We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dinorah Schz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dinorah, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
My mind totally expanded when I started to understand the lessons life’s been teaching me. I realized that pressure makes you a master, and when you’re in a high-stress job surrounded by people who aren’t exactly the friendliest, that’s what shapes you into who you are today. Those inconvenient moments we tend to complain about are actually perfect for growing both as a person and a professional. That’s why I always try to find the positive side in situations like these. I stay aware of that and just take a moment to be grateful.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
What I love most about my job is being able to make money from my passion. Honestly, I feel so lucky, and every day it allows me to learn more. There’s not a day that goes by where I’m not learning something new, and then I always want to put it into practice. Sometimes I even get the chance to collaborate with models or brands, which I totally enjoy! Soon, I’ll be working with Qualitas for their Holiday’s celebration.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Never underestimate your work compared to someone else’s. The magic of every photographer is that each one perceives their reality in a unique way, reflecting it in their images. Don’t let fear trick you, sometimes you’ll come across arrogant people in the artistic world, but as I said, tough situations transform you into a better professional over time. Take what works for you and your craft. Trust your learning process, take courses, offer a photoshoot to someone, practice a lot, even with your phone. Sometimes the technical stuff isn’t that important; you can pick that up pretty easily. It’s all about the perception of each mind. It’s beautiful to see the results of your favorite photographers, but it’s even more rewarding to see your own work.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’m really into experimenting with lighting, and I’d love to team up with an artistic production crew for a conceptual project. Lately, I’ve been getting into editorial photography, and it’d be so cool to collab with people who are down to grow and learn with new creatives in their field. Hit me up on my Instagram for any collabs you’re thinking about, I’m totally down!!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phdinorahschz
Image Credits
Credits to Rene, Celeste, Luciana and Aylin as models.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
