Check Out Lupe Zamora’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lupe Zamora of  A & A Photography. 

Hi Lupe, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
My love for photography comes from my late grandmother, the queen of Kodak’s. For as long as I can remember, she was always behind the camera capturing anything she could. Whether we had something fun going on or not, she never put the camera down. That translated to my pre-teen life of always having my own disposable cameras. My first subjects were my dogs and pet lizards sitting on Barbie furniture. During school or at functions I took on the role as the designated photographer to capture pictures of my friends and family. Becoming a mother at 15 was a detrimental time for me. I tried to enjoy life as much as I could with my son but at the same time was transitioning into an adult with responsibilities and a tiny human to raise. Life was moving too fast, and I couldn’t grasp time. This created an urgency for the need to slow down and find ways to save these moments forever. 

When my second son came around, I became that mom that wanted to take pictures in front of every background. My husband calls me crazy for it, but he really appreciates being able to relive some of the best times we’ve had together, which was why he gifted me my very first DSLR Canon Rebel. Learning how to operate my camera was intimidating at first, and I never tried because a cell phone was much easier to use! Eventually, I enrolled myself into some online photography classes and once I learned to shoot in manual, it gave me confidence to bring my vision to life and start booking clients. I was able to capture a few high school graduates and my first engagement. I didn’t think I was any good, but the outcome and excitement from my first few clients really spoke to me. My eagerness to dive into photography really grew at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 and the rest is history! 

Becoming a photographer was never in the plan, it all sort of came to me so I decided to run with it! One year into my photography business and I am proud to say I am living out my grandmas’ passion and enjoying every single moment of it. I have always been a sucker for those unposed and natural photos you never expect but always value the most. I wanted to create memories for other people to enjoy. I am honored to serve my clients and in return they have special photos they get to cherish forever. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As far as getting started and building my portfolio and clientele, I believe the journey has been smooth for the most part! One challenge I struggled with the most was self-confidence. I was always criticizing my work and was too shy to seek a mentor. Learning how to edit wasn’t my strong suit either, but I knew this is what I wanted, and I had to just figure it out. My courage has pushed me to not give up or be afraid of failure. Being in a community with so many talented people, it’s easy to compare yourself. In the beginning, I wanted to keep up with other photographers in the area and I quickly realized I had overstepped my limits with my current knowledge at the time. We were in full swing, during the holiday season and there was so much to do but not enough time in the day. This made it difficult for me to spend enough time perfecting each session. Instead of practicing more, I was adding too much to my plate and got extremely overwhelmed. 

This year I wanted to be able to focus more on styled sessions and model calls. With patience and practice, I am starting to find my editing style and specialty. This has really been able to help me enjoy my photography and build my brand to stand out from a saturated industry. Consistency is key and to be able to grow you must be willing to invest in yourself in all aspects of the profession. I realized that if I was going to go into this business, I was going to have to sacrifice time to advance my skills. One thing I have learned is to love my work no matter how many times I fail. I truly adore every single piece of art I’ve created so far and can’t wait to see how my work evolves in the future. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a lifestyle photographer, and my business is named A & A Photography-inspired by my 2 sons, Anthony, and Angelo. My boys mean the world to me and there’s nothing I love more than being a mom, so I thought, what a great way to incorporate them! They have taught me that life is always moving and that it’s important to stop and enjoy their precious moments. I can capture just about anything from maternity, newborns, families, couples, boudoir, and weddings. Boudoir and couples are my favorite types of sessions. Being able to show a woman how beautiful they are when they are feeling the opposite and give them a boost of confidence is just so amazing. The society we live in can make it easy to unlove yourself, but I am here to remind women they are goddesses! 

Earlier this year I was honored to shoot my first wedding! I instantly knew this is my main goal in this profession. My first wedding experience was more than I could have imagined. This a huge step for me as I transition into wedding photography and in the future being able to venture off into travel wedding and elopement photography. 

I am known for my experience and helping my clients step out of their comfort zone. Guidance and prompts allow me to step back and let the magic happen. My clients trust me to capture every authentic moment, even though it is not always posed in perfection. A perfect memory comes from embracing the chaos we all endure daily. It is letting the kids be kids and understanding we are all perfect the way we are. 

With this, I find I’ve created a whole gallery that shows pure love and raw emotion. I use my patience and willingness to help create the best experience for my clients. From choosing a location to assisting with ideas on outfits to making sure I capture natural emotions. Every couple I’ve had in front of my camera leaves telling me how effortless their session was. That’s when I feel the most accomplished! 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
When I first started out, I was constantly watching YouTube photographers for tips and tricks. Recently, I discovered John Branch IV Photography and have enjoyed learning all things weddings. He has taught me to always have fun with my couples and not let weddings intimidate me. I’ve crossed paths with some great photographers who I would like to call my friends. They have guided me and inspired me to not be afraid to try new things. A lot of my inspiration has come from my BFF, Pinterest. I am constantly looking for ideas that I can recreate and add my own twist to. That’s the beauty of photography, the possibilities are endless. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aandaphotography2020/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aandaphotography2020

Image Credits
Vanessa C Photo