Meet Ruby Varela of Pixels & Prints Imagery in Lancaster

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruby Varela.

Ruby, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started photography back in 2003 during my Junior year of high school. I then joined yearbook, taking photos and then continued my love for photography into college ultimately graduating with my AA in Fine Art photography. During my college years, I started getting hired to do weddings and family portraiture. A few years after college, I was picked up by the Antelope Valley Press as a full-time photojournalist, which was a big departure from doing the fine art and portrait photography I was used too. I struggled in the beginning but soon found a love for it.

From there I would take small weddings here and there on weekends. It was during this time I realized that Wedding photography was essentially a mixture of photojournalism and portraiture. In 2015 my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child. We had a baby boy in December 0f 2015. I had a choice to make. Go back to work and pay someone to care for our baby boy or stay home and attempt to do photography full time while caring for our son. It was a scary choice to make. I had a job with benefits, sick time and vacation time, but I didn’t make very much.

With the support of my husband, really a giant push from my husband. We decided to create Pixels & Prints Imagery as a husband and wife photography team. My husband has always enjoyed photography as a hobby and would second shoot for me at weddings. It was only suiting to join together to create our business. From there it was a sink or swim moment. I had to make this business work. We had a mortgage and bills to pay. I poured myself into my work, marketing, branding, and creating a business from the bottom. The support from our family and friends was really the backbone of it all. Without all the support from our community there’s no way would we be where we are today.

Great, 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?
Our biggest challenges came from the transition of being a freelance photographer into a fully licensed and insured photography company. There are no guides on how to do it. Just lots of reading, calling city hall, asking around, pulling permits, etc. It got to be a lot in the beginning but we’ve got a handle on it now.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Pixels & Prints Imagery – what should we know?
We photograph precious moments in peoples lives. Weddings, events, maternity, and family portraits. All the photos you see framed in someone’s home… that’s what we do! We help create memories for people to cherish! I’m most proud of what these photos will mean to a family in 10-20 years. Taking a photo of grandma with her new grandchild may not seem like a lot right now. But years down the road… that photo will mean everything!

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
You have to be a people person! You can’t be shy in this field. You have to be able to talk to people, start up a conversation and help them get comfortable in front of the camera. I’ve laughed with my clients, cried with my clients. You have to create bond with them, they have to let you in. That’s when you get to capture real moments! That’s what I live for! Capturing loving, honest moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pixelsandprints.co
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/pixelsandprints
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/pixelsandprintsimagery

Image Credit:
Family photo by: Photography by Regina Marie.

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