Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Valdez.
Hi Cindy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Photography started as a hobby for me when I was in my early 30’s. I loved it, and after a year of living with my camera practically glued to my hand, I learned that I could maybe make a living with photography. I spent all of my free time learning about all things photography and running a business; when bookkeeping was all of a sudden fun for me, I knew I was on the right path. Like most new photographers, I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out what it was I really liked to shoot and in what style I wanted to shoot it. I’ve watched trends come and go over the years, I’ve seen all of the traditional stuff, but nothing was really stirring anything within, ya know? Then, I saw a photographer who was new to me speak at a conference.
Her work was modern, fun, commercial style family portraits. I saw her work and was immediately shocked: “Wait, you can DO that? You can photograph kids and families in a studio without looking stuffy or boring? You don’t have to photograph them outside, in a field of wildflowers or on a rocky beach with the sun setting just so? Seriously?!?!” And just like that, everything made sense. I felt as if I’d just been given permission to do things the way I wanted to, not the way I thought I had to. Shooting in a studio indoors.
For the past few years, I’ve been photographing kids and families interacting with one another, being goofy or affectionate or athletic or all of those things and more. And I’ve loved every minute of it! When my clients reach out to me afterwards to tell me their kids can’t wait to come back for another photo shoot, that they had the time of their lives, and I can hear the joy and relief in mom’s or dad’s voice, I’m over the moon. And when they see their final images and the kids gush over how cool they look, and mom and dad get misty when they see that we were able to really capture their kids’ spirits – that’s my currency. That’s why I love my job.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Oh there were definitely struggles! Most of my struggles have related to figuring out who I wanted to photograph and how I wanted to photograph them. I always enjoyed the act of photography and all that comes with it but it took a while before I figured out what really brought me joy. And of course, like every other creator on the planet, I struggle with insecurity. What if they aren’t happy with their portraits? What if they’re just being nice? What if I’m a horrible photographer and no one has the guts to tell me? Am I looking at my work through Mom Goggles? Will they laugh at me? It’s a given, I think, for anyone who creates for others.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My portraits are simple, modern, bright, and colorful, and above all else, FUN! I shoot 100% in studio against a solid background – typically white, sometimes dark gray or blue, and sometimes bright colors if it suits the subject and mood. There is certainly a very heavy commercial aesthetic going on in my work, and that’s intentional. My inspiration usually comes from old GAP, J. Crew, Zara, and Milk ads. Creating this bold look helps to keep the focus not just on the subject himself but also on what the subject is conveying through movement, posing, and facial expression. My work is about the person, not the setting. My tagline reads: “Portraits that show WHO my clients are, not just what they look like.” Those school photos your kiddo gets taken every year? Those are for marking growth and remember what they looked like at a certain age. My portraits are for showcasing personalities. If your five year old refuses to take off the Batman cape and runs around the house going, “na na na na na na na na BATMAN!” all day, that’s what I want to capture for you. Because even though it can sometimes be The Most Annoying Thing in the World right now, there will come a time when looking at that portrait of him will bring a huge smile to your face and make your heart melt. And let’s be real, we all say we’ll never forget this time in their lives… but someday, you’ll go through all of your kids’ names and pets’ names before you call out to the right one, amiright? We can’t always trust our memories.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Patience. Which is hilarious because I’ve always said, “Patience is a virtue, it’s just not one of mine.” I’m horribly impatient, but it’s definitely necessary in nearly all aspects of my success. Having patience with kiddos who need some time to warm up to me is easy peasy. Having the patience required to learn, improve, and grow both as a photographer and a business owner is crazy challenging for me. I want to know and do All The Things right now, please.
Pricing:
- Session fees are $250
- Single images (in any format) start at $250
- Albums and Image Boxes start at $2000
- Wall Art starts at $950
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://cindyvaldezphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindyvaldezphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindyvaldezphotography
