Today we’d like to introduce you to Martina Castillo.
Hi Martina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Martina Castillo and I’m a professional photographer. I’m originally from a small town just south of San Antonio called Charlotte, Texas. I picked up a camera when I was a junior in high school and never put it back down. I decided to make photography a career and not even 2 days after graduation, I moved to San Antonio with only $130 to my name. I attended San Antonio College and earned an Associate’s in Art then I continued my education at Texas State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Fine Art with a major in photography and a minor in business.
While I was going to school full time, I had help and support from my parents, but still, I worked in the service industry to pay my bills and get by. I was 18 years old and working two jobs as a cashier at a BBQ joint and at a retail clothing store. My manager gave me some info on a new sports bar and grill opening up where he knew the owner. He told me that he thought I would be great at the job, and I should apply. I became a server and then later a bartender, all while going to school full time.
This meant I was going to sleep around 4 am every night and going to class 4 hours later, but it worked with my school schedule and the money was great. While working these roles, I met A TON of people, I didn’t know it at the time, but I was networking, and it paid off. The conversation always came up about what I was going to school for and what my interests were, and it was always the same answer. “I want to be a professional photographer.” I didn’t care what kind of photographer; I just knew I wanted to take my camera to work every day.
A friend of mine who was getting married shot me a message and let me know he wanted me to help be a second shooter at his wedding. He told me that I would still attend as a guest, but for the ceremony, he would like me to take photos from the first pew, AND HE WOULD PAY ME! So of course, I said yes! I showed up at the church 30 minutes early, and about 5 minutes before the ceremony, I was told that the lead photographer was not showing up. INSTANT PANIC! I was now in charge of shooting this entire wedding on my own.
I had only been to 1 wedding in my life that I could remember, and on top of that, I was wearing 4inch heels because I went dressed as a guest. Somehow, I pulled it off. I’ve always worked well under pressure, but this was a whole other ball game. After that first wedding, I was hooked. I decided, “If I can get through that, imagine what I can do when I’m prepared.” That then became my goal. I wanted to be a portrait photographer, but more specifically, I wanted to be a wedding photographer.
I invested more time and energy into learning how to make people feel comfortable in front of my camera. This seemed to come naturally thanks to my experience with customer service in the service industry. I then mixed those skills with my technical skills learned from school and well, here I am today. I have been a freelance photographer for over 9 years and have worked in all types of environments. From corporate America to parties in a bar.
Even though the settings and the people may be different, my goal is always the same. I want to show individuals who they are. I want to capture emotion and life’s most precious moments. Anybody can take a photo, but for me, it’s when my clients can look at their photos and be transported to exactly how they felt in that memory that makes me feel accomplished and proud of what I do.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t been smooth AT ALL. If anyone tells you it’s easy to be your own boss, they’re lying. Photography is not a cheap hobby, now try to do it professionally and you’ll end up spending more than you make. It took me over 5 years to actually start making money with my camera. It’s a hard business to get into when you have zero references and zero clientele. Unless you can find someone willing to go out on a limb for you, you pretty much have to work for free to build a portfolio.
The hardest thing for me was working jobs that I 100% knew I didn’t want a future in, and barely getting by. Having to get up every morning to go to a job I hated but had to do because photography didn’t pay the bills was a huge soul crusher. I started to doubt myself and I almost gave up. My loved ones were telling me that I needed to get a job where I could grow and make it into a career, while in the back of my mind I couldn’t help but think “Why can’t you just believe in me?”
I worked a part-time job and finally saved up enough money to get a proper website going and started booking clients. I was doing super well and started getting to the point where I was going to make the leap and do photos full-time. Then Covid hit. All of my weddings either got canceled or rescheduled. My business revolved around interacting with people so that was out the door. I did what I had to do and took on more hours at my job.
The good thing is that I was working in a grocery store and that job didn’t take a hit with covid, if anything, it opened up a world of opportunity. I continued to work there and applied for a corroborate internship and got it. I interned for about 8 months as a photographer, and it helped build my knowledge and connections. I am now working full-time as a photographer, and I would be lying if I said it’s not still a struggle.
I now have a clientele, and portfolio but because the service I provide is not a necessity, it seems I’m still taking a hit. Where we are now as a country, we don’t know what may happen to our economy in the next year, and that makes people hesitant to spend like they used to. This market is competitive as it is, but it’s something that I have to adapt to and figure out.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in portrait and wedding photography. I am most proud to honestly say that I become friends with all of my clients and capture their energy and personality in their photos. My photoshoots are fun and more like making memories with one another, rather than showing up and posing. It’s a whole experience for everyone.
I get to know clients over the phone first. We talk about who they are and what they do when they get to know me. We exchange e-mail and phone numbers and texts regularly. If they have any questions about outfits, locations, poses, or ideas, they shoot over a text, and I talk to them like a friend. On the day that we shoot, it’s like we’ve known each other for years, and their photos show that. There’s no awkward first handshake.
I think what sets me apart from others is that I am really great at just going with the flow and up for anything. Want to hike Enchanted Rock so you can propose to your girlfriend at the top, LET’S DO IT! Want photos neck-deep in a river, I’m there with the sunscreen. I am super easygoing and up for any ideas thrown my way. I want to create memories while taking photos that represent my clients.
What matters most to you?
The thing that matters most to me is full transparency. I will 100% let you know what to expect with ZERO hidden fees or “and then”. I think clients should know what they are getting and why. I am a very understanding person, and I pride myself on that.
I know life happens and things come up, so I try to accommodate every single one of my client’s needs. I think this is the most important thing when it comes to running a business. Nobody wants to work with you if they can’t trust you.
Contact Info:
- Email: mcastillo@martinacastillophoto.com
- Website: https://www.martinacastillophoto.com/
- Instagram: @martinacastillophoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartinaCastilloPhotography
Image Credits
Martina Castillo Photography
