We were lucky to catch up with Zara Rojas recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Zara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Being a teen mom my life has been nothing but taking many risks. Taking a risk is our first step on getting out of our comfort zone, and although I feel like I’m a pro at taking risks, i am human, and i do still get very nerve wrecked.
With me not having a degree or some sort of training in professional photography, I definetly felt insecure to put myself out there, esp with all the lovely competetions out here. With encouragin friends and my best friend of a partner, they helped me get out of my head and encouraged to get out here and do my thang! Friends who helped me start up whether it was financially or finding free items and even being my test subjects! I apprecite them all so much!
Going on 2 years now with this photo stuff I am able to look back and feel soo good that i took this risk, because now, it has completely became a new lifestyle for me. I have gotten to meet so many wonderful people, made a whole hell of alot of friends that i have been able to collab with and so on so forth. I dont plan on stopping any time soon!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
A little about lil ole Zara. I am a very much a free spirited woman, I am very open minded and I think this sentence alone defines who I am as a person. I am a very caring person, sometimes my appearance doesn’t seem so, but this is where we shall not judge a book by its cover right? I am very much a mama bear to ALL children, we have to protect those babies at all costs. Me knowing myself as a safe place for people is what I CAN bring to the table and that is where it sets me apart from my competitors. I let my clients know that i am always open to feedback and encourage we all work on honesty! You know how some people dont want to seem “mean” based off their own opinion? Yeah, no, i dont like that haha, be HONEST. For ex: what I personally may find beautiful in my client, they could completely feel the total opposite and I should NOT force them to see what I see, but more so work with what they’re looking for! I am also you’re #1 hype woman! I am all about empowerment whether that is man or woman i just love to spread love no matter how that looks.
My main goal is to most definetely be able to pause time for my client. For them to be able to go back and look at their photos and just be in awe about it, and in awe of their time spent with me, and in hopes I get a positive word of mouth going around.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Sharing! It literally costs nothing to share throughout these social media platforms! No judgement, no thinking one is better than the other. WE ARE ALL UNIQUE! Let us not forget that.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Ha! I had to UNLEARN my definition of what friends are. I know we all have been there done that. Dealing with messy people who you thought would be there to support you when infact it was majority animosity towards you. Friends is a huge subject for me, where I learned that just because I give out good does not mean i will get it back from the people i would send it to. Me starting this business has ended many long term friendships. BUT, it has led my door to be open for new ones to come in, and me having a new outlook on friendships nowadays and ya girl is feeling…how does Tony the tiger say?? GRREEAAATTT! 
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/zaramariephotography?igshid=ZDc4ODBmNjlmNQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZaraMariePhotography/