Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrean Indolos.
Adrean, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve held a camera as long as I can remember. Even when I was little, I was always taking my dad’s camera and was snapping photos any chance I could. I joined the yearbook staff in junior high and in high school I learned how to tell stories with my photos- which is something I love to do!
However, in my family full of medical professionals, having a career as photographer was nowhere near a possibility. It was a serious hobby of mine but when it came to selecting a major in college, nursing was my initial choice before eventually graduating with a Bachelors in Biomedical Science. But all the while, as a student at Oklahoma City University (go Stars!), the majority of my friends were actors, singers or dancers who needed headshots often. So what first started off as friends paying me via food, quickly became the start of a very small business in college. Fast-forward a few years to when a friend of mine got married right after college and asked me to photograph her wedding. She loved her photos and it just so happened that a couple of her bridesmaids were also engaged and looking for a wedding photographer of their own. And thus, my career in the wedding industry began back in 2013; while I was still studying for the MCAT!
After graduating from college, I wanted to work a while to save money for med school. I worked as a sales rep for Cutco Cutlery, selling knives. I swiftly fell in love with doing business! Selling knives forced me to come out of my comfort zone in order to meet new people and hear their stories. I learned how to talk to customers, get referrals, and developed all the skills needed to be a professional that I never learned in school. I stopped studying for med school as I quickly worked my way up the corporate ladder until I was promoted to run my own district office in Fort Worth in 2014. I operated that for a couple years, but was still missing something in my life so eventually I closed down that office in search for that fulfillment.
I found it in January of 2016. I was referred to a young adult networking group called Young Catholic Professionals. In my first interaction with the group, I noticed that a fancy meeting like this deserved a photographer. I then met the president of the chapter and offered my services. My photos were seen by the editor of the North Texas Catholic Newsmagazine and I was offered my first position as a professional freelance photographer! I had finally found my true calling! Armed with the business skills I learned in my time in marketing, I knew in my heart that photography and telling people’s stories through my photos was something I was meant to do. I made a decision then that I was going to give this my all: no matter what it took I was going to make it as a photographer!
In the short two years since I went full-time, I have received WeddingWire’s Couples’ Choice Award twice in 2017 and 2018! A national award only given to the top 5% of wedding professionals! My fashion work has also been published on the cover of iMirage Magazine, a fashion-editorial magazine based in Toronto. Being a photographer, I’ve been able to book gigs all over the U.S. including San Francisco, New York, Chicago as well as Cancun and Vancouver! I can’t wait to see where else this career takes me!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
At first, it was definitely a mental challenge to believe that I was leaving a “financially stable” career in medicine to pursue a career in the visual arts. My biggest struggle when I first began my journey was comparing myself to other photographers. I didn’t have the money to afford some of the professional equipment that I wanted/needed as I started my career with the debt of student loans looming over me.
Lucky for me I have an awesome support system, as well as having a hunger for knowledge. What began as negatively comparing my photography to others, quickly turned into a motivating force for improvement. Every day, I woke up wanting to get better. So I watched countless hours of YouTube videos, read many books, practiced techniques through a LOT of trial-and-error and apprenticed under other professional photographers.
The journey was long and rarely easy, but totally worth it!
AI Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am the Creative Director for my company AI Media LLC, as well as the head Photographer for AI Photography. I specialize in weddings and portraits but want to eventually add commercial work on to that list of specialties!
I’m honestly most proud of two things as a company- First is the team we have at AI. From our photography/videography apprentices, to our in-house editor, and all the way to our business partners; we all share the same vision as a company and are giving it our best to make it come to life! Secondly, is how amazing our clients are! We are truly blessed to have some of the best clients in the world to work with!!!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is being able to live an adventure-filled life all the while being able to provide for my family! I have always said that I want to make enough money so I can help others. I wanted a job where I got paid to travel and I have that. I wanted a career where I can control my schedule and I do. Lastly, I want to be able to share my passion and knowledge with others and to find a way to pass it on to the next generation!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.adreaniphotography.com
- Phone: (682) 551-9631
- Email: adreaniphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/adrean_i
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adreaniphotography
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