Today we’d like to introduce you to Lexi Rodriguez.
Lexi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a 24-year-old videography and photography business owner. My dream has always been to pursue a career with a camera. I never knew exactly what genre I wanted to do, but I knew from an early age that it involved having a camera of some sort in my hand.
However, I was always afraid to take the leap and start my own brand. From the time I could start working, I was a waitress and bartender. I was on my grind almost every night working for the man. I have had corn dogs thrown at me, racial slurs yelled in my face, and the stress of waking up at night thinking, “I forgot the ranch!” I knew I wanted better for my life. I knew I had this talent that I wasn’t utilized, and yet, I was seen by others as just another college student making minimum wage.
I was fortunate enough to get hired by a big wedding videography company a few years ago, and I was eager to show them what I was made of. Unfortunately, when you work under a company you only get a portion of the profit. I was doing so much work, and seeing little cash. I guess I was always driven by money. I had talked to my boyfriend and my dad about finally starting up my own business, but I was holding myself back. What if I quit my job and no one hires me? What if I I pay a lot in ads and don’t get my revenue back? What if, what if, what if. They encouraged me to stop thinking this way and to just go for it.
I went for it. I was all in. I left my serving job. I left the company. And I started my own business at the age of 23. I created a website, business cards, and went to city hall to apply for an EIN. God, I was on cloud nine that day. I was an official businesswoman. From then on, my company has been thriving, and I am so thankful for my friends and family that pushed me to finally work for myself.
Of course, running a business has its challenges. I’ve had to hire and fire people… which is tough for anyone. I’ve had consultations with people who were weary upon hiring me because I look and am so young. I’m also a fulltime student at UNT, so juggling studying and editing videos have left me with countless nights of no sleep. But at the end of the day, all of these little challenges are nothing compared to the highs this job brings. I truly love what I do, and being able to use my talents to enrich other people’s lives is what fuels me.
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?
I sat and thought about this. Of course, I have struggles, but I couldn’t put it into words. Ultimately, What I struggle with most is honestly my own insecurities about other’s preconceived notions about me. Sometimes, I find myself still in that mindset of a server. Some people will look at you and instantly think they know who you are. She’s a minority. She’s young. She’s a woman. I’m proud to be all three, don’t get me wrong! But, when I’m working, and I dress professionally, talk professionally, and act professionally, I still have those men at weddings that will approach me and give blatant disrespect. “Can I have a selfie with you baby?” “Are YOU the photographer?” In a baby-like voice: “Are you taking pictuuures?!” These are all rare cases, but they happen. And I can’t help but think, If I was a man, would they say these things? Would they approach me this way? Would they show me respect? I think this is something most men don’t know about women, especially minority women, that we have to face. We have to prove ourselves to others that we are capable and intelligent.
My advice for other women and girls who are facing the challenge of being disrespected would be to never just take it. Don’t laugh when someone makes you uncomfortable. Don’t excuse inappropriate behavior. Stand up, speak up, and show them you’re not an object to be looked at.
What should we know about L|R Photo & Videography? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I’m known for my wedding highlight trailers. I record weddings and then turn that footage into short highlight videos. I think what sets me apart from other videography companies is that mine very home movie-esque. I show candid moments of family laughing, falling, and singing into the camera. I shoot 1080P and 4k, so the quality isn’t a home movie… but the content shows it’s not some fancy overdone dramatic film. It’s raw and real. I aim to create a fun atmosphere so that when looking back on their video, the couple feels like they’re there again.
I also photograph weddings, engagements, couples, seniors, and maternity. I love photographing couples the most. There’s something so special about a photo of two people in love. I can actually feel it, and sometimes get tears in my eyes. That feeling they feel, I want to bring that to life in a photo and make others feel it too.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
The biggest barrier I face in my industry is not being taken seriously. I hired a guy to work for me as an editor and I gave him a strict time frame of when I needed it to be done. He had told me it would be done much sooner than the due date. Well, the due date rolls around and I ask for the video… he says he’ll give it to me tomorrow. Tomorrow: nothing. The next day: nothing. I keep asking for this video. It’s not my video, it’s clients. It’s important for me for them to have this in a timely manner! It’s frustrating not being taken seriously… what does a girl need to do to get some respect around here haha! So, I say we need to meet in person, 1:oo pm. Well, 12:30 he says he’s running a little late but will be there at 1:15. No biggie, stuff happens. 1:30 rolls around and I haven’t heard from him. I call him and get this: he says he’ll be there in 45 minutes. I swear this sounds like it’s out of a movie. I was livid. I’ve never been disrespected like this in my entire life. If this was a big company, he’d be fired instantly. So, he shows up extremely late with the video and I just had to let him go. This was not the first time I’ve dealt with this scenario, and it’s shocking that there are probably more people in this world like him that don’t take others seriously.
Pricing:
- Wedding videography coverage starts at $1250
- Wedding photography coverage starts at $1000
- Engagement sessions are 50% off when you book your wedding
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lexirodriguezphotography.com
- Email: lexirodriphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lrphotovideography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LRphotoandvideo/?ref=br_rs
- Other: https://www.honeybook.com/widget/lr_photo_videography_138438/cf_id/5ad6c4262b9ce949d6f75241
Image Credit:
Lexi Rodriguez
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