Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Barrios Najarro.
Hi Steven, 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.
My story as a photographer started in 2020, I was bored during the lockdown due to COVID-19 so I decided to focus my mind on something to get distracted. I found that photography might be the thing that I was looking for. So I decided to tell my mom that I wanted to get into photography. She told me that she would help me buy my first camera and so I started to look for a used camera.
After a month of looking for a cheap camera, I found one that was 175$, it was a Nikon D3200 with a kit lens, an old entry-level camera indeed. But back then it was everything I needed it. My mom gave me 100$ and I paid the rest. As soon as I bought it I started to reading books and watching videos about photography; from how to use a camera to how to edit pictures in Lightroom and Photoshop.
As the months passed by and I gained more experience, I gathered enough courage to sell my services as a photographer on Facebook. After a month or so of making my post, a person called me to ask if I was willing to shoot an XV party. I said yes. And that’s all it took in order for me to book my first client. It took me over a year and a half to book my first client. After that first client, everything has been easier now that I had a portfolio to show.
Over the years, I gained more experience with new equipment and got to meet more people. This school year I’m taking a photography class in my High School and it has given me a new outlook on just not the way I look at photography in general, but I way I look at art. My teacher, William Brink has helped me and encouraged me to keep pursuing my photography career. With his help, I learn so many things I never thought even existed that make a photo something amazing.
Last but not least, none of Barriospic would’ve been possible without the persons that helped me out from day one, the people I love the most, my mother and my father. Without them, none of my photography careers would’ve been possible. When I wasn’t able to drive, my dad took me to the most important photoshoots of my career. Without both of them, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today.
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 at all. The time that I had to set aside in order to learn just the technical part of photography is crazy! Having to learn not just the photography part of it but also the business side of it at the young age of 16 has been pretty time-consuming and tiring it.
I’m still in high school and taking AP, and DC classes. It’s hard to manage time for homework, manage and promote my business, and school itself. Being young is also a problem when it comes to booking clients because they prefer more “experienced” photographers. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand, is one of those things where you rather want to have someone with more experience if you can but still. It’s something pretty difficult to book clients just because of my age.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in Portraiture and Events. They are the pillars of my photography career.
Not too recently ago I started to take photos of my community, I showed in my pictures people working hard for their money, people that also have a dream and never give up and do whatever is possible to earn money, some people sell ice cream, and some others sell corn and fruits. With my artistic images, I want to give represent the Latino community, show that we never give up, and show that we always fight not only for ourselves but for our loved ones.
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
In general, 70 to 80% of the photography I know has been self-taught, the other 20 or so percent was thanks to my current mentor, William Brink.
You can definitely learn photography by yourself, you just have to be quite disciplined, and you need to remember that you can watch all videos you want, and you can read all books you want, but if you don’t practice photography you’re not actually learning.
Pricing:
- Portraiture starts at $150/ per session
- Events Start at $125/hr
- XV Starts at $150/hr
- The night Event start at $175
- Headshots start at $150/ per session
Contact Info:
- Website: barriospic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barriospic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088585733913
- Other: Google Reviews: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Barriospic/@29.8770977,-95.4506263,10z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xdcfb6fb6b4a3a595!8m2!3d29.8770977!4d-95.4506263
