Life & Work with Denise Conrad

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Conrad. 

Hi Denise, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Denise Conrad, and I am a professional photographer based out of Carlsbad, California. I grew up on the island of Guam surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, and moved to California in my early 20s. 

Photography is in my DNA. I have grown up with three award-winning photographers, each unique and talented in their own right. However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my uncles won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography. As kids, we were featured in commercials, newspapers, marketing ads while growing up in Guam. Photography was simply part of our language. 

However, photography wasn’t something I ever thought about doing as a kid. It wasn’t a profession I considered. I stumbled upon this in 2008 when the recession hit. I started a blog documenting family life and was told; I should consider photography. After much resistance, a friend sent me a check to photograph their favorite restaurants in San Diego for her new home in Chicago. This was the catalyst that started my career. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with any creative journey, sometimes you pivot. When the pandemic hit, my photography business paused along with the rest of the world. What I thought would be a 2-week break turned into years. Losing that kind of money was rough… and depressing. To cope with the chaos, my teen and I would drive up and down the coast at the end of my workday. When the walls felt like they were closing in, I would take my camera to the coast and just take pictures. It was my way of decompressing from it all. 

I found this new love of sitting at the beach in silence. Every time I went out, I sharpened my skills little by little… and felt rejuvenated. Soon after, my photos turned into artwork for homes. It brought a bit of nostalgia to those who used to live in North County. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In 2008, I started photographing families, editorials, weddings, trainers, products, preschool portraits, and whatever else came my way. I eventually settled into photographing corporate and families. A weird mix, I know. Kids especially, were my favorite. Catching them in their candid moments, the truly in-between moments was simply magical. This led me into learning more about the photography profession, and I attended the New York Institute of Photography (NYIP) emphasizing in Photojournalism. My corporate work has been published in Gems and Gemology Scientific Journal, City of Carlsbad print and social media, Modern Postcards, etc. I am also an iStock contributor. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
If you pay attention, the bumps in the road could lead you to the next extraordinary chapter of your life. 

Because of the pandemic, my photography business has shifted, I am loving landscape photography and the new community I’m in with TåsiNative. 

I am a native of Guam, a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. Tåsi stands for sea/ocean in my language. The sea is where I feel centered and whole in this sometimes-chaotic world. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lifeiscandid.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasinative/ 

Image Credits
Denise Conrad