Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sora Gazzaneo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sora, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Being the only one in the room that looks like me is actually what keeps me going. I take pride in my uniqueness and embrace it to its fullest potential. For a long time I was always worried about fitting in or making sure that I was doing what everybody else was doing so that people would pay attention to my work. With time and experience, I’ve learned that people appreciate different perspectives. That’s what makes an artist an artist. Is having a unique take on life, and providing an experience to other people that is unlike any other. Once I finally started embracing my most authentic self is when I actually started to see my business grow and people take an interest in my work. It’s been a journey, but I wouldn’t change who I am for anything. I take pride in the person I was born to be.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Sora Gazzaneo, I am a non-binary, Venezuelan, and queer artist. I was raised in America from the age of 6 and have grown up with 2 cultures embedded into my soul. It’s been an eye opening experience being able to grow up with different cultures. It has taught me a lot about people. I have been into arts, since my youngest years. Whether it was music, or learning the basics of drawing. I always looked for ways to express myself with art. It’s a universal form of expressing oneself. I have been editing videos since I was around the age of 13, where I would edit my favorite shows over music. Or editing home videos of me and my brothers doing things we weren’t supposed to be doing, like sliding down the stairs with a boogie board. From there my passion followed me to college, where I studied Media Production at the University of Houston. Once I graduated I began forming my own company, which is now called Michie Productions. It wasn’t until around 2021 that I got serious and created my logo to launch my company. My dream was to create a multi media company that catered to peoples creative needs. Whether it was photography, Videography, or graphic design. It’s a dream that is still in the works but very well on its way. I want to be able to travel with my work and see the world. Meet people from different cultures and co-create with artist all over the globe. I’ve photographed a wide variety of events, concepts, headshots, weddings and much more. I also enjoy working with small businesses to help build their brand, given that I’m a small business myself. I take pride in being able to help businesses create their visions into a reality, whether its creating logos from scratch, or creating promotional material.
In this next year I see myself doing van life while I continue to pursue my dreams, and grow my brand.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One of the most important lessons that I’ve learned in my journey is to not compare my work to others. This was something I really struggled with. Or even comparing my equipment to other’s. This loop of comparing would keep me in a place where I wasn’t creating. It would keep me at a stand still. With thoughts such as, “If I don’t have that camera and lens then I can’t really be taking photos,’ or “My work doesn’t look like that so I know people won’t like what I have to offer.” It’s mere insecurities and fears that take over the mind and hold it back from its full potential. Once I was able to let that go, I started to flourish into my own unique artist. Each person has a unique style that people out there are looking for, so just start, you don’t need the best equipment, you can start with even just your cellphone. For the artist it’s all about creating.
Another important lesson I’ve learned as a photographer/videographer is that it’s so important to have a portfolio! A portfolio or a website that showcases what you have done and a seamless process for clients so that they can book with ease. Also making your experience with clients personalized and unique. I see a lot of photographers/videographers focus their energy on their social media pages, but what I’ve learned is that social media pages are all running on their own algorithms and when you’re first starting off it’s better to focus that energy on something that you can actually showcase to your clients, that shows your information and what you offer. It’s sometimes hard to achieve that with Instagram or Facebook when you’re so new to the game. Those social media pages also enable you to compare yourself to other people.
The third piece of advice that I offer is to never stop creating. As an artist, we create. It’s like a body builder lifts weights, the second that he stops lifting, they start to lose muscles. As an artist the second we stop creating we start to lose our practice as well. Not only practice but the motivation to keep going. It’s so easy to make it in this world as just another bystander, thoughtless, employee of some big corporation. It’s hard to make it as a successful artist, which is why in my opinion it’s so important to continue to create. Not for other people but even for just yourself. It’s the biggest rebellion that we can take against this society that is trying to destroy everything that is beautiful and sacred. Keep fueling that passion that burns within us all.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is individuals that have felt like there’s not a safe space to express themselves. I want for people to feel safe and comfortable when I am capturing their image. It’s something that’s extremely important especially as someone that works in such a personable field. When people feel their most confident that’s when you’re able to capture the best content!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gazzaneophotobooth.my.canva.site/michie-productions
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michieproductions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michieproductions
Image Credits
Sora Gazzaneo – Michie Productions
