Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Matias Faundez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Matias, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I’ve always made myself “jump to the pool” -sort of speak, in order to achieve my goals, I’d force myself to at least try , and then try again. If it’s either apply for that dream job, travel to that location you’d always wanted, you have to take at least some baby steps.
A real example would be when I was in my early 20’s I had a dream about being able to work as an adventure guide in summer and in the mountains in winter time as an avalanche specialist. I started taking certificates, training, workshops, anything that would take me to that goal. Then I hit a barrier, English was my second language (I guess still is) but it wasn’t advanced enough to become the professional I’d want to (or needed). So I borrowed some money, went to Canada and immersed myself not just in English but in the field I wanted. I took advanced snow-science courses and I kept telling myself this is what I’m doing, this is happening, I have to do this. And changing that mentality made everything much easier. I end up guiding in summer and working in the mountains for at least 5 years. Then the Photography bug took over, now here I am.
“Jumping into the pool” created that confidence I needed in order to try that new goal and that same confidence allowed me to have enough self-esteem to believe in myself and knowing I can do this. I know I can.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a Wedding and Elopement photographer based in Washington, USA. I went full time in 2020, right in the pandemic after I lost my 9-5. My wife was pregnant with our first son and she knew I wanted to do photography full time for awhile. It was a scary decision but I knew (and she knew) I could make it work.
What has made my brand grow is my approach to my clients, having a background in hospitality I know how to interact with people and also meet their needs. My whole style is being as casual and candid as it gets. I rarely tell my clients to pose, I believe in real emotions are what. make a great photo, even more that the framing , landscape, etc.
Coming from a different culture (Latino) I feel like I can connect to people in a different way, they can learn about myself and my story as well as I’m always delighted to keep learning and experiencing different sides of the American culture.
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?
Client approach, creative mindset, willing to take advice.
Client approach. Having a background in hospitality, I know how to ‘read the room’ , I know the last thing a client wants is to feel uncomfortable , feeling lost or not knowing what to do. Remember always you are the guide, always. Your job is to guide your clients into your own creative process. Communication is king.
Creative mindset. Always looking for what to incorporate in your work. Being open to change and try new things can lead to a whole new level in the final product. But don’t forget Client approach, if your vision, your creative mindset does not align with your client’s needs, then we might have some trouble finding common ground and that’s when a client can easily turn into a ‘unhappy’ client.
Willing to take advice. This can also go along with Creative mindset. It’s ok hit pause, take a step back and do -just- what the client wants. You can still apply creative control towards the final product, but ultimately, the client is the one who will receive the final product.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The first think I can think of is their support. My mom was a secretary and after her 2nd child she became a stay at home mom. My dad worked for the same company for as long as I can remember, always leaving early and getting home late. I’m the middle child and alway being the ‘problematic’ one (as a middle child should) I struggled in high school, alway getting in trouble but in the end they never gave up on me and even in a somewhat conservative family (and culture) they sent me to an artistic school where I thrived. Then they again, supported my decision to work in hospitality and just travel where the work finds me. They loved seeing where I’d end up working. It’s like they could see themselves in me, doing all the things they never could. My two other siblings are medical physicians so imagine that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.matiasfaundez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matiasfaundezphoto/
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