We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Victoria Silva a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Victoria , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Growing up, I never had much of an idea as to what I wanted to be when I was older. My family consists of lawyers and teachers, my friends wanted to be dentists and veterinarians. As I got older it felt as though the pressure to determine my dream job increased. When making the decision of what I wanted to study in college, I took some time to reflect and thought about what I really enjoyed doing. My favorite thing to do has always been to take pictures. Whether it is of my friends and family, beautiful sunsets and landscapes, animals out in the park, I have always enjoyed life so much more with a camera in my hands. It’s easy for creative minds to believe that a career in the arts is not practical. However, this misconception can be overruled with hard work and determination. I’ve done online photography classes, internships, college business classes, and the idea that I could turn my passion into a career became a reality.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My focus is mostly on wedding photography. I love capturing such important moments in people’s lives, and helping to turn their vision into a reality. I also love photographing children, families, engagements, and other events. The thing that makes me most excited about this kind of photography is that I am not just taking pictures. I am savoring memories for people to look at timelessly.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Strong Work Ethic: in a creative career, consistency is key. Even at those low points where I am not feeling creative or inspired, it is important to put in work in other aspects of my business, such as social media marketing, advertising photoshoots, improving my website, etc.
2. Open Minded: As a creator, it is important to be open minded. When working with a variety of clients, it is crucial that you understand their vision and how you can create that for them. While it is great to have your own personal style of shooting and editing, it is also important to recognize how much the technology is advancing, what people expect from their photographers, and how you can prove that you are the best in the industry by always improving with every step you take.
3. Fun: As cheesy as this is – if you love what you do you never work a day in your life. Photography is a passion but making a business out of it is hard work. There are days where I wonder if I should find a 9-5 or get a part time job. It is important that throughout all of the work you put in, you find time to remind yourself of how fun your job can be, and how happy it makes you.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
There are a lot of challenges to overcome in this industry. However one of the main ones I have been enduring is my age. People often assume, when they see how young I am, that I am inexperienced. I will never forget the comment said to me by the bride at my first wedding: “I had low expectations, given your age, but you handled organizing people for photos like a badass.”
These are the kinds of things that help you overcome obstacles in the Photography world. Reviews from satisfied clients, referrals to their friends. Word of mouth is the best way to put yourself out there and grow your clientele.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.victoriasilvaphotography.com
- Instagram: victoriasilvaphoto
- Facebook: victoriasilvaphoto
Image Credits
Victoria Silva Photography
