Meet Palma Caruso

We were lucky to catch up with Palma Caruso recently and have shared our conversation below.

Palma, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Confidence and Self esteem are something that i overcome alot, but at the same time is something that will always be a hurdle. As a photographer in the new modern world, there is always room to learn, grow and expand. Photography is not only art, but with social media, it can be criticized easily. Everyone has a different style of not only how/what they photograph but how they edit as well. When i am talking to potential clients i encourage them to view my portfolio to make sure that they are in love with MY style. If not, there will be another photographer out there for them. If a client hires a dark/moody photographer, and asks them to edit the photos light and airy, then they were not the correct photographer for you. Its best to like the work from the start before proceeding to work with that photographer. Because of this, there is always critics that people may give. Even if they are just a viewer on the other end of the computer. Its best to hear from what they have to say, but most importantly listen to my heart on how i choose my art to be. I can hear all day long what other photographers say about my photos, and i might learn something i didn’t previously. Ive learned that the most important thing is being who i truly am, and capturing how i see my own art. To me, that helps me remember my confidence in my work, and to carry that for future sessions.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a photographer in the Telluride Colorado area. I started out wanting to focus on weddings alone, but over the past few years, i am more open to photographing more moments such as family, engagements and much more. My first wedding shoot was when i was 16 years old. I have always been amazed with photography and capturing the special moments. I didn’t start my career out in photography specifically at first. It was something more of a hobby. I had many different jobs from serving at restaurants, to working as management in a coffee shop and even working at the Walt Disney Company, I have a really strong motivation for working as well as learning new careers. I think there is alot of value on knowing how many jobs works and have perspective on it when out in the world. To make a long story very short, i had been let go for the first time ever in my life, from a job that i loved very deeply. It was a job i had been at for the longest amount of time i can think of but with new ownership, there is always change. When that happend i was below myself. I felt crushed, defeated and unwanted, especially being from a small town. I told myself i would take a month off to focus on myself before going back out in the working world. Alot of jobs had actually reached out about hearing of my release, and were wanting me to join their team immediately. I knew i would be welcomed anywhere, so i will take the time off for myself. I had many long talks with my husband about what my future looked like, and he gave me the best advice. He told me that maybe its time for me to make one of my hobbies a career. I thought it was a crazy idea, but i was up for a challenge. I decided to invest in some updated photography gear and start. I started by taking street photographs and focusing on my editing, my style and deciding what i wanted to have as a main focus. The day my equipment arrived, i saw a post from a local photographer who was looking for some help with lighting during her sessions. I figured “why not”. I reached out and started to make my connections with other people around me who were successful in the photography. world. It was like a sign that i needed, I started working as a second photographer for her, learning, watching and even just enjoying watching someone else enjoy the passion they have for the little moments. Since then i have expanded and starting pushing myself to become more solo. With the skills i had learned from many other jobs, i knew how to start managing my own business as well as social media and building a website all by myself. It has taken some time but i am now steady in gigs and creating moments for others for years to come. I am a Telluride Colorado photographer who specializes in engagements, weddings, family and even more. I am always taking on new tasks, new adventures and saying yes to new types of subjects. My goal is to capture the real YOU moments, The moments that aren’t posed, but reflect who you really are with the ones you love the most. We are all our biggest critics when it comes to getting a photo taken of us. Its my job to make you feel comfortable and show you how beautiful and amazing you are, I am currently taking inquires for the 2024/2025 calendar year and will be opening up 2026 calendar very soon! I believe in capturing those big moments in your life. They fly by too quickly and it is always a great reminder when you can look back at those moments and be transported. Not only am i capturing the YOU moments, i also add a cinematic flare to my photos, I believe that everyone has a story, and no ones story is ever the same.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

To me, the top three things to begin your journey of a business or hobby is confidence, passion and persistence. Only you can succeed or fail. You will never know if you never tried. The only thing stopping you from being successful is yourself. Have the confidence to say yes or no to an opportunity. Not all opportunities will stand by your values, so dont do it if its not true to yourself. If you have a passion for something, let it grow. Choose to learn and expand your passion as well as challenging yourself to be better. If you feel like there is nothing left to learn, then there is no reason to create anything more worth sharing. Be persistent. If you fail, get back up. Dont just stop because you hit a roadblock. Theres always another detour. If you are early in your journey and are struggling with these three things, ask for help. Join a facebook group of others that have the same passion for you. Talk to your partner. Sometimes asking for help is the push we need from others to remind us of how unique and skilled we are, and can be.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

I enjoy capturing many different stories. An ideal client for me would be someone who is passionate about having the moments captured for them in the same way i do. That having the feeling of reliving a moment by looking at a photograph, transport you back intime. I have had people reach out for many different types of memories, One of my fondest memory shoots was a wedding i did a while back. The couple had an old photograph of when one of their parents got married (on the same property they were). They asked if i would be able to recreate that moment but with them instead, Now, i wont share the photograph online for privacy reasons, but to explain it is another story. The photograph they wanted replicated was of their parents newly married, standing naked infront of a gorgeous tree, covering themselves with their bouquets . Not only were they comfortable with the challenge, but their passion to start a tradition that told a story through photographs is why i love what i do. I photographed the entire wedding in my style, but for that one moment, i recreated the coloring, cropping and feeling just like the photograph they had shown me. It is one of my most proudest photos, but one i keep near and dear to my heart. It was one of my first big challenges that pushed me to continue to grow.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Palma Caruso Photography

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