Conversations with the Inspiring Gabriela Aranda

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Aranda.

Gabriela, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My kids, I feel like it’s such a cliche answer but my kids were honestly the reason I started!

When my daughter was a newborn, I would dress her up and have a mini photo shoot in my living room.
Then I had my son and literally would capture every moment. Eventually, friends and family would ask me to take pictures of their kids, so I finally invested in myself and purchased a camera and never looked back! Never did I imagine, people would be willing to pay me to take pictures of their families and at that love the images I would provide them! It’s so rewarding when I get invitations with images I’ve taken on them or go into someone’s home and see a photo I shot displayed on their wall!

Great, 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?
Definitely not, finding a balance between being a mom, being a wife, shooting and editing was hard! I was living off of three hours of sleep and coffee for a while. You feel the pressure to constantly post because you’re also your own advertiser, keeping up with your website, emails, social media, trying to find your style and of course scheduling. Sometimes, it is very overwhelming. Find a balance and work on a way to manage your time the way that works best for you.

For all, you looking to start your journey, know that their will always be hard times, times you want to quit, times you need a little more sleep even, ha. Never give up and remember why you started. Although a lot of industries can be cutthroat, so many photographers are always willing to help so don’t be afraid to reach out.

What should we know about Oakcliffsnaps photography? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I love shooting kids! Let me say these kids are no professional models, so I have to run around, lay on the floor, make crazy faces, jump up and down to get some of these kids to even crack a smile sometimes! Ha! I shoot lots of families, some couples, cake smashes, save the dates, basically everything but events.

Honestly, I think what sets me apart is how I make people feel during a session. I don’t force poses, I crack jokes (I think I’m funny). I get so much positive feedback about my patience with kids, how I made the children feel comfortable. Interacting with the kids is key to me. If your kids are in a mood, believe me, everyone will get in a mood and we don’t want that!

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I have so many inspirational who surround my everyday life. One of my favorite people on earth is my cousin who was raised by her single mother. She went to college and now is soon going back to get her masters degree, helps her mom now. Oh, and did I mention she is doing this all while on DACA. I have a sister in law who is a single mother, art teacher, cake maker, home decorator, and tattoo artist at night. A friend who is my age and manages her own very successful restaurant. You guys the list goes on and on. I’m lucky to be surrounded by so many influential women, that no matter what obstacle is put in front of them they get things done!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://oakcliffsnaps.wixsite.com/mysite
• Email: oakcliffsnaps@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakcliffsnaps
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/gabrielaaranda

Image Credit:
Oakcliffsnaps Photography

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