Today we’d like to introduce you to Randall de Leon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have been doing photography since about 2008 but was mainly a hobby right out of high school for personal blogging and social media. Started my college studies pursuing a career in the medical field and finishing up my degree in 2014 to begin the steps on becoming a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. Finally finished my program in 2017 and have been working since then. Health care has always been something I enjoyed doing and loved the compensation but a part of me felt like I was missing something and wanted a career that allowed me to travel and grow alongside my family. In 2019, I started to put out my content as a photographer and booked my first wedding gig alongside my present-day business partner, Ken Soleta. Once we completed our first event, referrals started to come in and bookings began to add up. As 2020 began, things started to improve business-wise until the pandemic.
Bookings that were confirmed began to be put in limbo as the pandemic began to rage on and grow. It was a rough first year as I started to switch to part-time as a PTA and wanted to start pushing this side gig and hopefully turn it into a full-time career. Photoshoots still happened here and there during the first year, and weddings were totally different but I was very thankful for my clients who pushed through the pandemic as well as my clients who rescheduled into the following year to make sure they had the grand wedding they envisioned. 2021 and 2022 have been amazing just as things started to get better and open up again. Bookings and inquiries began to come in again and my schedule started to fill up for the foreseeable future. But the end of 2020, I fully decided to put my career as a PTA aside and fully focus on my photography. Even though I still see a few patients here and there, my business has fully flourished and I am seeing the growth toward a full-time career come into fruition as a Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer. Since then, I haven’t looked back and only excited for what’s to come in the upcoming years.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to where I am today was a little rough because starting a business when the pandemic began was a shock. None of us thought things in our world would shut down as quick as it did, but luckily I was able to use that time to fully focus on my content and marketing. Even though bookings were rescheduled and events were downsized, I am fully grateful for my wife who worked through the pandemic from home as I pursued this dream of owning and starting my own business. Money was tight at first, but I did what I needed to grow both with my content as well as marketing myself through word of mouth and on social media. I made sure to book what I could and put out products that showed my hard work and dedication to my clients. To simply put it, the first eight months were tough because everything that was planned out and ready to go in 2020, but events were either pushed back, downsized or even canceled so again, I am forever grateful for my clients who stuck with me during the pandemic helped my business grow and prosper with the exposure, referrals and constant communication leading up to their wedding days and celebrations. Things today have been great with a steady flow of inquiries and bookings, so I am excited for what’s to come.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My photography business is mainly focused around Weddings, Elopements and Engagements, but I also love capturing family memories such as holiday sessions, maternity shoots and even have branched out with company headshots to keep me busy all year round when some months are dry with weddings and events. What I am most proud of is navigating my way through each year and finding a look with my photos that helps my content portray my style with my products. I have learned how to interact with clients and potential clients on social media to help show my content both with stills, Instagram reels and even shot video clips and highlights from events and weddings. What sets me apart from others in the same field is that I love to personally connect with my clients and learn more about them and their love story prior to shooting their wedding day or even their engagement photos. I enjoy capturing things at the moment by giving my clients an experience where they feel comfortable and in their own essence. To this day many of my clients have been in communication, booking events and photo sessions even after their wedding day has passed. It’s fun seeing my clients grow over the years and it’s a rewarding feeling knowing that you left a lasting experience with someone who will always come back and book me for more milestones down the road.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I was definitely timid and afraid at first on starting my own business because seeing these other photographers online who have millions or thousands of followers just made it seem how will I ever get there. I kept my craft private and personal the first few years but as soon as 2019 and 2020 hit I took that risk to put my PTA career on the side burner and fully dive into my photographer as my main source of income. It was risky to me because not only did my wife and I have out first child but we were also expecting our second child during the heart of the pandemic. The risk I took was definitely stressful at first, but the support system I had behind me gave me the confidence and belief in myself that I could do this and to continue pushing each every day. Today I haven’t regretted my decision at all and I am happy for where this career path has taken me primarily with the growth and new adventures that have come along the way.
Pricing:
- Weddings $3000+
- Engagement Sessions – $450+
- Elopements $1500+
- Family Portraits $300+
- Maternity Sessions $300+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.randalldeleonphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/randalldeleonphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RandallDeleonPhotography
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/randall-de-leon-photography-burbank?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
Image Credits
Headshot – Kenneth Soleta
