Daily Inspiration: Meet Kristal Diaz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristal Diaz.

Kristal, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My career began in May of 2021, just as venues & clubs were starting to open back up. At the time I was mainly shooting landscapes and street photography, but a friend of mine named Dutches Richards was kind enough to show me the ropes of event photography. We began reaching out to any and all local bars & clubs looking for or lacking a media team. Within a few weeks, we got our 1st gig and from that point on has it been a complete roller coaster. Since that first gig, I have had the opportunity to photograph some of my all-time favorite artists and events. There is still much more I would like to accomplish and now feel like it is all possible with a little bit of hard work. While it has all gone by so quickly, I would not be where I am today without my family and all the wonderful people and teams that I have had the opportunity to meet & work with. This community is so empowering and never fails to inspire me to create.

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?
It has been quite a bumpy road, hehe. Things move very fast in this industry at times, it can be very overwhelming for me. I learned very early on that there are layers to this field and being your own “boss”. It was and still is at times intimidating to lean how to market myself and my art. I found that many artists I’ve come across also struggle with generating & setting proper rates that justify not only their art but also their time. Learning how to network and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone has also been one of my biggest struggles. Thankfully, I have my older brother Jose who has been a staple in keeping motivated & helping me in any way possible. Nonetheless, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I have gained so many new skills that I can transfer into my personal life!

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?
I am an event photographer currently specializing in music photography. I capture the most incredible moments for a living & I absolutely love what I do! I shoot a wide range of music genres going from hip hop to house music to dubstep and so on. I am most proud of the fact that although it has been a bumpy I have stuck with my craft and am continuing to learn & improve on my skills. But also shooting EDC Las Vegas with the incredible team that is Killed With Kindness was definitely a very big bucket list moment for me. If you haven’t had the chance to experience being under the electric sky, I highly recommend it! I think what sets me apart from others is my eagerness & passion to shoot anything and everything. I really do look at photography as an outlet and way to express myself. Photography has allowed me to look at things differently and appreciate my surroundings for what they are.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
While I’m no pro, I would say if you’re just starting out in event or music photography take the time to really understand your equipment & all its functions. Shooting conditions can be very unpredictable but knowing the limits of your equipment and how to troubleshoot will come in handy. I would also suggest quality over quantity. Communicate with your client to get a clear idea of their expectations & plan out your shots to avoid any scrambling on shoot day. Lastly, things will not always go as planned & those days are the hardest but it is so so so important to remember WHY you started. Remember what drove you to pick up a camera in the first place and that excitement you felt.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kdfoto/

Image Credits
Photo of myself taken by Daniela Becerra Artist names in order of top left to right – The Game – Galantis – Galantis – Audien – Subtronics – Yg – Makj – Giuseppe Ottaviani