Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Ruiz.
Bianca, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was about eight years old when my parents purchased our family’s first point and shoot camera. I remember always taking it and using up the battery just taking pictures of random objects. When I turned 14, I saved up birthday money to buy my very own point and shoot Canon and did some creative shoots with my friends and family. I went to college thinking psychology would be my passion and to make a long story short, it wasn’t. I saved up money for a basic cropped frame DSRL camera and started to build my portfolio with families and friends around me. I can’t explain the feeling I get when I am holding a camera in my hands, it just feels right.
The reason why I listed out my age and the cameras I went through is relevant to how I figured out photography was my passion. I went through some hard times in life wondering, “What was I made for?” “What is my purpose?” and I had movie-like flashbacks where I saw the most times I could remember having fun, was when I was taking pictures.
I have been running my business, Bianca Carina Photography, for four years now. I have been able to see the growth in my creativity, clientele, and my work. Something I love about photography is I always find room for improvement. There is always something new I want to try or something in my technique that I want to change. Photography is ever-changing and you can grow with it.
Persistence is key, and I’ve been raised to know that when I want something, I will work my butt off to get there. Social media marketing is a huge way that I’ve grown my clientele, but nothing beats someone saying they heard of me from word of mouth. When you are booking a session with me, you aren’t just booking a photographer, you’re booking a person genuinely interested in your story and it is portrayed in the portraits I take of my clients. I can’t take all the credit. I have amazing family and friends who have helped me along the way. For them, I am eternally grateful.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting a photography business that can come off as easy, but it can be pretty tedious. Growing a client base is probably the first struggle, but if you create a great experience for your clients, people will start to flow in. I think people assume starting a photography business means investing in a camera and instantly making it back. That’s not always the case. I invested in a camera, did a good amount of free sessions to build my portfolio, and then began to get my money back slowly. Also, there was a lot more responsibility than I thought. I had to run my social media, respond to emails and messages; no one talks about the accounting side of things. As time went on, I caught on and now everything runs pretty smoothly.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Bianca Carina Photography is a DFW based photography business. I take photos of families, couples, weddings, and product photography/ branding. As my company has grown, I am very proud of the consistency I have with my clients. I love building relationships with my clients! My work comes out best when their personalities shine through and that comes with their trust in me. Something that sets me apart from other photographers would be that I am very versatile. I try my best to fit the same look for families, couples, and weddings, but with branding and portraits, I can make my look more neat or artistic. Having previous modeling experience has given me a different perspective on how to make my clients comfortable and confident in front of the camera.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I have always been very outspoken and able to make a conversation with just about anyone. This still helps me today when speaking to my clients and getting them comfortable in front of the camera. I have also always been very driven. If I want something, I am going to get it. My parents raised me to earn things. I wasn’t just handed anything I wanted. My business and equipment was no exception. I worked two jobs to get my dream camera body. Interest wise, I was very into sports, modeling, and art. Modeling was a stage I went through from 12-17 and I met some cool people and did some cool work. I am thankful for my experiences because it showed me that I prefer being on the other side of the camera haha. Volleyball was the main interest in my middle school to college years, it’s something that I will always consider a hobby. Art was a hobby that has been passed down through my family. My family is full of singers and painters. My parents were always so supportive of my paintings and drawings. I even won awards at art competitions during high school. Photography was just my form of art that has stuck with me since I was eight and will always be my favorite.
Contact Info:
- Website: biancacarina.com
- Email: bianca@biancacarina.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bianca.carinaphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bianca.carinaphotography/
Image Credit:
Bianca Carina Photography
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