Meet Therese Riza-lawrence

We were lucky to catch up with Therese Riza-lawrence recently and have shared our conversation below.

Therese, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

Finding our purpose as photographers has been a journey of self-discovery, deeply intertwined with our personal gifts, talents, and experiences. From a young age, we were captivated by the power of visual storytelling. Our innate curiosity and keen eye for detail allowed us to see the world in unique ways, capturing moments that others might overlook.

Our experiences have shaped our perspective and honed our skills. Traveling to diverse places, meeting people from different walks of life, and immersing ourselves in various cultures have all contributed to our growth as photographers. Each encounter and every story shared has enriched our understanding of the human experience, enabling us to capture the essence of a moment in a single frame.

Photography, for us, is more than just taking pictures; it’s about bringing people together and creating lasting memories. We believe that through our lens, we have the ability to transform a fleeting moment into a timeless, high-quality photograph. This transformation is not just about technical proficiency but also about infusing each image with creativity and emotion, making it a cherished memory for those involved.

In essence, our purpose as photographers is to use our talents to connect with people, tell their stories, and create beautiful, lasting memories. It’s a privilege to be able to capture the world in a way that resonates with others and leaves a lasting impact.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Yes, of course! Thank you for extending this amazing opportunity to us. We are grateful to share our story with you and the Bold Journey community. My name is Therese Riza-Lawrence and I’m Kay Saleh, and together we are ARIZA Photography! We are a black owned, women photographer duo that specializes in portrait photography and event services in the Metro and the Greater Metro Atlanta Area. Our clients range from babies and children, to couples and families. We offer customizable portrait and wedding tiered packages to our clients, that vary with the amount of coverage hours and amount of deliverable images. Additionally, we offer coverage for special events such as birthdays, weddings, graduations, engagements, bridal showers, baby showers, baptisms, grand openings, corporate events, family events, and charity events!

Kay and I actually met nearly 14 years ago at our alma mater, the University of Georgia! Go Dawgs! We lived doors away from one another at our residence hall and became friends right away. I (Therese) obtained a Digital and Broadcast Journalism degree from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications, as I always had a deep interest in all things photography, video production, and communications. During my studies, I received intensive practicum training on photography and videography fundamentals, editing and post production processes, and how to use visuals to tell an intimate story that speaks to unforgettable experiences.

During our time at UGA, we did not yet know that our close friendship would grow to include our first joint business venture in the future. Fast forward to 2020, we began to apply our interests and love of photography to live photoshoots for friends and family. We knew that investing in our craft, while building relationships with people in our community, was paramount to the overall success of ARIZA. During this time, Kay and I were able to develop a seamless workflow, invest in professional tools and equipment, and delve deeper into additional resources (tutorials, seminars, etc) to sharpen our skills.

Currently in 2024, we have successfully expanded our portfolio, clientele, and overall reach in the Atlanta community. We continuously seek opportunities to provide phenomenal experiences to our local and state communities. We encourage the Bold Journey community to visit our website and/or Instagram page to learn more about the ARIZA experience.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Interpersonal Skills:
Practice Communication: Engage with people regularly, even outside of photography. Learn to listen actively and respond thoughtfully. Build your confidence to share your work with others in real time. Be sure to direct their attention to the features within your photographic work that makes your portfolio stand out.

Build Rapport:
Spend time getting to know your clients before the shoot. Ask about their interests and make them feel at ease. At ARIZA, we typically require our clients to have a consultation meeting with us so that we can develop an efficient game plan prior to the day of the actual event or photoshoot. During the virtual consultation, we discuss our clients’ ideas and overall vibe of the photos they want. We discuss important location details, whether or not they want to add on a video service, and provide helpful tips to prepare for their photoshoot or event the day of. We even discuss the colors they would like to wear and if those colors will clash with the background to accentuate the overall photo.

Observe and Adapt:
Pay attention to body language and emotions. Adjust your approach based on how comfortable your client appears. Offer posing advice and offer encouraging, but constructive feedback throughout the session.

