Today we’d like to introduce you to Lily Tapia.
Lily, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve had a passion for photography ever since I was a small child. Growing up in Mexico and coming to the United States, we had a small amount of images of my family. That is where I learned the value of a single photograph.
In high school, I was introduced to the techniques of photography and learned about the art world. I remember I was given my first pink camera at that time and from there, I was documenting all the fun moments in Paramount High.
In college, I fell in love with fashion, I started doing shoots all around DTLA and anywhere I felt inspired! Architecture, colors, famous photographers, and my Hispanic culture inspired my photography style!
My wedding photography journey started when my cousin, an established wedding photographer, Rosalina Suarez Photography, asked me to assist her in shooting weddings. It was something I had never done before, but I was up for an adventure.
From the moment I shot my first wedding, I knew I had found my calling. With the help of a coworker, I was able to use his equipment to shoot my first weddings. Everything I would make at weddings I would put back into my savings to buy my own equipment.
Years later, I started my own business here in Southern California. I started photographing families after a year, I finally got to shoot my very own wedding!!!
It’s going to be four years since I started my business. Since then, it has been awarded The Knots Best of Wedding for two years consecutively and also awarded Wedding Wire’s Couple’s Choice Award for three years. I’ve also had the honor to travel to different parts of the world to document special moments.
I can’t help but smile every single time I shoot a wedding because I know there is nothing in the world that I would rather be doing. Life is amazing!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have definitely been some bumps on the road. It can’t all be smooth sailing or it wouldn’t be worthwhile!
Being your own boss may seem like all fun and glamorous, I’ve had to sacrifice significant time with family and loved ones to get me to where I am now.
The biggest struggle of running a small business is not having a lot of hands to help. I’ve had to learn how to market the business. Make sure everything financially is at float, figure out health insurance, taxis, better ways to impose my technique, how to create a stronger relationship with all of my clients. This is not even talking about daily things like editing, blogging, and emails (this list could go on)
I should definitely give a big shout out for Google and YouTube for all the help!
As women, we tend to be harder on ourselves, I feel like I always have to meet some crazy standards that I’ve created for myself. It’s a constant push and pull of “I can do it” and “What am I doing?” or “am I worthy?” Talking to other women in the industry always helps me reassure that I am doing well.
All of the struggles and lessons have only fueled my “Ganas” and perseverance to push my business forward. It honestly requires a lot of self-belief! I always think to myself, if Beyonce can do it so can I!
I’ve taken on every opportunity that has come my way like workshops to improve my skills and assisting different photographers. In addition, each quarter I like to evaluate the business and see how I can improve to get to the next level.
Please tell us about Lily Tapia Photography.
I am a quirky wedding and lifestyle photographer for fun couples in love! I currently live in the City of LA but I am passport ready to shoot weddings anywhere in the world!
Photography to me is my soul and I believe the camera is able to unveil my heart and what I see as beauty. Le vie est belle!
My obsession with art and fashion inspires me to approach each wedding in a fresh, fun, and natural way. Painters like Monet and Jean-Honoré Fragonard inspired my colors of editing. They are very fresh, colorful, and romantic.
Beyond snapping my couples unique love story, I build relationships with all my clients and keep things REAL, light, and always fun. I am a storyteller and in order to tell a great love story, I need to make sure I go in knowing who my clients are. From where they met, their love story, to simple aspects of knowing their favorite food and favorite music.
Plus it helps creates the kind of trust and bond that makes for those OOH and AHH images <3 images that will last for generations to come.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I think the biggest barriers today to female leadership is ourselves. I feel like a lot of us have limiting beliefs and let fear of failure or rejection make us take safe or easy decisions.
Being in this industry we have to believe in ourselves, our worth, and most importantly our craft. We constantly have to be putting ourselves out there with a “Yes We Can!” mindset to make our business successful. Being latina we have to self talk and know we belong in these new venues in life just as much as the person next to us.
If we don’t believe in ourselves, who will?! We deserve everything in this world!
In addition, I always want to help other women out who are entrepreneurs and trying to make it. When we help each other out with only love for each others success we can make big jefa moves! Jealousy and hatred only separate us more. At this moment, we have to be UNITED and empowered!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lilytapiaphotography.com
- Email: hell0@lilytapiaphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lily_tapia_photography/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LilyTapiaPhotography
Image Credit:
Lily Tapia Photography
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