Meet TERRELL LOPEZ | Photographer

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

Hi TERRELL, what do you attribute your success to?
Aside from the amazing images I know I am able to produce, I feel the best compliment I’ve been given is that I am very easy to work with. My biggest strength is personality as I offer a safe and comfortable environment to conduct my business of photographing my clients. I understand that everyone has a different personality so it is hard to imitate something that you are not, however even though I am very serious about my work, I don’t believe that the actual process has to be. I am vocal with my clients, open to their ideas and I like to add humor and words of encouragement during my sessions. These actions for me tend to lighten the tension and brightings the atmosphere in the room to conduct a fun and engaging shoot. I live by the idea that a client will remember how you made them feel and that is what keeps them coming back.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a photographer located in New York, NY and I am owner and operator of T.Lopez Photography. I offer portrait and events services to suit my client’s needs for every occasion. When it comes to portraits I do headshots, maternity, family, birthday, and fashion. When it comes to events, I offer solid event coverage to ensure I capture the moments you will cherish for a lifetime. I got into photography after being inspired by various images on social media. This gave me the idea to see if photography was something I could do, as I always enjoyed taking pictures but nothing further than a cheap digital camera. I decided to jump headfirst into this journey as I started with the purchase of my first camera, a Nikon D3400. I turn to youtube as a way to educate myself on the fundamentals of photography. I was excited to learn and even more eager to practice and develop my skills. I started shooting family and friends to gain the experience and confidence I needed to strengthen my progress. From there I started to use social media as a way to reach out to potential models I could work with; specifically Instagram. Upon reaching out to models, I pitched an opportunity for collaboration where I was not seeking payment, but a chance to work and provide free images. It was during these shoots that I was able to continue my passion for photography as I found my footing in my shooting style, my communication with my models, my adaption of flash, my understanding of composition, my eye for locations and most importantly the confidence I was given. I was not one to hide my work as I posted shots from all of my shoots and I could clearly see the progress that I have made, progress that has not gone unnoticed as I started receiving inquiries about my services and packages offered, it was at this point I appreciated that I was able to produce work that people loved and wanted to be apart of.

My brand is about the passion I have for my craft and wanting to share it with the clients I produce with. That is what sets me apart from others as it is not just about the money, I care about the work I create and want to ensure that my clients are happy with the product. I am very vocal when it comes to my client’s needs and the creative process, I ask many questions in regards to their goals for the shoot. What is the vision are they trying to accomplish? What wardrobe are they looking to wear? What location falls in line with their theme? How will these images be used? These are questions that better help me understand my client’s needs and what I can contribute to creating their art.

I am most proud of the journey that it took for me to get here, as photography was never my dream, I did not go to school for it and never even thought of it as a career. I started simply out of curiosity and a drive to learn. I put in the hours to educate myself, the determination to practice and the passion to fall in love with the art. I honestly can say that I never thought anyone would pay me for photography, turn to me as someone to capture their moments, ensure they are beautiful and trust me with their image. I am proud that I can say that what I achieved is completely attainable as it came from hard work and consistency. I only hope that my story can be used to inspire others to be open to learning something new as you can discover what you are made of.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Places to Visits: Times Square, Manhattan, NY West 34th Street, New York, NY
Bryant Park, New York, NY
Madison Square Garden, Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY
Yankee Stadium, East 161 Street, Bronx, NY
Bronx Zoo, Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY

Places to Eat:
Katz’s Delicatessen, East Houston Street, New York, NY
Sylvia’s, Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, Broome Street, New York, NY
Tito Murphy’s, West 46th Street, New York, NY
Cantina Rooftop, West 48th Street, New York, NY

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When it comes to photography, I would say that I always had a passion for it. I enjoyed capturing moments, reliving memories and sharing experiences. My photography is my outlet of self expression as I gained a foundation for the art of creating. Though it would be easy to list other photographers as my inspiration, the main person that I would like to give a shout out to would be my mother. My mother knows nothing about photography and is not responsible for my creativity, however she did instill in me the discipline needed to master my craft and explore my passion. Working hard is something that I was not afraid to do, in fact I welcome it. I watched my mother work two jobs to support me and my siblings, never complaining, never taking a day and most importantly never giving up when it came to her responsibilities. Witnessing this level of commitment showed me that when you want something, you have to do what needs to be done to achieve it. When furthering my knowledge on photography, I pride myself on being self-taught. I read books and watched Youtube videos to better understand my craft, I practiced taking pictures with family and friends, I took free photography jobs just to gain opportunities and spent many late nights polishing my editing skills. All of this work led me to the position I am in today, as I worked just as hard as my mom worked those two jobs for the survival of our household. She taught that no matter where you are, you have the power to make a difference in your life and the first step starts with you knowing, doing and executing what needs to be done for your success.

Website: https://www.tlopezphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tlopezphotography1/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tlopezphoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlopezphotography1