September 14, 2016

Meet South Bay Photographer: Travis Silva

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis Silva.

Travis, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in a little town on the Central Coast of California and moved out to Venice Beach in 2001 right out of High School. There I tried to tap into the entertainment industry doing graphic design and web development which I had been teaching myself the previous year. Still new to that skill set and the area I had to work hard on making contacts. One of the contacts I made was a well-known radio DJ, who introduced me to many people in the industry. So although I wasn’t a master at my trade yet, I started picking up opportunities to get better. Driven, and wanting more money and more material things I kept chasing after things that I thought would bring happiness but never fully satisfied.

I started going to a church to find the answers and my life started to change. Instead of seeking things in the entertainment industry I volunteered my time to help the church with all the graphics and web development they needed. Through that I got really frustrated that there were no good photographs for the church, so I picked up a first generation Canon Rebel and started teaching myself Photography.

At first, all my pictures were average because I was shooting in auto mode. But then I began to learn how to shoot in manual mode, which gave me a wider range of creativity. I really began to like taking photos and people really liked my work. So people started coming to me to take their wedding photos, senior portraits, and that expanded into all sorts of jobs. My love for people made it even more enjoyable because every shoot we have a lot of fun and that brings out the best in people.

In 2006 I started Forgiven Photography out of a love for capturing all of God’s Creations. Being a creation capturer is amazing because God has already done the work of creating all the details, I just get to take the pictures and show the world all that He is doing. Many photographers say you have to be focused on just on thing, but for me, I love to shoot everything. Although working people is amazing, I also like to get out and sit in the scenery and capture God’s beautiful artwork.

I have been able to travel the world as a creation capturer, taking pictures of people, architecture, and scenery. I have even been able to share my gift to those people who wouldn’t normally be able to afford a professional photography. My heart is to see people blessed regardless of money. The smile that a picture can bring is far worth more than a million dollars.

In 2012 I was approached by a stock photo company which was just getting started. And since I had been shooting for years already in the area, they wanted me to partner with them to use my pictures. Because of what they stood for, I joined and now have sold thousands of pictures.

For me, Photography is a creative outlet. I love trying new things and pushing my understanding of light and what you can capture with a camera. Every place I go, I am looking for new ways to capture what others might have captured before. Looking for new styles, and different perspectives. I am constantly trying new things.

At heart, I am a teacher and love to share all the knowledge I have gathered over the years. So I find a lot of joy in teaching people how to use their camera and capture amazing pictures. It’s fun to watch creatives start to understand the technical side of camera functionality. When they get it, a light bulb goes on, and they just want to go out and shoot the world. Thier creativity begins to run rampant and being part of setting a fire to their photography desires, really makes me happy. I am thankful for this gift that I have been given and love that I get to share it with others.

Has it been a smooth road?
Because I wasn’t fully reliant on the income of my photography, I could build my business as I worked at the church I attended. So this allowed me to pick up the jobs that I wanted. After I went full time, everything had already gained momentum and word of mouth started to get me a lot more jobs. So I was very strategic about what and where I shot. I had the luxury of starting photography as a hobby that extended into a vocation.

What are some of the influences that have played the biggest role in your journey so far?
The most pivotal person in my life has been Jesus Christ. Everything that I have learned from how to run a business and leadership qualities I have found by reading the bible. He has also been my inspiration for all that I have captured and the more I shoot the more awe I come to because of His amazing detail to creation. Just how He lived his life with love has been my inspiration, and when it comes to clients they can see that. He has been the example of how to treat people and I have found that it works, and people are attracted to real love.

What kind of work do you look forward to most?
I love working with everybody, and every type of photography. Some come with challenges, which I like. And when it comes to landscapes, it just allows you to sit back and enjoy. My favorite would have to be Wedding Photography. There is just something about working with people on their special day and being part of making magical moments that they will remember for the rest of their life.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were just starting out?
Know your limits, and working into becoming better at your trade. Don’t do something just because you want to, but know if you can deliver the clients expectations. Also, work on building relationships. That is what matters in the industry. There are millions of photographers out there, but only one you.

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