Today we’d like to introduce you to Iara Castro.
Hi Iara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started when I was in high school. My best friend Emily and I had a thing for taking aesthetic instagram photos. You can go far back on my instagram and see just how hard we tried to take unique, fun photos around the city. I would take photos on my aunts old canon t3i and it wasn’t until the end of my second year of college that I decided to get a “real” camera. I had finished getting my A.A fall of 2019, which is right before COVID hit. I had decided to take a break from school for a semester anyway and it worked out because everything shut down, including the department of my awful corporate job. I was working for a big hospital. The company was fine, the hours were just awful and I was always miserable. So I started 2020 unemployed. The world was shut down and I had nothing but time. So I started shooting photos. Of my family, my dog, myself. I would make tik Tok videos of these little at home photoshoots and one of them went slightly viral. Someone close to me at the time suggested I invest more into this hobby. With no job or money saved up, I went and bought myself my first real camera with a payment plan at Best Buy. I used my stimulus check for the downpayment and started making monthly payments that I could not really afford. Now, because I was posting my little photoshoots, people around me were noticing! I had a friend reach out to me asking if I would take her pregnancy announcement photos. Reluctantly, I said yes. We went to this cute area in Winter Park and shot about 40 images. She ended up paying me $50 which I did not expect at all! This is when I decided to try and really monetize what I was doing. So I made an instagram account. I started posting all my at home photoshoots, the pregnancy announcement, my friends and family. Eventually I booked 3 back to back family sessions. I would host giveaways and mini sessions until I booked my first wedding. It paid me $500 and I worked 14 hours with no food. Biggest learning lesson of my life! Fast forward 5 years later, I don’t work nearly as many wedding hours but I still have the same amount of fun as I did when I was locked down in my room with just a camera!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, outside of covid which was actively happening when I first started, I have not faced too many struggles. There has been 2 card failures in my last 5 years and the images were recoverable. I have only had one wedding client come back to ask for some corrections to their album and still they ended up happy with the final results. There have been many things I have had to learn to grow and evolve as a photographer who wants to be respected. I had to learn to leave way earlier than I think I need to, I have had to get better at communicating (still could use a lot of improvement in this department) and I have had to learn to be overly mindful of little details. The small things are important! Lastly, I had to learn how to deal with rejection. People booking other photographers instead of myself, while not personal, still felt that way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a photographer. I specialize in weddings however I do all kinds of photography. I am mostly known for a candid, fun easy going look with natural edits. I am most proud of my November 2023. I shot 9 weddings and I personally think it is my best work yet. I believe that my personality sets me apart. I have so many repeat clients year after year, even with price increases. Most of my business comes from word of mouth recommendations! I’d like to think I make people have fun and feel comfortable during their shoots. I love to connect with people and the reality is, you could probably find another photographer who shoots similar to the way I do, clean, true to color with a sprinkle of film, but it wouldn’t be me directing it!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Reach out! My dm’s are always open.
Pricing:
- weddings start at : 3000
- families start at : 350
- grads start at : 350
Contact Info:
- Website: iaracastrophoto.com
- Instagram: iaracastrophoto
Image Credits
Iara Castro Photo
