Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Pena.
Jason, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I am blessed to have been in the creative field for over 15+ years. I started in college with computer animation and motion graphics. Then I learned web design and development in my spare time and eventually photography. I am very lucky to have a wife that is a professional photographer and videographer. She taught me the basics of photography and I ran with it from there. I learned to shoot manual mode and my portfolio began. Fast forward 2 years and I am still having a great time collaborating and shooting portraits. I joined a few of the Dallas photography groups online and I have made some amazing connections with creatives from all over the DFW area. Models, MUAs, Stylists, and other great photographers.
I started my journey on a Sony a7 full-frame mirrorless camera and the Sony Zeiss 55mm 1.8. This was my only equipment for the first year. I wanted to master one camera and one lens before I grew into more advanced equipment. Now, I shoot on the Sony a7ii and a variety of prime lenses. One of my favorites is the 35mm and 85mm 1.4. Both are great and allow me to express my creative talents from all angles.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am currently a portrait photographer in the north Dallas area. I love lifestyle, fashion and portrait photography and I create unique moments in time with all the collaborations that I take on. Photography has always felt very natural, especially photo editing. I am very lucky that I have used photoshop for over 15+ years, so the tools came very naturally to me.
I draw inspiration from daily life, but I will admit I love Instagram the most. It has allowed me to connect with people from all over the world. I do TFP collabs with creatives from all over Texas, and I love the opportunity it allows me to network.
I approach photography like I approach marketing. Photography is a means of content creation and in the process, I love to share my shoots on my website. I created my Portraitsofdallas.com website so I could share my experiences and learning process. It’s a great way to document where I have been and where I want to go.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
I am a full-time Sr. Digital Design Manager with a local medical company. If I had a chance, I would do photography full-time in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I am not in a position financially to make the jump. But, just like freelance web design, I know that it takes baby steps and motivation. Having people around you to motivate and encourage you will go a long way. Focus on saving a little bit a week, and eventually over time invest in yourself. Not just equipment, but also self-learning. The most important piece of advice I can give you is never stop learning and never stop creating.
Yes, you may not be making money directly with your work but trust me there are many other ways to benefit financially from your influence and work. Don’t give up and keep working towards your goals.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I am most active on Instagram. My Instagram profile is http://www.instagram.com/jasonxpena. You can also see all my work and behind-the-scenes on Portraitsofdallas.com. This website is my main blog and journal of my model test shoots and learning experiences the best way to support any artists work is to like or share the creative art. This is one of the most flattering ways to the heart of a photographer.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://portraitsofdallas.com
- Email: jason@portraitsofdallas.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jasonxpena
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/portraitsofdallas
- Other: http://designvscode.com
Image Credit:
Model – Tyler Lee H.
Model – Gabriella Yu
Model – Alura Virginia
Model – Madison Hildreth
Model – Chaeley Marie
Model – Anna Rajecka
Model – Hanna Vaitovich
Model – Sabrina Lynn
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
