We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maria Alejandra Mata a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Maria Alejandra, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
As an immigrant, we have no other choice but to be resilient. My career started back home in Venezuela, and I had to start from scratch once I moved to the US, with no connections and a completely different way of doing things, which has been challenging, yet motivating. I find strength in knowing I have a once in a lifetime opportunity to achieve my goals, even if I need to adjust the plans along the way; keeping your goals and passions at the forefront keeps you focused on what’s truly important. It’s not just about the professional aspect of things though, I firmly believe you must keep your hopes and dreams at the top as well: our heart’s desires truly fuel our strength, and the quest for emotional stability and well being keeps me believing there’s something better out there once a storm passes. There’s always something worth fighting for, be it for ourselves or our loved ones, so you might as well stay strong knowing the only way is to move forward.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a concert photographer turned music journalist, as I cover live events for several online music publications. I love working with artists in all areas and collaborate on a creative level, be it through images or words. I have been photographing concerts for over a decade, and recently started getting into writing about shows and music, which has been a nice change of pace in my career. Right now, I’m working towards connecting with artists directly, as well as discovering up and coming musicians and bringing them to the forefront. As a writer, new bands are incredibly exciting for me to listen to, and ultimately to collaborate with.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
There’s three key elements that I have valued over the course of my career: adaptability, knowledge and kindness. Concert photography moves very quickly, and it’s important to learn to adapt to your surroundings on the spot to be able to pivot and face all the challenges that can arise at a live show. Adaptability also refers to your style, you must be open minded and look at what your peers are doing, and find inspiration in it to continue challenging yourself. Knowledge is pretty simple, especially in the beginning of your career, it’s important to learn the ins and outs of your camera, so you can use this knowledge to your advantage; learn the rules so you can break them. Lastly, kindness is possibly the most valuable quality to have: you can be the best photographer in the world, but none of that matters if you don’t treat your colleagues and clients with kindness. Concert photography is never a competition, so take the chance to connect with your colleagues, help each other out, and pass your knowledge along. Be the rockstar photographer you wish you had as a mentor when you first entered the pit.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Overwhelm and burnout are very real in the creative industry, and it’s generally unavoidable. In the social media era, where we’re constantly bombarded with content and finding it easier to compare ourselves to others, it’s important to take a step back and know when to stop. I personally experienced burnout recently and forced myself to take a break, so that would be my piece of advice: allow yourself to pause, even for a little bit, and take that time to regroup. Do things you enjoy and that bring you peace, and when you’re ready to try again, find one new technique you’d like to try on your next shoot. I find the challenge invigorating, and chances are all you needed was a bit of time to take a deep breath. We’re humans, not machines, and we should be able to take breaks and disconnect. As someone who experiences overwhelm often, I promise you it’s just a wave, and it won’t feel like this forever.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mariamataphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamataphoto/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-alejandra-mata/
Image Credits
All images by Maria Alejandra Mata
