Rising Stars: Meet Felisha Carrasco

Today we’d like to introduce you to Felisha Carrasco.

Felisha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started doing photography around college but I was just doing it as a hobby for fun. I took one photo class as an elective and my professor told me I should major in photography but I told him I don’t see myself doing this as a career…but little did I know.

While I was still in school getting my BA, I got a part-time job with the LA Clippers NBA Team as a game night staff, but my boss knew that I loved photography so she then helped me get into a social media assistant role with the team. From there, my supervisor in the media department started letting me bring my camera around to take photos during pregame. One day the rapper Problem came to do sound check for his halftime performance and I took some photos of him, showed him and he liked them and got me in contact with his manager. From there, the ball started rolling and I started shooting a lot of concerts. I was still working at the Clippers when I then got asked if I wanted to be the Team Photographer for their G League squad. After that, I started getting a lot more sports gigs.

In between all of that, I was doing shoots on the side for my friends and family, just practicing my portraits, and I started getting more clients for graduations, engagement, family, and lifestyle work.

It’s been I want to say 10 years of doing photography, seven years as a career. Now I’m shooting for big events and clients like Rolling Loud, Coachella, Netflix, HBO, NFL and NBA.

Also, working with Public House Creatives, started by Dominick Verrette, has been a huge aspect to my success in photography, I wouldn’t be here without them.

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 has definitely not been a smooth road. As much support as I had from friends and family to pursue photography, there are always outside factors pressuring you to not do it, telling you it’s not a real job.

There are times, still, even being in the game for so long, where you wondering if you’re going to be able to make ends meet financially. Shoots get canceled, you’re trying to figure out how much you should charge, you’re waiting for checks to come. Your payment schedule isn’t consistent like 9-5 jobs. But ultimately, it always ends up working out and I keep grinding.

Lastly, being a women of color who is part of the LGBTQ+ community and being masculine presenting, there have been several times in my career where I felt I had to prove my value in my photography just because of the way that I identify and look.

At the end of the day, regardless of these circumstances, I’ve been able to make a successful photography career, and plan to keep working up in the industry.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I just received my LLC not to long ago, so I turned my photography officially into a business.

I photograph a little bit of everything. I’ve pretty much done it all, but I specialize in event, festival, sports and lifestyle shoots.

I think I’m most proud of being who I am, coming from an oppressed community, and being able to do what I do and make money from it. I want other people to see me and say, “Yeah this is actually something I can see myself doing too.”

I believe what sets me apart from others is my complete package. I offer affordable prices, my turn around time is unbeatable (1-3 days) while industry standard is about a week or more, the quality of my work speaks for itself, and the amount of photos you get back from me is triple the amount than the industry standard.

What makes you happy?
What makes me happy…going to bed at night and waking up in the morning and knowing I’m doing what I love to do as a full-time career. Not everyone can say they turned their hobby into a career. I’m blessed to be able to do that.

Pricing:

• Most sessions start at $160 hour.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/felishacarrasco55

Image Credits
Public House Creatives Christian Galvan @wydjody Diandra Miller @devynmb_