We were lucky to catch up with Hugo Montoya recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hugo, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I’ve always struggled with imposter syndrome whenever I have a job the voices in my head telling me that “that I’m underqualified or “the client is not going to like my work” always gives me anxiety. In order to overcome this I just have to ignore those voices and build up the confidence to tell myself that everything will come out great. And if something goes wrong it’s okay and I’ll use it as learning experience.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve been interested in the world of photography ever since I was a kid. I became a photographer when I decided I wasn’t passionate about my major anymore and wanted to do something that I really cared about. So pretty much I had to start over but I didn’t care because I was studying something that I had a passion for. Now my life revolves around photography my main job is taking photos and digitizing artwork while my side gig is a freelance photographer under my own brand Shiba House Studio that I’m proud and hoping that through out time it will expand to something bigger. I started of only wanting to shoot product photography because I was too much of an introvert to work with people but what’s funny is that I was only getting booked for headshots and portraits which help combat my introvertness and now I somehow I got into shooting dogs and their owners which I ended up loving and still doing now.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The ability to say no: Sometimes you have to say no because if you don’t unfortunately people will take advantage of you and will take a great toll onto your mental health. You have to listen your gut if it doesn’t feel right don’t don’t be afraid to say no.
Embrace your mistakes: You will fail but you will learn to how to get back up. The greatest teacher is experience.
Be patient: You won’t always get what you want right away and you will start doubting. But you have to be optimistic all the time and be positive because things happen for a reason and your time will come.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
One of my goals is to photograph around the world. But since I’m a DACA recipient it’s complicated to travel which sets limits to my photography. But not losing hope and one day I will be able to.
Contact Info:
- Website: shibahousestudio.com
- Instagram: hmontoya.photography
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/hugo-montoya-2b05a31b2
