Daily Inspiration: Meet Saul Duran

Today we’d like to introduce you to Saul Duran

Hi Saul, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My earliest memory of picking up a camera had to have been around fifth grade. I was going to science camp with my school and my mom ended up packing a disposable camera in my bag and I was taking pictures of my friends in the cabin. Funny enough I just found that camera a couple weeks back and ended up taking it to get developed and not one shot came out good. But I would say my most prominent memory of getting started was around my junior/senior year in high school. I ended up picking up a disposable camera and started taking pictures of my friends at parties and things we would attend. It really gave me a thrill being able to get pictures of my friends that they really enjoyed and it was a surprise at the same time because with film you really don’t know what you’re getting. I then ended up getting my first point and shoot camera and ended up getting a Pentax Espio 80v. I was always big into fashion and around the time i had gotten my point and shoot I was always going to this store in the arts district named Bodega. I truly enjoyed the outfits that the workers would throw on it just always screamed take my photos. I ended up going pretty frequently and would take pictures of the workers. At the time I had also made a separate Instagram where I would try to upload weekly. Eventually they started inviting me to events that they would throw at bodega and I was taking pictures of people who caught my eye. I ended up meeting a girl who I took photos of at one of the events and she ended up hiring me to take pictures for something that she was running. It was such a surreal moment to be getting paid for something that I was just doing out of pure enjoyment. A bit after that a bunch of friendships I had died out and I wasn’t shooting as much. I was still shooting here and there but it was just this girl I was dating at the time. Eventually that relationship of five years ended and I somewhat stopped taking pictures from like 2020 to 2022. Fast forward to 2023 I end up going on a trip to Canada with my mom in August and end up packing my camera with me. I buy some rolls of film over there and just try documenting as much as possible and this was completely different than my usual style of photos. My style of photos have always been candid shots. I enjoy capturing moments that you’re able to live through by seeing the image. It’s funny because now thinking back when i was doing it for fun and taking pictures of my friends it was always at parties or big gatherings and fast forward to today I’m still taking pictures in the same type of realm. But I get back from Canada I get the rolls developed and I fell in love with taking pictures all over again. That was the start of how I got to where I am today because shortly after a close friend of my invites me to this event that was happening on September 1st. Funny enough it was a zine party for this photographer, but he was interested in going because of one of the Djs that was going to be spinning. We end up going and I end up bringing my camera with me. The party was pretty intimate that we were able to talk to the Dj who is also a big time talented producer who’s named Mike Hector. I take pictures of him as well as my homie and other people at the party. I don’t know where this idea came from but after that night I was like huh I should try to hit up any event that Mike is going to be spinning at. His set was amazing and was a really cool person. I think it was the way I saw the crowd enjoying themselves to a good dj set it just kinda got me thinking wow capturing people enjoying themselves would be so fun to see captures through film photography. Mind you clubbing and night life has never really caught my attention and I had never been. The very next weekend he was going to be spinning at the Ace Hotel for this party named The Deep End that Briggs would throw. My close friend and I decide to go and see what it was about. We end up showing up and there is the longest line I have ever seen to get in. We end up toughing it out and wait in line. We finally get in about an hour later and I start taking pictures. Mike ends up recognizing that we were the same two people that had just went to see him last week. I end up reopening my Instagram that I had deactivated I upload the pictures and not only did Mike hector really like my photos but Briggs ended up really liking them. They both repost my photos to their story. Briggs ends up following me which was surreal I had like 200 followers at the time. I end up DMing him and tell him how my homie and I had waited in line for an hour he’s like nah you guys aren’t doing that I’m going to let my security know you’re good. Next time hit me and I got you both on the guest list. This was such a crazy moment because for starters it was my first ever time stepping out into night life and it was a blessing to get treated in this way. I just couldn’t believe it. I go there like two more times before I end up following Mike to a new spot called Apt 200. Special thanks to Mike every time I ran into him he always showed love and was always welcoming in the most genuine way. I take pictures at apt and he really enjoyed them again. I also really liked Apt 200 since the first time I went and now that’s where a lot of my work is surrounded around. Since then I’ve been blessed enough to be able to attend many different events and spots I would have never pictured myself being at and certain people as well where I’m like woah is this really happening right now. But none the less I’m so extremely blessed for the journey I’ve had as well as the beautiful souls that have all made it possible.