Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelica Roberts.
Hi Angelica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Freelance photography was not my first choice for my career path. When I was young, I knew what I wanted to become when I grew up. I always thought to become an artist. Throughout middle, high school, and even college, that’s what I wanted to do, create art. I went through a lot experimenting with drawing, painting, and even designing clothing, which I loved doing.
Eventually, I applied for Dual Enrollment in high school and chose the sewing department at Florida Tech. I soon got a scholarship and earned my certification in Sewing Technology. As soon as I finished my time at Florida Technical School, I went to Valencia College and earned my A.A. in General Studies. I hopped around and learned so many different things at Valencia, even buying my first camera a Fuji Finepix, which I used here and there, for school projects, and then took up as a hobby on the side. My main goal was to be a fashion designer, the road to becoming a Fashion Designer was long and hard. Eventually, I got into The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale with a B.A. in Fashion Design in 2017. I was so happy and excited, to start my life as a fashion designer. But I was also diagnosed with anxiety and had awful panic attacks from the pressure of the new environment and the workload. Sadly, reality struck me in the face when I realized that the career I wanted was far out of reach due to disappointment after disappointment. I later called my school after a year of not finding a job in fashion in Florida. I started working for a Fashion Designer that was looking for another designer, my hope was again dashed when she just needed a seamstress. I took the job against my better judgment, the worst mistake I ever made, and crushed any lingering fantasy of wanting to apprentice under any Fashion Designer. I soon after got a job at Disney World sewing costumes, the job was ok and stable, but I often daydreamed about outside and traveling, and how great it would be to capture the outdoors. I get a call after a few months working at Disney from my college friend at the Art Institute and she needed an assistant for a photoshoot, I agreed and travel out and brought my camera along, and took pictures on the sidelines while helping out. Before I knew it I agreed to numerous more and for the first time, I wasn’t as depressed. I even sewed a couple of pieces myself and the model let me take their picture in my dress that I’d sewn. I also saved up money to buy a new camera a Canon T7i. I will forever be grateful to my friend that helped me find my passion again. I continued to work for Disney but decided to wait a year to leave my seamstress days behind me. Then the Covid-19 Pandemic hit last year and closed down my position. I soon fell into depression and was diagnosed with not only anxiety but also depression. I grew up teaching myself to ignore my depression that I didn’t need help for a long time. I got help after talking with my friends and a doctor, I decided to seek help. After talking to someone, I looked back on my life and realized photography helped me through that time because I still found beauty through a lens even though life seemed very bleak. The pandemic gave me time to take more pictures and figure out what I wanted. Also, I needed to take care of myself mentally. My family is the one to convince me to open my own business as a photographer even though I didn’t see myself as good enough to take pictures for others. The next couple of days, I thought about it and took a chance to become a freelance photographer. In the end, the photography hobby I had been working on for seven years turned out to be my experience. Now I am an entrepreneur working on my freelance photography business, and now I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out in my life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road I still up to now struggled with my mental health, finding clients and having to promote my business, and imposter syndrome believe it or not.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work?
I am a general photographer I discuss with my clients what they are looking for and how to the most out of their photography session. I specialize in Fashion Photography, Boudoir, Nature photography. Personal Or professional, Commercial/business photography, Headshots, Party& event, Family Portraits, Prom & Graduation Photography, Lifestyle Photography, Food Photography, and Product photography. I love interacting and making my client comfortable with being on the other side of my camera. My focus for my brand is making my clients happy with the pictures I create for them.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
There are times I wanted to give up, but I had to change my mindset so that I don’t have to give up what I love doing. There are good days and bad days, but sometimes the worst time in your life might also turn out to be a blessing.
Pricing:
- 30 Minute Session $90
- 60 Minute Session $100
- 90 Minute Session $120
- Packages start at $200-1000
Contact Info:
- Email: ggstouchphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ggs_touch_photography/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ggstouchphotography.
Image Credits
Melany Wilshire
Princess Ann
Barbara Bale
Sharon Mckay
Thirl Hupp
Alyssa Smith
Meg Carroll
Shanique Nicolas
