Today we’d like to introduce you to Camila Gonzalez Photography.
Camila, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always been an art student. As a child, I chose staying in and having a photoshoot or making YouTube videos with my friends over any other activity. My love for photography has always been there, but I didn’t realize that it was my true passion until I took my first photography class in high school.
I spent every lunch and break I had in a dark room that was built in a janitors closet. The smell of developer and calming red lights are what made me fall in love. There’s nothing like being locked in a room alone with the photos you’re creating. It’s so relaxing and teaches you a lot about patience and the creative process. I took a photography class every year until I graduated.
I graduated high school a semester early, moved out of my parent’s house the day I turned eighteen to live on my own and began working. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to attend college so I stayed in my hometown for a couple of years. During those years, I got lost and wasn’t creating as much as I would have liked to. Working a full-time job, going to community college part-time, and being completely independent made it difficult but I’m thankful for that time. It taught me how to be on my own and made me realize that I wanted more out of life than working a job I wasn’t passionate about and living in the town I was born in.
I moved to Austin in early 2017 to move in with my partner and to attend The University of Texas. I applied to transfer and to major in Studio Design. Things didn’t go as planned and I got my rejection letter that summer. I was devastated and once again confused by what I was going to do. I took it as a sign that I didn’t need to attend college to be an artist and that I just needed to start doing what I love. So I did.
I quit my job in the service industry and went full time as a photographer.
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?
It has not been a smooth road. Starting a business is an insane amount of work. I knew it would be difficult, but nobody told me all of the things that would be involved. Marketing, advertising, networking, communicating, handling all of my finances, so much social media, and so many software programs that are necessary to run my business.
Beginnings are always difficult, and I know that these struggles are normal and that there will be less and less as time goes on. Being successful never happens overnight, it takes a lot of time and dedication. There have been a lot of times when I’ve doubted myself and have wanted to quit. Thankfully, I have an amazing support system that always convinces me to keep going and that I can accomplish anything.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Camila Gonzalez Photography – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a wedding, elopement, and couple photographer. I specialize in adventurous, non-traditional couples that are very in love, and want to have their love captured exactly as it is.
Weddings that are all for show are not my thing. I want my photographs and the people I photograph to be authentic, which is why I would love to eventually only photograph elopements! Elopements are an adventure for the couple to connect and do something they enjoy doing. I’ve heard way too many couples say that they only had a wedding because their family wanted them to. A marriage is not about anyone but the couple. So if you’re a person in a relationship and you’re reading this, do what makes you the happiest to celebrate your marriage. If having a wedding will only stress you out or you don’t even like cake, don’t do it. Do what makes you happy.
If you consider yourself out of the ordinary, like doing crazy things, love dogs, and love exploring, you are my kind of person. It’s people like you that I want to photograph.
I think this authenticity is what sets me apart from others. I am in love with my job and the things I capture because they are unique, and there is so much meaning in each photo. So much love and intention goes into every photoshoot I have.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
At the moment, my plan is to book more elopements and adventure sessions all over the world. I want to third wheel with happy couples and capture all of their special memories. Whether they’re getting married and saying their vows to each other on a mountain top or they’re going on a hike for a date, I want to be there. Once everything is said and done, photographs are all that are left to look back on.
I look forward to booking destination weddings and to seeing new parts of the world.
Pricing:
- Elopements start at $2500
- Weddings start at $3000
- Engagement and Couple Sessions start at $400
Contact Info:
- Website: camilagphotography.com
- Email: camilagphotography@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Camila Gonzalez Photography
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