My very first photoshoot will always have a special place in my heart. I was born and raised in Colombia and moved to the US 12 years ago. Looking back, I had no idea that, almost intuitively, I was doing what I’d be doing professionally 30 years later. It’s become a special story that I love to share.
My First Photoshoot at 17
One of the highlights of my photography journey has to be my very first photoshoot. I was 17, wrapping up my last year of high school, and I was getting more and more into discovering the world through photography. I’d often borrow my dad’s camera, excited to capture the world as I saw it. I had no idea that this simple photoshoot would spark something much bigger. Fast forward many years, and here I am, living in a different country, speaking a different language, and doing this as my job. That day still makes me smile whenever I think about how it all started.
One day, I asked a friend to model for me. Excited about the idea, another friend joined our little team and took charge of makeup. We didn’t have much, but what we did have was imagination. I bought a big roll of paper and some spray paint, creating our own unique backdrop. I don’t quite remember how I managed to hang it on the wall, but that makeshift backdrop became the setting for our creative adventure.
The Setup and Process
The setup was pretty basic. I turned off all the lights in my living room and used a table lamp for lighting. It wasn’t fancy, but it worked well enough to create some cool shadows and highlights. I was using my logic without knowing much about the technical aspects of photography or how light works, but I kind of made it work. We had a blast that day—styling outfits, trying out makeup, and playing with light and shadows.
Of course, back then we had to print the photos, and only a few have survived over the years. Sadly, we have just 4 of those old prints left.
It’s been a long time since that day, and what started as a passion has become my career and true love. I’ve built my own brand and turned my love for photography into a business that captures special moments for others.
A Fun Reunion: Finally a Second Photoshoot!
After years of talking about updating those old photos, my friend—who was my very first model—finally booked her second photoshoot. Since she lives in a different city, it wasn’t easy to make it happen before, but we finally made it work! We brought in a professional makeup artist to my home studio, and my friend mixed pieces from my client closet with some of her own. We did some mix of boudoir and glamour. Some lingerie pieces from http://www.amazon.com and fun http://www.freepeople.com pieces as well. We had an absolute blast, and the results were just as special as that first shoot, but with a lot more experience behind the lens!
The Result
The result? We created some beautiful images, but what really made this second photoshoot so special was making it happen after almost 30 years. It was a deeply nostalgic and joyful experience, blending the old with the new in a way that felt incredibly meaningful. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. From those early days with a homemade backdrop and a table lamp to now working in a fully equipped home studio, this journey has been amazing. I’m so grateful to share this moment with you.
