Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Melendez.
Tiffany, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been around cameras my whole life. As a child, I was taught the importance of capturing and cherishing memories. My mom was always the one carrying around a film camera to take pictures of my family and I. (Funny how the roles have now changed) By the time I got to elementary school, I joined a yearbook class that inspired me to capture everything and anything around me. From there, I fell in love with having a camera in hand. I remember asking for a digital camera for Christmas when I was in middle school. At the time, MySpace was the latest and greatest social media around. I was obsessed with updating my MySpace profile and profile pictures. When I finally got a digital camera, I would carry it around with me everywhere. By the time I was in high school, I knew I wanted a DSLR camera because that would really make my photography stand out. So, with all the tears and sweat of working a fast food job at 17, I bought myself my very first camera.
When I finally got it, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with it. I began by capturing landscapes and doing what I knew best by carrying my camera with me along the way. I remember through this period, someone messaged me and asked if I would capture their pictures. I remember feeling scared because I didn’t know what I was doing, so I persuaded them to go a different photographer route. A year after that, I began feeling more confident with my camera. I began my photography career with graduation and family photos and through the years realized that as a hopeless romantic, my favorite type of photography to capture is couples.
Through my time in school, I managed to earn two degrees. In my undergrad, I studied business marketing. I enjoyed my time studying the subject. After many different career paths, I always knew I wanted to be on the creative side of marketing. I was lucky to have the opportunity to work as a content specialist in Strategic Marketing and learned so much about marketing. With photography being what I love, I always kept my business going, aside from my full-time job, as that was my favorite creative outlet. With time, I realized that I am meant to be a photographer and live creatively. I love working with others and making them feel beautiful and seen. It’s been a month now that I have taken on a full-time career in photography with an amazing company that allows me to capture a broad range of photography while also capturing my clients through my own business. I can truly say that I am living my purpose.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
This is somewhat of a loaded question because it’s all about perspective. When I first started photography, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with it. I didn’t go into it knowing exactly what I would get out of it. All I knew was that I really enjoyed taking pictures, and I wanted to start capturing others as a form of that love for the hobby of photography. The first part of my struggles was in learning the basics, familiarizing myself with how I would go about the client experience, and so forth. The struggles are everchanging. Managing school, a job, a photography business, and a social life all felt like struggles at first, but I learned they were just growing pains. I have learned so much and have had different hurdles I have had to overcome, but every single one of them has helped me figure out what photography means to me, and it is everything.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am proud to say that I am currently a full-time photographer. I specialize in lifestyle and wedding photography but get to capture all different types of photography because I work for an amazing company that allows me to capture many different categories of photography such as events, food, portraits, etc. People know me for being a lover of nature, plants, and sunsets. I prefer to capture most of my clients in natural daylight and usually in an open field setting or somewhere with a lot of trees and pretty views. Shooting at sunset hour is also a favorite of mine because it is the best time of the day!
I am most proud of how comfortable I can make others feel. I pride myself on providing a safe space for my clients where we can share intimate moments that I will be able to then capture and tell the story of my client.
What sets me apart from others is that I always set the intention that my photography will capture a story. I live for organic, loving, intimate moments. As your photographer, I will always make sure to capture just that.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
My favorite thing about my city is that it is full of creatives. I am surrounded by a community of amazing artists! I am constantly inspired by the talent that lies within the Inland Empire. If I had to choose one thing I like least about my city, it’s that the beach is not 5 minutes away, haha. :/
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tiffanymelendezphoto.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/tiffanymelendezphoto
