Rising Stars: Meet Jules Miranda

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jules Miranda.

Hi Jules, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a Puerto Rican photographer based in New York City. My passion lies in capturing raw, intimate moments on 35mm film – whether it’s portraits, concerts, weddings, or events.

Before diving into photography, I grew up as a dancer and studied theater. After college, I sang in a rock band until the pandemic hit and playing shows became impossible. That’s when I started taking film photos for fun. I’ve always enjoyed taking photos, but it never occurred to me that it could be a career.

As quarantine wore on, friends started asking me to take their portraits, and before I knew it, they were asking how much I charged. I realized that this could be something more, and everything fell into place. It’s been only three years since I started my journey, but I now run my own successful photography business.

I’m grateful for every opportunity to create and capture special moments for my clients. Photography has allowed me to pursue my passion and showcase the beauty in the world and in people. Now, even though it blows my mind every day, I’m able to live off of photography and even travel for it! Every time I go somewhere, I always post online offering photoshoots in that area. The first place I targeted was Los Angeles, and since I started my career, I’ve been able to go to LA at least once a year and have at least one photoshoot there. It’s one thing to be successful in your own city, but being able to take your skills to other parts of the country (and hopefully soon, other parts of the world) is a remarkable feeling that I am so thankful for.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest struggles I’ve faced as a photographer is imposter syndrome. Even though I’ve had some success in my business, I still sometimes feel like I “skipped a line” in terms of experience because I’m still relatively new to photography. However, I remind myself that everyone’s journey is different and that I bring my own unique experiences and perspective to my work.

When I first started out, I had trouble figuring out how to price my work and felt uncertain about my worth. However, over time, I’ve gained more experience and confidence in my abilities as a photographer. I’ve learned to value my time, skills, and the quality of my work, and now I feel comfortable pricing myself accordingly. It’s a process that takes time and experience, but I’m really grateful for my journey so far, and I’m always still learning.

Finally, I didn’t study business at all, so I had to rely on YouTube and free education online to learn how to run a business. It’s been a steep learning curve, but I’m grateful for the resources available to me and the support of other photographers in the community.

Overall, these challenges have pushed me to learn and grow as a photographer and business owner. It’s been a humbling experience but also incredibly rewarding to see my business grow and evolve over time.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My specialty is shooting on film. I love the way film looks, there’s something so magical about the images. I also love creating tangible art. The whole process of collecting film rolls, dropping them off for development, it’s all so satisfying and gratifying. I love shooting on different types of film and getting different results. It’s so exciting to *wait for your photos to come back.* I think we’re all really spoiled with instant gratification from our phones, so film teaches us to be patient.

I’m most proud of a zine I created in 2022 called Female on Film. It’s a series of photos and handwritten stories from 10 femme-identifying people and share each of their journeys with body image. The profits from this project are donated to “Fo’s Feminista” which is an international alliance for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.

I think what sets me apart from others, other than shooting film, is the fact that I didn’t take the textbook route into photography. I didn’t study it in school, and I’m completely self-taught. I use what I’ve learned in music, dance, and theatre in my photography. It gives me a unique perspective.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If you’re just starting out in photography, or any creative field really, don’t be afraid of taking risks. Say “yes” to projects as much as you can. You might have to do your craft for free at first to build your portfolio, but that’s okay. It’s part of the process. And even if, let’s say, someone asks you to photograph something you’ve never done before, it’s great to try new things and be put outside of your comfort zone. You’ll learn so much from just getting out there and doing it.

The one thing I wish I knew when I started out was how much of the *business* side of things goes into freelancing. Definitely study up! I kind of learned as I went along, which is one way to do it, but I do wish I had taken more business classes in college or online somewhere, to really set myself up for success. If you’re starting your own creative business, definitely learn about the business side too.

Contact Info:

• Website: julesandfilm.com
• Instagram: @julesandfilm

Image Credits
Headshot by Anthony Joseph Photography