Meet Gabriela Barrantes | Photographer, Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabriela Barrantes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabriela, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting a business was to allow myself to have more creative freedom while making sure that I wasn’t burning myself out. I felt like my career as a photographer in the corporate world wasn’t as fulfilling as I expected it to be so I embarked on my entrepreneurship journey as a way to bring back passion and purpose to what I do. For me, it wasn’t so much about control as it was about having ownership of the projects I took on and the people I interacted with and aligning them with my morals and values.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I knew at a young age that I loved art and creativity and raised in an immigrant household I was never taught or shown that art could be a career. Growing up as a child of immigrants I was often encouraged to take the path of safety and proven success. I took a risk and I ended up attending art school and discovered photography. I fell in love with the freedom of what the art was. The ability to express myself through a lens and also realizing that I didn’t have to sit at a desk or computer all day was very appealing. Because of my culture and upbringing in a bilingual household, I was able to land a job as a photojournalist for a Latino newspaper in the city of Philadelphia.

This opened up an entirely new world for me and I fell in love with the thrill of photojournalism. Being able to challenge myself and tell important stories through an image gave me purpose. I did this career for about five years and figured if I wanted stability in my life I would need to enter the corporate world.
My initial experiences in corporate environments showed me exactly what I didn’t want, unfortunately, so many of us have experienced toxic work environments that leave us burnt out and exhausted. My last corporate experience had me hit rock bottom and I lost myself as a creative and artist.

I was determined to create my own business which allowed me to have peace of mind and room to breathe so that my creativity could flourish. I never wanted my work to feel like a burden and I never wanted to walk into a photoshoot thinking “I wish I was doing something else right now”.

I’m grateful that my business gives me a creative outlet to work with different people every day and learn about themselves, and their passions. Now my work today combines my background in photojournalism and I can bring stories to life through powerful imagery.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Philadelphia is a wonderful city with a diverse mix of activities, cuisines, and cultures to enjoy.

When I was younger and first moved to the city I was close to the Italian Market. I constantly urge tourists to check out this area. It’s full of coffee shops, restaurants, bakeries, cheese shops, etc. The list is endless!

The entire city of Philadelphia is steeped in history. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum that is among my favorite locations to visit. Beautiful American art from the past and the present can be found there. In addition, it is among the oldest and first art museums and art schools in the US.

As for restaurants, Samson Street is home to many of my favorites such as Her Place Supper Club, Oyster House, and Mission Taqueria. And if you’re ever looking to get authentic Peruvian food in Philly, definitely check out El Balconcito.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Throughout my journey, I’ve discovered that small business owners are among the most dedicated individuals. I’ve been so inspired by the small business entrepreneurs I’ve worked with, collaborated with, or simply became friends with. Surrounding myself with other small business owners contributed significantly to my success and confidence. Running a business may be a lonely endeavor, and finding aid and support when needed can be challenging.

Others who have influenced my journey include my first journalism professor in college, who encouraged me to pursue a career as a photojournalist. My first newspaper’s Director of Photography taught me empathy, understanding, and patience in this field. And my partner, Jeff, who has been by my side for the past ten years and has been my biggest supporter.

Website: gabrielabarrantes.com

Instagram: @gabrielabarrantesphoto

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielabarrantes

Image Credits
Photo 1 (yellow backdrop) Photo Credit: Patrick Clark Photo 4 (locker cabinets) Photo Credit: Tosh Thompson Photo 5 (makeup product shoot) Photo Credit: Tosh Thompson