Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorena Balaguer.
Hi Lorena, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi, I’m Lorena, and my passion for photography started years and years back in Argentina, where I was born. For as long as I can remember, my father always had a camera in hand, and when I was 9 years old, he finally let me take a single photo— only one because this was before digital and film was expensive! That one single photo was all it took for me to know that is all I wanted to do, but life isn’t always so linear. Fast forward, I moved to Chicago at 15, met and married my high school sweetheart, got an associate in early childhood education, and two kids of my own later; I still hadn’t done anything to pursue this lifelong dream of mine. It wouldn’t be until 2020, a cross-country move to Dallas and the support of my husband, that I decided to start my own photography business. It started small, undercharging and watching tutorials like my life depended on it to build a portfolio and get clients. I won’t sugarcoat it; it was ROUGH. Starting from scratch with no previous knowledge in building websites or sending invoices is not something I’d recommend, but nevertheless I did it. The next year I put myself back into that college crunch mindset, got to learning and messing up and learning some more. 2023 was the year it all clicked. All my hard work the previous two years coming to fruition, and I was able to partner with my local park districts and libraries and be the sole photographer at their events. If you had told me five, ten years ago that I’d have half the opportunities and clients I have today, I would’ve never believed it. Coming into the new year, taking time to reflect, has given me an appreciation and confidence I’ve never had before.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has NOT been a smooth road. It was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions creating something that I’ve never done before with no guarantee it’ll work out and pay off. One day you are felling great! You have clients booked and are busy editing and polishing your site, and the next it feels as if everything you’ve done was for nothing. Your site needs a heavy overhaul you don’t totally understand, and you haven’t had so much as an inquiry in weeks. That’s how it goes sometimes, but you have to persevere. Learning how to run a business at 38 years old is not easy, but the challenges and obstacles are what make us grow and evolve. I’m always grateful for it.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a photographer who is passionate about anything and everything that has to do with taken a photo. I love photographing people, whether it is a portrait session or an event. I love capturing people’s emotions and those big reactions with a photo. Having worked with children for many years has given me that patience to just wait for the right moment and get that shot. I like to think to myself that when I’m shooting, I’m always “hunting” for that special shot. What sets me apart from others is my perseverance; I don’t stop taking photos until I have gotten all the photos I need. I love photography!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love my community; I enjoy the welcoming feeling and support that people give each other.
The only thing I don’t like is traffic. But we can all agree that’s not going to change.
Contact Info:
- Website: lovelynphotography.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/lovelyn_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelynphotography1
Image Credits
Lovelyn Photography
