Today we’d like to introduce you to Liza Rosales.
Hi Liza, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started in photography by taking classes in Junior College. It has always been my aspiration to become a Photojournalist for, at the time, Life Magazine. I somewhat put that dream on hold when I got married and had children, but that dream is always there. I pursued it when my youngest daughter started college. I joined a Photo Club in Orange County, where I met a photographer from the San Diego Chargers. I interned/assisted this photographer with various works to learn about lighting and sports photography. Eventually I got hired by the San Diego Chargers as staff photographer for their marketing department. This is where my interest in sports photography started. After leaving The Chargers, I continually pursued this field and was eventually picked up to be the photographer for the Athletics Department for Hope International University, where I cover all the sports programs for them.
During this time, I had met a commercial photographer that had asked me if I was interested in assisting him in his various shoots for multiple designers. This is where I honed in more in various lighting techniques and also peaked my interest in commercial photography work. I assisted this photographer for multiple years, which gave me the chance and opportunities in networking. This will eventually lead me to getting my own clients and doing commercial work. This has also opened up my creative ideas in shooting some editorial work and in which some of this work led to being published in a few magazines.
To date, I am a team photographer for Orange County Soccer Club as well as contract photographer for Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) and the US Women’s Soccer National Team. I also have various commercial clients such as Antthony Designs Original, Easton, Blast Motion, MOD Jewelry (for Harley Davidson), and ALBA just to name a few.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road for me getting to where I am at. As a woman in a male-dominated field, as well as a minority, I have to try harder in learning the ropes and proving to clients, especially in the sports world, that I am just as good, if not better than some of my constituents. The struggles I faced are proving that I can do the work and constantly having to call to get scheduled for a games.
One thing that I felt fortunate in getting the job with the San Diego Chargers is that their marketing department wanted to have a female perspective on the field as they have always had male photographers.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
One of the information I mentioned in an earlier question is that I put photography on hold until my youngest child was in college. I felt it was very important for me to be there for my children’s needs and have no regrets in doing so. This brought my photography career later in life, I was working full time as a graphic artist until lay-off happened. This made me decide on pursuing a photography career full-time about 12 years ago.
As I mentioned earlier, I am a sports photographer and have been very fortunate to be the lead team photographer for Orange County Soccer Club. There are not very many female lead photographers in a very male-dominated field. I am very thankful and fortunate to be one of the few to hold this position.
Since I have the experience in both fashion and commercial photography work, I try to utilize that knowledge in my work in sports. I love that I am able to incorporate the creative aspect of a shoot (editorial, lifestyle) in sports.
I am most proud of just being able to continually do what I do and meet so many other photographers that I have become friends with and value any and every advice that I receive. I always believe that a person is always learning, no matter how long they have been in that business.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Yes! My field went into a total standstill during the Covid-19 crisis. This was a struggle for me and I know it was a struggle for the majority as well. I used this time to re-think and re-learn photography. I took some online courses to re-learn photography history, learn about various photographers, and learn about how an image can affect the narrative.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lizarosales.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizarphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizarphoto
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizarphoto
Image Credits
Image #1: Courtesy Orange County Soccer Club Image #2: Courtesy Easton Image #3: Courtesy Orange County Soccer Club Image #4: Courtesy Utah Warriors Image #5: Courtesy San Diego Chargers Image #6 Model: Raeshae Shane Hair/Makeup: Crystal Martinez Stylist: Bernardine Thomas Photo Assistant: Ryan Kevin Image #7 Model: Michael Strickland Hair/Makeup: Crystal Martinez Stylist: Bernardine Thomas Photo Assistant: Ryan Kevin Image #8: Courtesy Easton
