Meet Rafael Meneses

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rafael Meneses a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rafael, thank you so much for making time for us today. We can’t wait to dive into your story and the lessons you’ve learned along the way, but maybe we can start with something foundational to your success. How have you gone about developing your ability to communicate effectively?

By working with those seldom capable of communicating their own wants and needs.

I started my career in a practicum at Camillus House and Camillus Health Concern, where I provided therapy and ancillary support to homeless and low-income individuals. Many of them suffered from severe depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. Many were unable to hold competitive employment, let alone communicate their needs or navigate what many of us would call the “normal” day-to-day.

I was the voice for many of my patients; I had to learn their unique background, history, and everyday life to truly understand what they needed.

While I’m no longer in the field of mental health, my experiences taught me that effective communication only exists once you’ve developed a strong sense of empathy. When you truly understand the person you’re talking to, their wants, their needs, that’s when you learn how to communicate.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m well-established in the copywriting field and am now starting a side hustle in another field I love, photography!

While I have professional experience as a product photographer (my first successful business venture), I want to challenge myself with a completely different niche: portraits, events, and family photoshoots.

I’ve loved photography since I picked up my very first digital camera in high school. I always shot stills and nature as a hobby, but never portraits, parties, or people. It just never came naturally to me the way nature and product photography did.

After shooting a few events for friends and family, I’ve managed to slowly grow a clientele of people who love the bright, fun, and airy style of my photography.

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?

Persistence, open-mindedness, and communication.

When I initially started as a product photographer, I sent A LOT of cold messages out to clients. And I also got a lot of “No” responses. It wasn’t until I got my first client after months of trying that things picked up from there.

During that time, I got a lot of tremendous feedback. Some clients loved my work. Others didn’t. Sometimes I tried to put my own spin on their revisions, and those pictures almost always failed. I learned to listen closely to what my clients asked for. Despite the opportunity for creativity in the field, clients often know exactly what they want when they’re looking for a photographer.

That’s where the communication bit comes in. When I first started, I had no idea what I was doing (Imposter Syndrome is real). I sort of just told clients I’d take care of things, and the pictures rarely met the expectations they had. It wasn’t until I started intentionally speaking with and listening to my clients that I figured out that I needed to step into their shoes to see the vision they saw for the project.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

I love it when clients are equally excited about a shoot as I am. They’re more likely to tell me exactly what they’re after, which makes the shoot proceed and conclude successfully.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: rafaelmphoto

Image Credits

Rafael Meneses (Rafael M Photo)