Technical Proficiency:

Learn Your Gear:
Spend time understanding your camera and its settings. Experiment with different modes and features. Empower yourself by conducting your own research to sharpen your skills. Video tutorials have been extremely helpful for us as we continuously evolve as professional photographers. Testing out your equipment outside of a contracted photoshoot is a great way to build your skills, make adjustments in a low stakes environment, or try new techniques without additional pressure.
Study Lighting: Practice using natural and artificial light. Learn how light affects your subject and how to manipulate it to your advantage. We have learned that the presence of light is one of the most important foundational tools to helping your photographs come to life! Dimly lit or poorly lit subjects creates more of an issue in post production. It’s extremely important to test your lighting prior to a photoshoot and take notes of what was effective and what was ineffective. Also, mastering lighting is crucial because there are is only so many things you can try in post production to “fix” the issue, so you’re best bet is get the lighting as precise as possible at the beginning, as to alleviate any additional issues with the lighting during the post production process.

Post-Processing:
Familiarize yourself with editing software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. Start with basic adjustments and gradually explore more advanced techniques. One of our biggest tips is to recognize during the post production process that you will have many tools at your disposal within the software, however, that does not mean that you need to use every single one. Practice using the tools to get an idea of which ones serve you the best.

Creativity and Artistic Vision:
Seek Inspiration: Look at the work of other photographers, artists, and even filmmakers. Analyze what you like and why. Pay close attention to the overall style, tone, and vibe of their work. During your practice time, try out the techniques that are most interesting to you. Take note of how these techniques transform your imagery and if it is a technique that you want to master in the future.

Experiment:
Don’t be afraid to try new styles, angles, and compositions. Sometimes the best shots come from unexpected ideas. Don’t limit yourself to what is always comfortable for you. You can practice new techniques and composition styles during your practice time.

Continuous Learning:
Take workshops, online courses, and read books on photography. Keep challenging yourself to grow and evolve. Be open to finding inspiration in places that you would not typically expect. Even if another photographer or videographer is demonstrating a technique or skill that you have not mastered yet, be intentional about learning something new. Often times, your skills will expand as you push past the limits of what you already know and push into your own self development to become the very best version of yourself.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

As working moms, wives, and business owners, it is so important for us to avoid burnout and to prioritize self care. Overcoming burnout was a journey of self-discovery and balance for us. As photographers, it’s easy for us to get lost in the whirlwind of shoots, edits, and client meetings. We realized that to sustain our passion, we needed to maintain a balance between our work and personal life.

Self-reflection played a crucial role in this process. We took a step back to understand what was causing our burnout. Was it the long hours? The constant pressure to deliver perfection? Or perhaps the lack of personal time? This introspection helped us identify the root causes and address them effectively.

Time management became our best friend. We started scheduling our days more efficiently, ensuring we had dedicated time for work, rest, and play. Attention to detail was also key. By focusing on one task at a time, we could give our best without feeling overwhelmed.

Organization and planning were essential. We began using tools to keep track of our projects and deadlines, which reduced the chaos and allowed us to stay on top of our workload. Self-monitoring helped us stay aware of our limits. We learned to recognize the signs of burnout early and took proactive steps to prevent it.

In essence, overcoming burnout was about finding harmony in our lives. By balancing our professional commitments with personal well-being, we reignited our passion for photography and found joy in our work once again.

Self-care is an essential part of our routine, and it significantly enhances our effectiveness as photographers. Spending time outside is one of our favorite ways to recharge. Whether it’s a hike through the woods, a stroll along the beach, or simply sitting in a park, nature has a way of refreshing our minds and sparking new creative ideas.

Indulging in our personal hobbies also plays a crucial role in our self-care regimen. Baking allows us to experiment with flavors and textures, much like we do with light and composition in photography. Painting offers a different medium to express our creativity, helping us see colors and shapes in new ways. Vintage and antique shopping is another passion of ours; it’s like a treasure hunt that sharpens our eye for detail and history, which often translates into our work. Lastly, interior design lets us play with space and aesthetics, further refining our sense of style and composition.

These activities not only provide a much-needed break but also feed our creativity and keep our perspective fresh. By taking care of ourselves, we ensure that we can bring our best selves to every shoot, capturing moments with clarity, creativity, and a renewed sense of purpose. Identifying what works best for each of us has helped us to maintain a balance to prevent becoming overwhelmed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.arizaphotography.com/
• Instagram: arizaphotography.atl

Image Credits

All images belong to ARIZA Photography LLC.