02/08/2026
After Five Years Building a Photography Business in Medellín, Here’s What I’ve Learned.
1. Street photography isn’t always glamorous. I’ve almost had my camera gear stolen. I’ve found myself in situations that felt unsafe. Freelancing looks romantic from the outside, but there are days when courage is part of the job description.
2. Never underestimate the value of a photograph. I’ve photographed people who died just weeks later. I’ve watched couples divorce while others found their way back to each other. I’ve seen people recover from cancer. I’ve photographed maternity sessions that turned into newborn sessions, and those newborns are now little kids. I’ve watched families grow, grieve, heal, and begin again. None of us knows what life will look like a year from now. That’s why photographs matter.
3. I’ve learned to let go of control. I love being behind the camera, but sometimes my job is to hold the light, grab a bottle of water, fix a collar, or help with a pose while my partner, Luis, takes the photograph. It doesn’t matter who’s pressing the shutter. We’re creating something together. That’s one of the greatest lessons this business has given me.
4. My photography has changed because I have changed. My clients have changed. Medellín has changed. The world keeps asking us to become someone new, and the best artists learn to change with it.
5. Never apologize because your children won’t sit still, your dog has a mind of its own, or you’re simply tired. The best photographs have never been about perfection. They’ve always been about presence.
6. Creativity rarely waits for permission. I hope Medellín continues to embrace photographers and artists because every photograph shared from a local café, hotel, restaurant, or business has the potential to introduce that place to someone new. Art has a way of giving back to the places that welcome it.
7. You don’t need a rooftop overlooking Medellín to create a beautiful photograph. Some of my favorite images have come from a parking lot, a quiet side street, or a forgotten corner of El Centro. Great photography has never been about the location. It’s about learning to see what everyone else walks past.
8. A photographer wears a lot of hats. Some days I’m a photographer. Other days I’m a coach, a stylist, a confidence builder, a tour guide, or simply a good listener. My job isn’t just to take your picture. It’s to help you feel comfortable enough to be yourself.
9. People often ask if photography is the goal. It isn’t. Photography is the vehicle. It’s what has allowed me to travel the world, support my partner, invest in my education, and build a life I genuinely love. It doesn’t have to be everything. Sometimes the work you love is simply what makes the rest of your life possible.
10. After photographing hundreds of clients in Medellín, I finally know my value. I know the kind of work that excites me. I know the clients I’m the right fit for, and the ones I’m not. I know how much of myself I want to give to this business while still protecting the life I’ve built. If you think we’re the right fit for each other, I’d love to hear your story. Send me a message or give me a call.
