded of the time they felt the most alive, in love, and full of unbridled joy. I get to transport my couples to their absolute favorite memories through the medium of photography and I think that is incredibly special and fulfilling as an artist. There is nothing better than when a couple vibes with my style & artistic vision, sees themselves in my work, and chooses me to be the person who captures their most heartfelt moments on their wedding day. ”Meraki” is the Greek word to describe the magic of leaving part of yourself in the work you share with the world. And to this day, I haven’t found a better word to describe my approach to wedding photography. I tell my couple’s stories with integrity, capture their love with soul, and create heirloom-worthy imagery that will stand the test of time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.victoriatrevinophotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriatrevinophotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriatrevinophotography

Image Credits
Victoria Trevino Photography