Today we’d like to introduce you to Salome Palomino
Hi Salome, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My interest in photography started when I was in high school. I took a digital photography class and fell in love with the art. My teacher later became my mentor through college and taught me the technical side of photography (shooting in manual mode, studio lighting basics, working with all lighting situations). For two years in college, I booked many unpaid lifestyle sessions to gain experience and build my portfolio. By 2009, I was charging for sessions and eventually became interested in shooting weddings.
In 2017 I second shot a lot and then booked my first wedding. I instantly fell in love with the entire process of photographing weddings. From initial interactions with couples to the final goodbye at the end of their wedding, I was instantly hooked. I had my first child the same year, so while I was juggling the responsibilities of motherhood and running a business, I also had the opportunity to stay at home and raise my baby.
The wedding industry was difficult for me to break into. It wasn’t until late 2020 – early 2021 that I began to receive an influx of wedding inquiries. Fast forward 5 years later and wedding clients are what I book most! It is truly a pinch-me moment to see the trajectory of this hobby turned dream job. I’m passionate about connecting with people. Telling their story through images I capture in the small fraction of time I have with them is a thrilling challenge, and something I don’t take lightly even years into the industry.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road! The first hurdle I experienced was trying to break into the wedding industry around 2018. I was only booking a handful of weddings each year until 2020. Initially, this was a challenging year, as it was for many small businesses. Surprisingly enough, 6-9 months after the pandemic, I began receiving an influx of inquiries. I believe the chaos of the year worked in my favor because couples were still getting engaged and wanting to eventually have a wedding. Many photographers had to see 2020/2021 weddings through contractually, so their couples’ dates got pushed which probably didn’t leave as many openings for new bookings. It left a space for photographers like me who weren’t booked out to take on couples that maybe would have overlooked me due to a smaller following or less experience.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a wedding and lifestyle photographer, servicing the San Diego area. I mostly shoot weddings but also take on a lot of lifestyle sessions throughout the year. This includes maternity, newborn, family, engagement, etc. There are two things I am most proud of: when I am able to turn out work that clients love, and developing lasting relationships with clients. They become friends! When either or both of those things result from our limited interactions, it just re-affirms my passion.
What sets me apart from other photographers, in my opinion, is how I direct a session or wedding AND my editing style. Every photographer has their own shooting and editing style. Even those that try to mimic their favorite photographer will have a different style, because they are a different person! I believe not one photographer is like another just because the way we interact with our clients when we are photographing them is going to be different. This is where our personalities come through. And it is a huge part of how the photos will turn out.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk is important. If you start up any type of small business, you are a risk-taker. There is a lot of risk that goes into starting a business. Will the business fail? Will people like what I have to offer? Will I still love doing this 10 years later? Is this going to sustain me financially? And these are all questions I have asked myself. 16 years later, I can say the risk was worth it! It took many years of experimenting, imposter syndrome, education, support from my husband and my faith to land me where I am today. I am so proud of where my business is today, but I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for risks.
I think the word “risk” has a negative connotation. I would argue that “faith” would be another way to look at it. When you take a risk, you have to put faith in yourself (and in my case the plan that God has for me!) in order to take those scary steps that can make or break your business. There has to be knowledge and research when making huge decisions, obviously. But taking that leap of faith is crucial in moving forward.
Pricing:
- Weddings start at $3,500
- Lifestyle sessions start at $400
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.photosbysalome.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salome_palomino
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photosbysalome
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/photos-by-salome-san-diego
Image Credits
@salome_palomino
