Art & Life with Tanya Parada

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Parada.

Tanya, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Photography for me began when my second-grade teacher gave everyone in the class a disposable camera. In all my eagerness, I filled up the whole roll of film before I even got home from school that day. None of the prints resulted in anything worth keeping, but that’s how I discovered my curiosity for all things photography. That and the National Geographic magazine subscription my dad gifted us kids for years. I’d spend hours after school awing over the raw emotion and story-telling that filled its pages. When I saw the Afghan Girl issue for the first time, I wept. I knew right then.

When I was 15, my grandfather gave me a 1970’s 35mm Leica. I started doing portrait sessions with black and white film. And then people would pay me here and there to do Senior photos and that type of thing. I did that for a few years, until things turned more toward the digital scene. Then when I was 22, I started my photography business, and that’s when I started veering from portrait sessions to weddings. I guess it was because I felt moved again by that raw emotion and story-telling that resonated with me as a child.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’ve had the privilege to work alongside photographers I’ve looked up to for years, and who have influenced my photography style and have given me such gracious insight into this ever-changing industry, but I feel as many photographers do, whether they admit to it or not, that we will never be content with our work, because photography is this lifelong process of learning, adapting, succeeding, and failing, and re-inventing all over again. And that’s why I love it so much. It’s a human experience. And once it takes hold of you, you’re never the same.

What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
The biggest thing I’ve had to overcome in this industry is fear. Fear of asking for help or to be part of someone else’s community. We may feel like they are too good for us, or too busy. My advice is- just ask. The worst someone can say is, “No”. People are people. And appreciating their craft and artistry will go a long way. Don’t expect a free hand-out or a formula to “skip the line”. Many professionals we look up to have spent decades and lots of resources developing their craft. Pay your dues, pay your respect, and work hard. They will see that you are genuine. And that will aid you in making solid, lasting connections.

Contact Info:

• Website: ParadaStudio.com
• Phone: 7146603926
• Email: tanya@paradastudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paradastudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paradastudio/

Image Credit:
Photography by: Tanya Parada

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