Today we’d like to introduce you to Paola Lugo Zanelli.
Hi Paola, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve loved art since I was a child. I’ve always been surrounded by it. Growing up, I used to play the guitar and take drama lessons. Since both of my parents are artists —my mom, a painter; my dad, a musician—, I was always encouraged to follow my curiosity and be creative. It wasn’t until I was 12, though, that I finally got hold of a real, professional camera. My dad had bought it for himself, but I would frequently borrow it to play and experiment with it. That’s how my love for photography was born. When I was 15, I joined my parents on one of their tours through Europe and I was responsible for taking all the pictures — including the official photos of an important guitar contest in Rome, where my dad participated as a judge. To my surprise, one of the pictures I took during this trip ended up winning an award at a school contest later the same year. Two years later, we lost our camera in a burglary. It was devastating. I kept taking pictures using my cellphone’s camera, but it never felt the same. Around the same time, I left my country, Venezuela, and moved to Lima, Peru. While living in Lima, I would always find all these photography classes and workshops, but I never had time to attend nor a good camera I could use and practice with — they were too expensive.
In 2019, I moved to the US where I was finally able to buy my own professional camera and start taking photography classes. After a few months of learning and experimenting, I realized that this was my calling — I wanted to take pictures for a living. In 2020 I quit my job in retail to start working as a full-time freelance photographer. Now, I’m finally able to do work I truly enjoy and channel all my creativity into my own business.
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?
Not smooth at all.
When I first started working as a photographer, I realized I didn’t know how to charge for my work. I did a lot of photoshoots for free or people would just pay me enough money to cover gas. I was convinced no one would pay what I knew I was worth. It took me months to believe in myself and start charging for my work.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have worked with families, kids, babies, newborns, pregnant women, weddings, birthdays, and more. I currently work as a restaurant photographer. I help restaurants improve their menus so they can get more sales!!
So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
Making people feel comfortable while taking pictures.
Contact Info:
- Website: paolaclz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paolaclz/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paolalugoz