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was definitely not a smooth road by any means. There was certain nights and times where I wasn’t allowed in to certain spots or certain nights where I didn’t enjoy any of the photos I took. There also comes certain times where you feel so uninspired and a lot of the work that you’re producing you aren’t liking at that time. There’s certain times where the unexpected happens and something happens to your roll of film or camera that are completely out of your control. There also comes this point in time where you’re going from doing free work to then wanting to put a price on your work and people aren’t really respecting it. There was a period of time where I felt like I was producing so much work and my time and efforts weren’t being valued what’s so ever. Don’t get it confused though this is the one thing in my life that I could do the rest of my life without ever getting compensated and i’d be so happy to do because I truly enjoy photography with all of me. But it really is different when it comes to film. I had to buy all my rolls of film and pay to get them developed. To top things off I also don’t live in Los Angeles, so I was wasting so much gas hitting up LA 2-3 times a week. At the time when I was putting in a lot of work I also had two jobs and would sometimes get out of the club at 2 am and would have to go into work at 4am. But eventually it all pays off you just have to stand firm and not let people take advantage of you and those who really respect you will pay your price.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a photographer who strictly shoots film photography. The majority of my work is surrounding night life , shooting pictures for events as well as Dj’s that need my work. My bread and butter is candid shots I just love capturing moments. I want people to get a feel of the moment just by seeing my photos. The love I have for film photography comes from the excitement and anticipation I get every time I do it. There’s something different about having to wait to see the photos you produced. Sometimes you go through multiple rolls at once and you kind of forget some of the shots you took and when you get them back you’re like woah that came out so good I forgot about that! There’s this constant wondering of did I do good, did the shots come out how I wanted them to come out? There’s also this constant urge to fix your mistakes when your shots don’t come out how you anticipated them to come out. At first I was mainly taking pictures with a point and shoot camera and eventually I got myself a slr because I wanted to push my knowledge and learn the mechanics of how aperture work and shutter speed and just overall have a way better understanding of how a camera really works. This is where my constant urge for fixing my mistakes comes from because working with a manual camera can be difficult. The results you get are all depended on the settings you provide the camera with. I try to be mindful and note what settings I used for each shot so If I happened to do something wrong I can go in an fix it for the next time. I also enjoy how creative you’re able to get with film. You could do things like double exposures as well as being able to get a different array of films that’ll have different results. Just as an example there’s lomochrome turquoise, which turns a lot of things in the shot this blue tone including skin tones. I just feel it takes a lot more skill to get good film pictures than it is to get good digital pictures. You are so limited when it comes to film I just cant shoot away and take as many shots as I would like to until I get the results I’m looking for. With digital you’re able to see your results in real time and you’re able to adjust accordingly as well as take as many photos as you would like to, obviously depending how much your memory card holds. The thing I’m most proud of is myself to be honest I’m proud of sticking to something that I’m passionate about and in result all that I’ve been able to accomplish has came because of it. There’s certain moments where I wanted to stop and I might’ve taken small breaks but I’ve stayed true and have pushed through it. I’m so very blessed for everyone that has made this possible. I’m very blessed for the constant opportunities that people give me. It’s such a great feeling to have people trust in your talent and want you specifically for certain jobs. Most importantly I’m so blessed for all the people that are fans of my work. I am slowly transitioning away from night life and getting more into photoshoots, bts for music videos, brand styling shooting and anything else that sparks my interest. I am always open to new projects and jobs. Night life has just became extremely repetitive for me and uninspiring. I want to branch into new avenues so I can push my creativity elsewhere. What sets me apart from others is how seriously I take my work if I produce something that I don’t like I will request the client to do the shoot over again. I’m a very hard critic on myself and have this constant need of having to do better than my last shoot. I also take a lot of pride in my Instagram feed, which is curated by someone dear to me. The photos are hand selected to fit around all the photos I have up on my page.

What does success mean to you?
Success is subjective but I would have to say that success to me is reaching a point where you’re happy with the majority of the work that you’re producing. Success to me is happy clients. Success to me is seeing the happy faces of those who just received my pictures back. Success to me is every little step taken to get to where you’re at. Success to me is ever growing and as long as you’re striving to be more than you are that’s all that truly matters. Success to me is never stopping even when things get hard. Success to me is being able to inspire others. Success to me is being able to be the blueprint for others to succeed and believe. Success to me is believing in yourself every step of the way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/35mmsalty/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@_boioioing?_t=8pq8b4XYyd9&_r=1