Today we’d like to introduce you to Felicia Garcia.
Hi Felicia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I first learned photography in high school, that was back when they still taught film photography and you processed your own film in a dark room. I absolutely loved it. But, like many kids, I was told it was difficult to find success as an artist. So, I eventually took a full-time job in Higher Education all the while working on an art degree, I thought I would never use. Until one day, something changed for me.
My grandmother died. I was raised by my grandparents and her death had a great impact on me. It shook me, and it got me thinking about the life I want to live. I took a look around and realized I wasn’t happy and I wanted more from life and from my career. It took a few more years after that for me to get the courage to quit my full-time job and jump headfirst into full-time photography. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, it changed every aspect of my life, and it’s only gotten better and better.
I took the leap a little over 2 years ago. The first year was a lot of learning, mostly about social media and branding. The second-year was about finding my niche, my passion, and my unique brand. Today, I am a full-time brand photographer. I empower passionate businesswomen to walk in their power and level up their business through brand photography for social media and marketing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I officially started my business on January 2, 2020. That’s 3 months before our first COVID lockdown. It hasn’t been easy starting a very hands-on business during a pandemic but I learned some great lessons along the way. The biggest lesson I learned, that comes up again and again, is to have patience and trust the journey. Although the pandemic certainly put a halt in my business it came at a time when I really needed to slow down and re-evaluate the direction, I was going in. I was becoming very well known for boudoir photography and while I loved empowering women, something was still missing for me. It was when things became very quiet and slow that I joined a business group for support and realized my passion for working with ambitious entrepreneurs. And so, I found my niche, empowering businesswomen through brand photography. There was something amazing waiting for me after that long first year of struggling.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
People always ask, “What exactly is brand photography?” Well, brand photography is photography that speaks directly to your ideal client and represents what your brand is all about. It’s photography that connects to them on an emotional, maybe even a spiritual level. Brand photography doesn’t just keep your brand colors and visual elements in mind, but it allows others to get a sense of your values and what you stand for.
As you can see, this isn’t a typical point-and-shoot kind of photography. It requires a deeper understanding of the brand and the client as a person. When a client books with me, the first thing I do is schedule a call to learn more about their brand, their needs, goals, passion, and vision. And then we work together to design a shoot that embodies their brand and speaks to their tribe. I truly enjoy helping these women bring their vision to life. But I have to say, the best part is actually seeing and hearing them show up for their business with a renewed sense of confidence after the shoot.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Surround yourself with caring, supportive, ambitious people. Not only will you learn a ton from them, but you will develop colleagues and friendships that will push your personal and professional growth to new heights. Joining a business group was one of the best decisions I have made for my business and myself growth. The group I was in closed but all of us stay in touch, we refer each other like crazy, we check in with each other, share business resources, and so much more!
Contact Info:
- Email: heyfeliciaphoto@gmail.com
- Website: www.hey-Felicia.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/heyfelicia_studio
Image Credits
Felicia L Garcia Studio LLC
