We were lucky to catch up with Manny Herrera recently and have shared our conversation below.
Manny, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience has been a constant theme in my life, shaped by my time in the military, my years as a teacher, and the obstacles I’ve faced along the way. The military taught me discipline and perseverance; how to keep pushing forward even when every muscle in my body told me to stop. But more than anything, my resilience comes from my brother. He was my role model, my biggest inspiration, and the person who always pushed me to be better.
Life hasn’t always been easy, hell it still isn’t, but I’ve learned to harness that chip on my shoulder and turn it into fuel. I don’t shy away from hard work, and I don’t stop when things get tough. I bring that same determination to all I do, because when you’re passionate about something, you don’t just endure challenges, you overcome them.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a wedding photographer, but what I really do is capture memories that couples will hold onto for a lifetime. Anyone can take a picture, but not every photo makes you feel something. My goal is to create images that instantly bring you back to the laughter, the happy tears, and the little moments in between. That’s what makes my work special, it’s not just about documenting the day, but about preserving the emotions that make it unforgettable.
We believe every wedding should have the same level of care and attention which is why we reworked our services to provide that, you can learn more about it on our website: www.valrstudios.com.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three things have shaped my journey: storytelling, persistence, and empathy.
Storytelling is at the core of my photography, capturing moments that aren’t just seen but felt. The beauty of photography is the sense of time-travel and weaving a narrative into the photos is quite important to me. Persistence kept me pushing forward, especially when starting my business felt impossible, particularly in those early months when I jumped into the deep end with nothing more than grit and determination. And empathy? That came from the years I studied philosophy (and, let’s be honest, just learning not to be an asshole). Understanding people, their emotions, and what truly matters to them is what allows me to capture photos that feel real but also show my clients I truly care.
For anyone starting out, just stay curious, stay consistent, and always remember that connecting with people is just as important as the work itself.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I’m biased on this one, I love learning. While leaning into strengths is great, I’m never content just staying there. If something feels daunting or even a little scary, I take it head-on. Growth comes from pushing past comfort.
I firmly believe being a jack of all trades with a few key strengths makes you more adaptable, especially in something like wedding photography. Every wedding is different, every challenge unique. The more skills you develop, the better you can handle whatever the day throws at you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.valrstudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valr_studios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Valrstudio/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/valr-studios-colorado-springs-2
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/valrstudios/
https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-photographers/valr-studios-photography
Image Credits
All my photos Credit to Valr Studios Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
