Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kenneth Ortiz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kenneth, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I originally started photography as a coping mechanism primarily focused on Street photography. After a few years I found myself wanting more out of my work and my community. I felt it was important that people receive the proper representation while working in a comfortable and safe environment. Primarily most of my clients are all from the LGBTQ community and POC. I feel like I found my real purpose during the George Floyd protest after being named one of the top 300 Photographers to follow, and one of the top 40 list as well.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Kenneth Ortiz and I’m a born and raised NYC photographer. I’ve been doing photography for around 17+ years now. Initially I started photography as a way of expressing myself and coping with things I was going through as a teenager. Eventually, I found myself loving the art form, and it became second nature to me. What I love most about what I do is connecting with the clients to help them experience growth, with whatever it is that they’re trying to pursue. Whether it’s for personal satisfaction or growing their business I love to see the excitement they have when they see the work that was produced. There’s a sense of pride that comes with providing a service that helps people achieve their goals.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As creatives we are our own worst enemy. There are various things as creatives that we need to focus on. Intent behind the work that you put out is something worth having. It’ll help deter certain stresses and help maintain focus on passion projects. Growth in any situation is vital. As you find yourself diving further into the things you’re interested in it’s important to find yourself taking risk and really putting your ideas out there. Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is one of the best ways to experience growth. With growth comes patience. Sometimes we forget that it takes time for things to really come into fruition. So with that I think the most important thing I can leave you with is to never give up. No amount of failure is going to keep you from experiencing that one win you need to turn things around.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
R & R is super important in any overwhelming situation. Wether it be your physical health or mental health, in moments like these it’s vital to take a step back and collect one self. Just because you’re resting it doesn’t mean you’re not achieving something. They’re are results in relaxation.
Contact Info:
- Website: Kennethortizphotography.com
- Instagram: @Kopshotthekid
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-ortiz-022776238
- Twitter: @Kopshotthekid
