Today we’d like to introduce you to Pedro Torres.
Hi Pedro, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been an advocate for the arts. Whether it be photography, film, creative writing, dance, etc., I feel it is a necessity to society. I graduated high school back in 2012 and then attended UCSD. I have to admit I was lost and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life but I always knew it had to be something on the creative side. I decided to major in Communications with a minor in Film Studies. Keep in mind that while attending UCSD I was also juggling having two jobs and being part of a professional dance company all while being a full-time student. So, I guess you can say I have always been very active, always trying to overachieve and do as much as I can. I first started working when I was 15 and ever since then, I’ve always been used to having more than one job at a time and taking on as many activities as possible. I then landed some internships with a social media agency as well as an internship with the Media Arts Center in North Park.
This is around the time where I began to pick up a camera and started getting more into photography. At first, I was interested more in writing and even began a small film criticism blog. I was also creating content for some businesses in San Diego writing their Instagram captions and planning their feeds. It was creative and fun, but it definitely wasn’t something I was completely passionate about. After using the company’s camera for a while, I then decided to invest in my own camera. I didn’t have much money so I bought a used one from a friend, a Sony a6000. I quickly began to shoot more and more and had the opportunity to get creative with many different styles of photography. I loved the idea of being able to capture anything from my point of view and sharing that with as many people as possible. I didn’t focus on a particular style of photography because I wanted to experience a bit of everything. And luckily, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of many different types of shoots. With the social media agency, I work with (Inova Think Smart,) I have had the opportunity to shoot food, drink, beauty products, and hotel amenities, all while letting my creative side flow. Through these experiences is where this next step of my life comes in, Pedro Torres Photography.
At first, I took it on as a hobby. Shooting and practicing for friends and family. I would do small sessions but I wasn’t comfortable enough to open up to more people. It felt scary knowing that people would have to rely on me for moments that last a lifetime. But after all these experiences, I took the courage to open my own Instagram and share my work with the world. I began to explore more types of photography, both personal and as a job. I invested in better equipment and began to shoot away. Apart from the food, drink, and product photography, I now have had the pleasure of shooting for interior design, weddings, families, couples, graduations, gender reveals, maternity, and travel, and now I am also getting involved in the world of concert photography. It’s still a work in progress but I currently love where my life is heading right now. I’ve had many ups and downs, but I know and feel great about this adventure.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has been a struggle. Particularly because of how saturated the photography market is in San Diego. You really need to be as authentic and humble as possible. You have to be honest with yourself that there will always be someone better than you at what you do but this just gives you an incentive to always learn and grow.
This past year has probably been the worst year of my life and at the same time, I wouldn’t be where I am currently at if it wasn’t for it. I got comfortable where I was at that I wasn’t growing or being at my full potential. About half a year ago, my life took a complete twist and it all hit me by surprise. I realized life is never certain and you have to be ready to get back up on your feet and keep grinding. Because at the end of the day, time doesn’t stop for anyone.
It took me a couple months to realize this and take a hard look at myself, sit down, and actually decide what I wanted for me. I got serious about my work, made a few more investments, and just kept working and working. And for the past few months, it has been going great for me. I have a full-time job, a part-time job, my photography business that is still growing, and I am doing freelance photography here and there shooting restaurants, breweries, and concerts. I am busy 24/7 but I wouldn’t want it any other way. My passion is what has kept me going and I have many people who fully support me. Not all jobs generate a great amount of income, but as long as I gain experience from it, I feel it as an achievement.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
If you open my Instagram page @pedrotorresphotography, you will find that this is still a pretty open-ended question. I think what sets me apart from others is that I don’t just focus on one type of photography. Sure, I have my certain favorites, but I am always open for any type of photography or any new experiences. And because of this, I have been very lucky and have had many opportunities that I would’ve never expected to have. Recently, I was able to shoot Jesse & Joy, a Mexican pop duo, at the House of Blues here in San Diego for the company R3venta2. This duo of brother and sister have a following of 3.6M on IG and I can proudly say they posted one of my pictures to their feed. It’s crazy that when I see the picture, I can say that I took that. My tag is there on their profile. I also had the opportunity to shoot other artists such as Rauw Alejandro, Little Jesus, C. Tangana, LP, and Panteon Rococo, among others. My work has also been shared by Samuel Adams Beer in collaboration with Chula Vista Brewery. It’s all these small things that help me and push me to continue and be better.
Last month, Chula Vista Brewery also gave me the opportunity to showcase my photography at their Third Avenue location. I was bale to showcase around 15 photographs and I sold all of them. It was when I realized that I am pretty good at my work and I do have people who fully support me.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Being content with yourself. I don’t define it in terms of riches, but rather being proud of yourself. Knowing that your particular set of experiences has led you to where you are at and that you are completely different to everyone around you. And that is what makes you “you.” As long as I know I have given it my all, I can say that to me is being successful. I am a firm believer that if you’re true to yourself, things will eventually fall into place.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pedrotorresphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pedrotorresphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pedrotorresmedia
