Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Sebastian Farach.
Evan Sebastian, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started photography when I was five years old. My mother gave me her point and shoot camera to take pictures at my grandparents’ 50th anniversary so that I was entertained. All the guests at the party smiled and loved posing for me and so my photos turned out pretty good! That same year, I started homeschool and every week we would take a field trip where I would take photos to capture what I had seen and learned. This went on, and still goes on, as part of my homeschool education.
We moved from California to Texas when I was nine years old. Before our long road trip my father gave me my second camera, a waterproof Nikon point and shoot. My parents gave me the task to document our road trip, which looking back, I am thankful that they did. I am pretty sure I would have missed a lot of the scenery if it were not because I was constantly taking photos. This experience opened my eyes to different compositions.
My third camera was my iPhone. I loved how I could easily add filters and crop an image using a variety of apps. My mom shared some of my images on her Facebook page and she would tell me how much our friends and family liked them. This was very encouraging! One of our friends even used one my photos as a theme for her Relay For Life booth. She is a cancer survivor and mentioned that when she saw my image (of my dusty shoes with the word “walk” written on it) it reminded her of the many times during her treatment when walking would take an enormous effort. She felt that my image would encourage others in the same situation to take one step at a time. Just recently I was able to donate my time and talent to a cancer charity in my friend’s name.
My love for photography stems partially from my father’s love for photography. I enjoyed watching him organize and update his equipment. He showed me what each lens did and what it could be used for. He saw my interest in photography and one Christmas he gave me a DSLR camera, my fourth camera. For the next few months he taught me how to use the camera and how to shoot in manual mode.
My first photo shoots took place a few years ago. They were of my sister, bunnies, and dogs. I was twelve years old. I remember packing the car with props with hopes to find a secret, undiscovered location. I feel blessed that my family loves photography as much as I do. We can sit and wait for hours to capture the perfect sunset or sunrise – just as we can drive for miles and miles to capture a beautiful bluebonnet patch or starry night.
I will always be grateful to my supportive church, homeschool group, and community. They were my first clients and their encouragement and referrals brought me to where I am now. I enjoy the creative process, before and after the session, but more than anything I LOVE my clients’ reactions to their photos. Their generous feedback is what keeps me going!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My biggest struggle had to be post-production. I am not going to lie, it was daunting and terrifying at first. Several times I returned from a session with images that needed a lot of adjusting. The time that I would spend in post-production was insane. I could handle Light room easily but Photoshop was intimidating and I didn’t know where to begin. At the same time, I felt that my monitor and camera needed an upgrade. We had a family meeting and the decision was made to hold off on several home improvements and use that money to purchase the equipment I needed. After several weeks of intense Photoshop lessons and using my new equipment I felt like my business could compete with the others out there. I know that I will face other obstacles in the future but having my family as my biggest supporters gives me peace of mind and the drive to keep going.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business, www.evansebastianphotography.com , is currently focused on portraits – family, couples, children, babies, and headshots – outdoors and in my studio. Even though it is a very saturated market I am constantly learning new techniques and searching for new locations. When I plan each session I make sure that the location and the props will help me tell a story. Even if I take two families to the same location I try to capture a different emotion. I guess this is what sets me apart and it is what I am most proud of. I am not just taking photos but I am trying to capture “that special moment” that will be in that family’s life forever. I hope that every picture I take deeply touches someone, that the emotion will be eternally attached to it. That is my goal.
What were you like growing up?
This is an interesting question because I am still growing up. I turned fifteen in March. I would say my personality is very easy going, perceptive, cautious, and quiet. I like to take in my surroundings for a while before engaging. You could say that I probably am more comfortable behind the camera than being in the spotlight. My current interests range from playing video games and learning computer science to riding my bike and playing tennis with my sister. Most of my weekends are booked with clients but if I am free I love to travel!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.evansebastianphotography.com
- Phone: 9162211438
- Email: esebastianphoto@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evansebastianphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evansebastianphotography/
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