Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrián Tapia Rivera.
Adrián, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I got my first DSLR camera in November 2014 when I was living in Querétaro (a beautiful city in the center of Mexico) after selling cool shirts to my friends and saving enough money to buy a “fancy” camera. I learned by myself reading articles, watching tutorials and experimenting.
I already had an idea of how Photoshop worked because I discovered it when I was 12 years old and started using it to make bubbly eyes and funny faces on my friends’ photos or even montages; like a photo of my sister jumping, cut off and placed on the top of the Tower Of Pisa as if she was just jumping off the tower (a little odd for a 12 years old now that I think about it…).
So when my photos started getting better I started with “voluntary cooperation photo shoots” where my friends would just give me as much as hey could afford. I did pretty well to be honest.
A year or so later I moved to Mexico City and started studying photography in a school where their branding was good but their academic level wasn’t so they got me. My photos would always stand out when we showcased them in class because I was ahead of everyone since the first day. I was too passionate to just go home and stop thinking about photography.
Nine months later while I was still in that school, a life-changing opportunity knocked on my door and I ended up moving to San Diego where I slowly started doing photography more and more often. I started connecting with people in the industry and it slowly transitioned to be my full-time job.
I’ve attended as to New York Fashion Week, LA Fashion Week and other big events as Media or Press with access to backstage and all that cool stuff and yes, it is as cool as it sounds. I’ve worked with some big celebrities, models, companies, brands and incredibly talented people in the industry which I’m infinitely grateful for because it’s their trust in me that that has brought me where I am today. I go back and forth between LA and San Diego depending where the clients are but hopefully sometime soon I’ll move to NYC because since I went there the first time in 2017, I fell in love with it.
I currently do Fashion and Commercial photography, sometimes events and other stuff to pay the bills of course but I’m still as passionate as I was that day back in November 2014 when I got home from school and opened the box to my first DSLR that changed the course of my life in the greatest way I could think.
Has it been a smooth road?
There’s always bumps on the road but it’s all about perspective. I had some terrible experiences happen to me but as difficult as they would be, I’d always try to find a positive side and take them as learning experiences which have helped me grow but having the right mindset is key to this. The world doesn’t hate you. We all go through rough experiences. It’s a matter of whether you let it affect you or you become better from it.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into your story. Tell us more about the business.
I mainly do Fashion and Commercial Photography. I work with fashion designers, models and brands mainly to create content for their branding, advertising, etc. I sometimes cover events; from NYFW runways to weddings. I love what I do so even though I’m trying to focus on Fashion more than anything, I’ll take most projects I’m offered.
My photography style, when I have the creative freedom, is either very dreamy or dramatic. I usually shoot from low angles, I like showing movement, strong and powerful expressions and poses, the background is key to my shots and I’m really mindful about the position, angle, color and intensity of lighting, I usually like creating high contrasted images even if it’s a cloudy day. I like using studio lighting outdoors too.
I think that more than cool photos, I also offer a unique experience of a really fun and comfortable environment for models to take out their more artistic selves in an extremely respectful and empowering way.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think there will be a decline in the professional photography industry because of all the technology out there that helps amateurs create nice photos. If anyone with very basic knowledge, shoots a photo with a $4000 camera, the results are going to be very good. Smartphones have incredible cameras that sometimes will shoot even better photos straight from camera (before editing) than a DSLR.
Of course, there’s way more than just snapping a photo with a cool camera but with all the advances in tech, taking a professional looking photo is becoming easier and easier to anyone with a smartphone.
I believe that if us (photographers) want to stay in the industry, we have to develop a unique style that will set us as artists more than just photographers so that it really is our specific vision what people hire us for and not just nice photos. More and more companies are starting to need content created for branding and advertising so tech companies are making it easier to create visually attractive content which is taking photographers’ jobs.
Pricing:
- I offer different packages that start at $119 or if you get lucky you might even find some deals I put up randomly in my Instagram Stories of $50 shoots and stuff. I offer different packages that are 100% customizable.
- There are also packages designed for Magazine Publications and others for brands and businesses so for more information please contact me through my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.adrianthephotographer.me
- Phone: 6195985038
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/adrianthephotographer
- Facebook: facebook.com/adriantapia.photo
Image Credit:
Models: Yilena Hernandez, Gallego, Kiera Hulsey, Jaenna Wessling, Emily Jiles, Olia Carter, Annette Villalobos, Oufits/Dresses: Willfredo Gerardo, Mariana Harutunian, Baza Couture. Hair and Makeup Artists: Adriana M, Shlomi Hillel, Darcy Aguayo, Janette Cruz, Tavi Meraz.
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
