Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Castillo.
Alexandra, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My whole life, I was surrounded by creativity. At a young age, I would see my mom, who was a single mother at the time, cook up a gourmet meal with what could’ve possibly been three ingredients. We couldn’t afford much but, she was able to make it seem as if we had the entire world. With enough determination and love, my mom was able to do anything. I would also see my sister who was in college at the time, stressing over the workload. Her major was Graphic Design, and although I could see the bags under her eyes from the lack of sleep, I was also able to see the smile on her face after finishing a month’s long assignment.
For both my mother and my sister, the stress was worth it in the end. At just eight years old, I knew I had to devote my life to something that brought me joy, even if it took work. I struggled a bit to find my passion in the arts. I went from painting to drawing to sculpting and finally made my way to photography. After my sophomore year of high school, I was able to take a trip to Europe where my love for photography took the wind. At the time, I only used my phone but I was still in love with the memories I was able to capture. Then during my senior year, I decided to once again participate in the Visual Arts Scholastic Event where hundreds of students in Texas entered works of art for a chance to win a scholarship. I knew for a fact that I didn’t want to draw or paint like I did the years before. I wanted to do something different, but I also wanted it to mean something.
Luckily, I was also taking a photography course during high school and learned a lot regarding how to photograph manually. That’s when I decided to have my very first portrait session with a very close of mine. In the end, the stress was worth it. To this day, my very first photoshoot happens to be my favorite one. I’ve only had a few photography sessions since then, but no matter if they’re months apart, each photoshoot brings me joy and excitement. I get to work with different people with different backgrounds who happen to have different voices. I try to bring out my subject’s voice in my images. Although every photo is a still image, I believe you can hear a lot from what’s seen on the subject’s expression and/or movement.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My life definitely hasn’t been an easy one, but it surely has been a great one. Without giving too much detail, I would just say that with every struggle that came my way, I have been able to become the woman I am today. Even when there were moments where I felt as if the only option was to give up, I knew I had to have faith in my path and in myself. I have found that the greatest thing that pushes me to be a better version of myself each and every day is God’s, never-ending love. He’s given me hope for a brighter future, courage to defeat my fears, and His love to never feel alone. Maybe, it hasn’t been a smooth road, but a bumpy road makes for some great stories that can be accompanied by tears and laughter.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about BYALEXSOFIA – what should we know?
Byalexsofia, a photography business carried out by me, is still a start-up company. I have yet to truly blossom to what I believe could be my greatest potential, but I haven’t given up. I specialize in portrait photography, but recently I’ve been able to photograph for High Brew Coffee. After my session with their product, I realized that there’s a lot left me to learn and a lot that I want to try. One thing that I’ve noticed from taking a look at each of my photoshoots is that I don’t have a particular style yet. I realize that as a photographer, that might seem a little off but I see it as a blessing in disguise. I’m able to adapt to my surroundings and to really bring out the essence of my subject. Each photoshoot that I’ve done is entirely different, which is primarily due to the fact that each subject is different and each concept is different. I’m not stuck to one style and/or theme.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Throughout my high school career, I’ve had the most uplifting and loving teachers. Agapita Moreno, my art teacher, Rachel Ryden, my photography teacher, and Esmeralda Martinez, my Spanish teacher were a significant part of what kept my determination and passion for the arts running. I certainly had my moments of doubt, but each one of them helped me in their own way. I specifically remember the time that I turned in my photography assignment and upon receiving my grade, I was caught off guard a bit. I ended up receiving a B rather than an A, and Mrs. Ryden’s response left me in awe. She said, “Alex, I loved your work but I also know you. I know you can do better and if you just try a bit harder even when it gets tough, you can receive the A you were hoping for” and that was truly my wake-up call. It taught me to never settle, even with myself.
Contact Info:
- Email: byalexsofia@gmail.com
- Instagram: personal acct: instagram.com/justalexsofia & business acct: instagram.com/byalexsofia
- Facebook: facebook.com/byalexsofia
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