Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Alcantara.
Hi Adam, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been an artist and the type of person that has a myriad of hobbies and interests. A lot of this has inspired and become part of my journey as a photographer.
Growing up, there were cameras around constantly. I can’t say I was inspired to be a photographer by any one particular source. My grandmother on my dad’s side and my grandfather on my mom’s side were taking photos of us a lot, and my dad had his video camera around almost all the time. There were a lot of memories of my childhood that were captured, and I feel so fortunate to have the photos and the videos that I’ve got. So I suppose their influence of having cameras around all the time had a lot to do with where my passion for it came along.
As a kid, I saw a lot of potential in what cameras could do. Early experimentation included stop motion movies made with Lego sets and my first digital camera, a hand-me-down from my grandmother. I was always documenting things, having learned from my example, I suppose, and I had a camera on me quite often.
The idea of pursuing photography as more than a hobby was cemented my senior year of high school. I was attending Interlochen Arts Academy, a boarding arts high school, studying Motion Picture Arts. That program taught me so much about filmmaking, but in particular, it gave me an eye for composing a frame. I got my first DSLR that year and was constantly looking for any reason to use it.
I never studied photography in college, opting instead for a marketing degree and a web development certification. I continued to work as a photographer throughout my early 20s, specializing mainly in product and concert photography at that point. I was very fortunate to photograph concerts across the country. One of my favorite venues is Red Rocks; it’s an amazing place to say the least. Some of those photos have made it into New York Magazine, Modern Drummer Magazine, and Carnegie Hall’s Playbill.
In the last five years, my photographic ambitions grew exponentially. A coworker inspired me to learn the art of off-camera lighting, which adds a dynamic look to the photos and allows one to control all aspects of the scene and really create a moment from the ground up. It opened up a whole world of possibilities for my work. It’s become a signature part of my photography, and I’ve often been told that people know one of my photos when they see it, which is a huge compliment. These days I’m taking lots of headshots, product photos, portraits, and wedding photos. I did have my first photo session with a dog last week, and that was so much fun I may continue down that road as well!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have absolutely been moments where things just felt right. My passion for off-camera lighting was one of those things. The process of discovering it, getting the equipment, and trying it out just gave me this feeling of “Yes, this is correct. This is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
I read a quote once that I really loved, it said that when a photographer shows you one of their photos, they’re really showing you the way they see the world. I always feel that when I’m behind the camera, that part of the art form comes very smoothly. I’m very comfortable when it comes to being behind the camera.
As with anything, there have been moments of struggle. Getting to that point of knowing exactly what I wanted to show people wasn’t the easiest. I got there through a lot of experimentation and a lot of trial and error. There was also a challenge of knowing how I see the world around me and wanting to capture that in an image, but figuring out how to actually do that was easier said than done. The moment of discovering off-camera flash was a real “eureka” moment. That part of my life, I did almost nothing but take photos and read anything about photography and off-camera lighting that I could get my hands on.
Art is so subjective and so personal. As I look back through my work, it’s definitely changed. Getting to where I am as an artist wasn’t always easy, and it involved a lot of self-discovery. But I feel as though I’ve landed in a place where I love my work and am excited to share it with people.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in portrait, headshot, concert, product, event, and wedding photography. I’ve been doing a lot of headshots lately, and people love how they come out. All my friends know me for off-camera flash. That’s kind of my specialty. I use available light sometimes, and sometimes it is the best option. But I’ll make up just about any excuse to get out my lights. It involves a lot of equipment, but it’s so worth it in the end because it gives the images a unique look, makes them pop, and ultimately gives me the most control over the scene. I can show up to a photo session under less than ideal conditions and still make it work.
I’m most proud of my ambition and adaptability. I’m always up for a new challenge. I’m also proud of my ability to take great images that accurately portray what’s in front of my camera. One of the greatest compliments I get is when someone tells me that I really captured their personality. I became the photographer for my friend Larry’s guitar building business a few years ago, and he’s told me that my knowledge of photography combined with my passion for building guitars (one of my favorite hobbies) is what really makes the photos I take for him stand out because I know what makes each guitar unique. It’s all about knowing your subject, and what makes them who they are, and capturing that.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’m quite ambitious, and I don’t shy away from a challenge. A lot of what I’ve done in my life (whether it be photography, building guitars, or something else) happened because I told myself that I should just pursue my ambitions. I didn’t always know what I was doing or what my end result might be, I just started down a particular path and pursued it until it worked or fizzled out. John Mayer once said something along the lines of “That won’t work is lame. That didn’t work is cool,” and that really resonated with me.
Pricing:
- Headshots – 20 minute sessions, you’ll receive 6 edited headshots. $75
- Portrait Sessions (family portraits, senior portraits, engagement portraits, etc) – 1 hour sessions, you’ll receive 30 edited images. $200
Contact Info:
- Email: adamalcantaraphotography@gmail.com
- Website: www.adamalcantara.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamalcantaraphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamalcantaraphotography
