Meet Jalisco Wayne | Unit Still Photographer

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

Hi Jalisco, how do you think about risk?
Working in the film industry as a Still Photographer I’ve found it very risky. It took a long time to get where I’m at. It would of been easier for me to quit and find a more stable job that brings absolutely no enjoyment but I don’t want to live like that. I go periods without work and not knowing when the next gig will be, but I love what I do. I don’t even see it as work really. Sometimes I work 14 hour days go home and have trouble sleeping because I’m too excited to go to work the next day. Anything worth something of value takes risk. And I thank God that it has paid off.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what sets me apart from others is that I have my own style of photography, and that’s what I am proud of. I am not trying to copy anyone, I’m just doing me, and my clients have always been happy with the results.

It was not easy to get where I’m at. And now that I’m there it’s still not easy. Every time you level up new challenges present themselves. You have to have an “adapt & overcome” mentality along with confidence. It’s a quiet internal confidence that you say to yourself, “I’m here because I do good work, so you don’t need to worry about anything.” At the end of the day my only job is to produce excellent work, and over a 20 year span of shooting I remain confident in my abilities.

What I want people to know, as I’ve said before, was for me it has not been easy. The biggest issue I deal with on jobs is racism. Being a Latino with a very, very ethnic name does not open a lot of doors. I’ve been passed on so many jobs. Mostly the jobs I do get is because I personally know someone involved. This is also the motivation to produce the best quality images I can. If I can get people to see past my name and actually see my work I know I would get hired more. I have several Latino and Hispanic friends who changed their name and it worked for them. I just can’t do that. However, I do abbreviate my name from time to time. I don’t see the reality of this changing in my lifetime unfortunately. I thank the Lord Jesus for the all the work I get. With Him all things are possible.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My first and foremost shout out no question, hands down is my beautiful mom. She has been there for my ups and downs, the highs and the lows. She supported me financially, emotionally, and spiritually. Following a dream is not easy. I’ve had friends and seen others give up or change careers or worse, not even try to do what they love. So I always felt like I was by myself going forward. My mother has been a rock through the ages.

Website: www.jaliscowayne.com

Instagram: JaliscoWayne

Facebook: JaliscoWayne

Image Credits
Jalisco Wayne Photography