We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Quintanilla. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.
David, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
That’s an excellent question and one that I think every creative person has dealt with. (Often more than once!) There is a common misconception that inspiration is similar strikes without warning, bestowing the lucky recipient with an incredible idea. I’ve learned that is has much more incoming with any skill: it requires perseverance and dedication. Reps are everything, and so I am always working at being creative. There are days where I have zero imagination, so I’ll edit a photo or put together a short video simply to keep my skills up. I would love to tell you that those days yield my most rewarding work.
They don’t.
More often than not, what I produce during those times is fine. Not great, not horrible. Just aggressively fine. But what it does do is plant the seed for something creative down the line. As I study why the project is fine, I learn what I can do to enhance and thus, it sparks idea for something I want try. And if I throw all those little ideas from the days when I don’t feel creative…well, that’s how you get a stew going.
In my view, it’s similar to what Seneca, the Roman philosopher, said about luck, although I’ll swap “luck” for “creativity”, “[Creativity] is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” By continuously working at being creative, I am constantly ready for inspiration. And when those two meet, magic happens.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
This year marked a major milestone in my journey as I launched a website to house my photography. The website, qspics.com, had been a goal of mine for quite a while. I wanted a repository, that I owned, to showcase my work. In addition, I had often been asked if my prints were available and I wanted to have a spot where I could offer them to anyone who was interested. I spent time really developing what I wanted to be available on the site and in the shop, and I am proud of the work that I offer. And the response has been incredible! I still remember sitting in my office, receiving the email that someone purchased a photo within minutes of launching of my site. I have always jokingly referred to the people that have supported my work as my “Q-mmunity.” However, it was in that moment, I truly felt like there was a genuine group of people who not only supported me but enjoyed my work enough to purchase it. It is still humbling to know that my work is hanging in people’s homes.
All this to say that qspics.com is a continuously growing and evolving website. I am slowly building a newsletter following and have some new products that will be available in the shop in the near future. The launch of this site is just the beginning. However, the most special aspect of it is that it is built from the relationships I have developed. This isn’t just accomplished by me; it’s a true Q-mmunity project.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Storytelling is important to me. My goal in either my short films or in my photography is take the viewer on a journey and encourage them to engage emotionally with the piece. While the technical components of a photo or video are valuable, they are secondary to ensuring that each photo and video stands on its as a unique expression of my point of view. In the travel space, especially at theme parks, that can be difficult as the locations and subjects have been photographed dozens of times. That is where I try to bring my own voice and perspective, so the viewer feels a connection to me as well as the subject. It’s that connection that has brought me success. As I ‘ve mentioned before, we are truly a community. We share, discuss and enjoy each others company…virtually.
As an introvert, it wasn’t easy to be that vulnerable or transparent. Because most of the engagement occurs in the digital space, as opposed to in person, you never truly know how someone is reacting to a photo or video. I simply share what I create with the world in the hopes that it will be received well. Thankfully, the vast majority of my interactions have been positive and have encouraged me to continue to grow. There are plenty of joyful, positive people out there and if that is the energy you put out, they will find you.
Ultimately, if there is one thing that anyone was to take away from my story, it is that your level of effort will be rewarded. I strive to ensure that if a person takes the time to engage with a photo or video of mine, their time is not wasted. I appreciate and value the minutes they spend with it, and my hope is that it provides something of value to life, whether it be a new perspective, a good chuckle, or simply a smile to help them through their day.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Being overwhelmed is something that I have had to deal with more often that I would like or care to admit. I have a tendency to want to “do it all,” and thus, I end up staring at a completely (and often overly full) to-do list. The first step to combating being overwhelmed is to, well, stay whelmed. In all seriousness, keeping good boundaries is essential. Only you know how much you are capable of, and by being true to yourself, you can avoid overcommitting. Having the ability to say no is and essential and, in case no one has ever said this to, it is okay! Protecting your time and energy is actually helpful to others in addition to yourself. After all, the person asking would be better off having their request fulfilled by someone who is able to give it their all, rather than at reduced capacity.
However, even those with fantastic boundaries are not immune from being overwhelmed. The biggest piece of advice would be to never assume a task or project has to be completed all at once. Incremental progress is incredibly valuable! Identify what you can accomplish and slowly move your way forward. You would be surprised at how quickly you are able to knock out those “to-dos” if you work on one thing at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: qspics.com
- Instagram: @qs_trips
