Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilliam Ribota.
Hi Lilliam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My photography interest started at the beginning of high school when I started taking over my sister point and shoot camera. I started exploring with the camera and practiced photographing my family around South Los Angeles. As I began to become involved in high school activities, I started photographing them for fun. I attended dances, blood drives, game nights and eventually joined yearbook. As I was in the yearbook, I realized I enjoyed photographing and sharing my point of view to others. I then focused on sports photography and tried to attend as many football home games to photograph them. As I finished high school and graduated, I got hired by different parents to photograph their sons playing football.
Later on, I expanded my knowledge in photographing on my own and decided to explore and find out what my interest in photography was. When I started college, I thought majoring in business was what I wanted, I thought it was the only way to have a good career and would make my parents happy because that’s what they wanted me to study. Unfortunately, studying something I didn’t want to study had to be out the door. At this time I was already too involved with photography and my knowledge was too advanced to be stopped from. I then had to tell my parents that I had switched majors to something I love and enjoy. I mentally prepared myself for the worse because I thought I was going to disappoint them. One took it horribly than the other but as of now, I have their 1000 support.
I now have my BA in Art, Option in Studio Art and hoping to be able to teach by next year. I have become a freelance photographer and enjoy meeting new people throughout my photography journey. As I continue to learn about photography, I continue to challenge myself. I decided to also expand my photography by having a Photobooth business of my own. It has been a challenge but happy to have a supportive husband to help me stay on track.
In 2018, I started attending soccer games with my husband and eventually became members of a supporter group of LAFC. I started to bring my camera to a few home games and brought so much memories of when I used to do sports photography. I started to volunteer at jersey release party’s, trainings, and home games and just post my photographs on social media for fun. I now take photographs of LAFC’s supporters and soccer players. I recently received my first ever pay from LAFC and it felt like a dream. Literally a dream. I never thought I would be where I am today and I am extremely proud. I have worked hard and learned everything I know about photography on my own, that I feel I have been rewarded for it. Being part of women in sports has been a bit intimidating because it feels as if I have to work harder but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Photography has taught me many lessons and one of them is memories last a lifetime. So take as many as photographs that you can because you never know what can happen.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the struggles was comforting my parents that I didn’t want to study what they wanted me to study. I wanted to focus on photography and earned my degree on that. One of my parents was upset and believed that the career I was choosing wasn’t a career. Hearing that made me doubt myself but eventually overcame it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a freelance photographer. I specialize in photographing families, couples/engagements, maternity, weddings, toddlers, and events. On the weekends, I rent and run my photo booth at events. I am known as being the first LAFC women supporter photographer. I am proud of being the first women photographer because I get to encourage others to join and motivate that they can do it too.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My mother – believed in my talent since day one. My father – supporting me financially when needed without a doubt. My husband – pushing me and reminding me that I have talent. Helping me stay out of my comfort zone so I can be better and do better. Emotional and unconditional support. My siblings – my photography models and #1 fans.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lilliamsphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lilliamsphotography
- Other: www.instagram.com/lafc.lilliam
