Meet Gabriel Encinas of Gabriel E. Photography in Orange County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Encinas.

Gabriel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My love of the arts, both performance and visual, began at home with my family. I grew up surrounded by entertainers and artists. It’s no wonder that I followed in the family footsteps, and for more than 20 years, I danced professionally around the world. It was during this time, that I developed a deep love for photography. While the countries changed, the one constant was my camera. When not shooting dancers’ bodies in motion, I shot their exquisite features and expressions. I am intrigued and inspired by people, and my joy as a photographer is helping my clients understand how beautiful they are.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
After retiring from my dancing career, I decided to transition my photography from a hobby to a profession. The struggle that I encountered was establishing my own client base, because for so many years, I photographed my friends and fellow dancers without charging a fee. It took some time for me to view myself as a professional photographer and change my previous mindset and start charging for my services.

Please tell us about Gabriel E. Photography.
I am a self taught photographer specializing in headshots and fine art/dance photography. I started with 35mm black and whites of dancers amongst the diverse architecture of Tokyo’s skyline in the mid nineties. Through my lens, I realized the dancer’s body emotes both a calmness and strength that has captured my imagination, respect, curiosity, and love. Digital photography changed the way I approached my art. The limitations of traditional film disappeared. I played with light in ways I had never thought possible, and began to use the camera to explore the simplistic beauty of the face, and use natural light as filters, and slowly developed the “minimalist” style that has become the hallmark characteristic of my photography.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up in Southern California, I have many fond memories of going to performances and shows. My most vivid memory is sitting on the curb on Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland watching The Chimney Sweeps dance down the street in the parade. I knew from an early age that the arts would play a significant role in my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: 567click.com
• Email: [email protected]