Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Estrada.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sandra. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It all started when I met my now husband. He asked me what I loved to do and I told him I loved photography and that my hobby was too expensive so I didn’t invest in it. The next day this guy bought me my first DSLR camera, it was Nikon!!! LOL. I soon became a Canon girl.
He also got me a bunch of lenses and a portable studio set up, and said “here, go do it!” I was like over the moon. Not only because I had a camera finally but someone cared to push me and my hobbies. That was way cool, so I did it just like he said too. I started shooting family and anyone that would allow me to shoot them. Soon I started doing coworkers families and it just developed from there. I worked for the government for 13 years and while I was there I started my business and it grew to the point that I was able to sustain my salary of 50K while doing what I love and I was able to give my resignation notice.
For the last three years of my government career, I worked full-time during the week and then came home to edit whatever I had shot over the weekend, it was a lot of work but I enjoyed it. Now I was able to stay home and take care of my two boys and do what I loved. I was more than over the moon at this time. Its been amazing ride so far that was five years ago that I quit my 9-5 job and I haven’t looked back.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been the worst for me. Yea I worked eight hours a day and then worked my butt off on weekends but I loved it, I enjoyed growing this thing that eventually became a means to my family. But, I can say that moving to Las Vegas initially hurt business a little. I came to Las Vegas thinking, “Oh I have my experience and my portfolio, Ill get work no problem. Well, I was wrong. I had to start over from the begging here. This has really helped my business though and now I service Los Angeles area and Las Vegas. I travel to LA area about three times a month to service my clients. I’ll never leave them. They all gave me my beginnings. I’m so thankful for them.
Sandra Estrada Photography – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
So when I first started, I went by Amity Portraits but soon changed to just my name as it was me and I wanted people to know me. I am a Latina with an aspiring business and a big heart, so thats how Sandra Estrada Photography began. I am the lead senior photographer.
I started out with family photography until I got good enough to shoot a wedding. A wedding is such an important day that people invest so much of themselves into, not just a bunch of money. So I wanted to be sure I was ready to take on such a big task. So I now specialize in wedding photography but I still take care of all the clients that were there with me when I first started. Also, my couples start their own families after weddings so I often help them capture their family moments as well. I love that I can stay with families while they grow and meet the new littles that come in their lives.
I’m most proud of the fact that 90 % of my clients are all returning clients and keep coming back. I feel like that says a lot about the service they are receiving from me. I love that my clients feel completely confident to refer new people my way.
What sets me apart from others is that I care about my clients, I have compassion for them and their seasons that they are walking through. I often become friends with my clients and get to be privy to private matters that they go through, I’ve been a shoulder to cry on, a cheerleader, and confidant, and a friend. I have clients that have married, separated and gotten back together and then had more babies, I love them. Thats real life and I that’s what sets me apart, I capture real life.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I personally define my success by the growth I now have not only in my home town of Long Beach SouthBay area but now in Las Vegas NV. about three years ago we relocated to Las Vegas NV but my business is still flourishing in Los Angeles area, I travel often for work now, and not just to Los Angeles. I’ve traveled to Mexico, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. I open to take my cameras anywhere they want to take me.
Being a Latina of immigrant parents, my success is defined by where we came from, my parents come from extremely humble beginning and they always believed in hard work. They always said you need to have good work ethic and good credit. Well, I think I have reached both of these main goals in order to make it in life. I’m very proud of where we are as a family and the ethic they instilled in me. Anything after that is a win and extra and I welcome it.
I’m looking to get more couples to get to know and continue capturing their lives for as long as I can.
Pricing:
- Family Heirloom sessions begin at 350.00
- Wedding Collections investments begin at 2700.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sandraestradaphotography.com
- Phone: 702-553-5774
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandraestradainc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandraestradaphotos/
Image Credit:
The picture of my was taking by my youngest son, he is 5 and his name is Benicio Estrada and wants to be a Photogrpaher when he grows up.
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