Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Gallegos.
Hi Carlos, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was the kid who always did well no matter what. School and the things that we are supposed to do came fairly easy to me. I didn’t have to study or try to hard, so I went through the motions when it came to the steps I took from high school on to graduate school. I didn’t really think about what I truly wanted to do. I knew school and an advanced degree would make the people around me proud. So, I went to college and just picked a random major, and thought, “I’ll figure out what I really want later”. Once I started college I focused on the extracurricular organizations I wanted to join, and I truly believe that I learned the most through these orgs. I proceeded to change majors four different times while I was in college, but I was not really invested in any of the curriculum. I was more interested in the administrative parts of the university because I was a part of Orientation and first year programming. I realized that my focus was in the higher education and administration realm, so on my 4th year, I decided I was going to graduate school.
Fast forward to fall 2019 and I start my time as a Graduate student at the University of Texas, with a Grad Assistantship in the Housing department. While I was there I felt the same dread about school I felt when I was in undergrad. I felt like it was just because I did not like class or homework, and I thought it’d be better after I graduated. However, I slowly realized through my Graduate Assistantship, that I did not enjoy the work either. I loved my time with students, however, that made such a small part of the job that I felt like I was working towards something that was not going to bring me happiness.
Once I came to that realization, I decided I would finish just to at least have the degree, but that I would figure something out for after I graduated. At this point, my mental health was in the toilet. So, I decided that I needed something just for myself. I bought a camera. I have a friend who is a photographer, and ever since I met him in undergrad I was very interested in trying out photography myself. So I reached out to him about camera stuff, and then I went wild. I purchased all the things, and went straight to YouTube to teach myself. I started taking themes and techniques from YouTube and going out to try to figure them out for myself. I slowly started shooting photos for friends and family while I was still in my graduate program, and I was realizing I wasn’t bad.
On my second to last semester, I am working with friends on a project, and I break down. I start crying and saying, “y’all I think I need to drop out”. The career I was working towards made me so sad. I saw the people who were in positions that people aspired to have, and I just felt like those jobs were so freakin’ boring! I thought to myself, “this can’t be all I have to look forward to”.
I could not see a reason for me to stay other than to be able to flex the fact that I had a master’s degree, so I dropped out. I dropped out, left everything to where I could go back, but I left. I started doing deliveries for a few months, and LiftATX gym gave me a job, and gave me an opportunity to develop myself as a photographer. I slowly began gaining clientele at the gym, and my style was developing into something that I felt was unique to me.
In July, I went full time, and told myself that I would be okay. Now, we are three months in, and I cannot wait to see where this journey takes me!
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?
Dropping out was something that was not expected, and many members in my family, friends, etc. had judgmental things to say. However, my direct family was much more supportive than I expected!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer and videographer, however, my focus is photography! I believe that the look I have is unique from other artists. But, I believe my energy is what really sets me apart from the rest. I try my best to bring high positive energy to my shoots, however that has to look. I want my clients to feel like I am just a friend who’s hyping them up.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Houston is the greatest city on earth.
Contact Info:
- Email: Carlos@fotosgallegos.com
- Website: FotosGallegos.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/fotosgallegos?utm_medium=copy_link
