Today we’d like to introduce you to Felix Quinones.
Hi Felix, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2018 I was in the process of transitioning out of the United States Marine Corps after 12 years of service. I picked up a camera to create content for the T-shirt brand that I had created. Moving into 2019, I was working for a very reputable casino in Southern California, where I managed the Learning and Development department. My T-shirt brand was no longer in full swing, but my urge to want to take photos continued to grow. At the time, I never considered getting paid to take photos, but I wanted a new lens for the camera that I had. My wife suggested I try and book a few photo sessions through the Facebook Market Place to have the hobby pay for itself. After two weeks and several $50.00 photo sessions, I had enough to pay for the lens, and I fell deeper in love with the entire process. I found that I enjoyed the client experience and interaction just as much as I enjoyed taking photos.
In 2020 the world changed for everyone dynamically. My Wife and I were both furloughed from the company we worked for, and neither of us had a return date in sight. Therefore, we had to decide how we were going to take care of our three kids. While we were both in the military, we met and got married in Fort Worth. We had always said we would move back when we were ready to settle down.
So, with no current jobs and a hobby that had garnered no more than $1,000.00 at the time, we decided to move back to Texas and start a photography business. I would say that the decision to start an in-person service-based business at the height of a global pandemic in a new state with no prospected clients was not the greatest idea I have ever had at the time. However, to date, it is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me and my family.
We have some of the most amazing clients and have been grateful for all of the love and support that they give us.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Lol, I don’t think any Entrepreneur can use the phrase smooth road. Ours was most definitely anything other than smooth. However, each step in the process taught us so much that I would not change anything.
Building an in-person service-based business during a pandemic in a state that you haven’t been to in over 10 years is not something I would recommend to many people lol.
I was lucky enough to have an amazing wife that supports me to the fullest.
If I had to provide three key struggles that overcoming made the biggest difference, they would have to be:
Client Acquisition
Marketing
Networking
The biggest thing that made a difference for us was networking. It was pivotal in the growth that we have seen over the last three years.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Our business is divide into two parts. We have our fitness and bodybuilding clients. We also have our portrait and content clients.
We provide high-quality images that tell the client’s story and maintain the brand identity that they have created. For us, the story is so important. It is who our clients are. We strive to ensure their story is told appropriately in each image.
We provide both natural light and off-camera light services.
Some things that set us apart in the fitness industry would be our lighting, the overall experience, and our knowledge of posing clients to showcase their fitness efforts in the best light.
Some things that set us apart in the content and business space would be our ability to understand the client’s vision and focus on the brand concept and marketing concept within each image.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I just want to say thank you to all of our amazing clients for allowing us to be a part of their story.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qthaphotographer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qthaphorographer
Image Credits
Felix A. Quinones
Leyna R. Quinones
