Today we’d like to introduce you to Shamylle Estevez.
Hi Shamylle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Being born and raised in New York City, shaped me into the creative I’ve grown into. Since my early childhood, I found myself always gravitating towards the arts. In my sophomore year of high school, I had the opportunity to transfer to a completely art-based school.
Living in Manhattan and the Bronx, spending my teenage years in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queen; I was able to learn more about who I was as a creative and was surrounded by more Latinx creatives which I valued greatly. I majored in Illustration during my high school years but I always had a feeling that I wanted to do Film and Video which was another program the school provided.
I ended up graduating with my advanced placement in Illustration which I don’t regret, I still have a profound love and appreciation for illustration art. I decided to attend college and major in what I had been wanting to for some years prior; Cinema & Television studies with a minor in Film/Video Production.
Throughout my four years of college, I developed a clearer sense of the creative I want to be. After being on countless sets on and off campus and working through internships with production companies in Soho, I found myself to be passionate about editing/post-production. Teaching myself on YouTube how-to video edit on the Adobe program After Effects is my specialty.
During college, I picked up more and more cameras and began collaborating with my friends doing photoshoots. I faced a challenge because there was more of a demand for photo work than the type of video work I wanted to do, I started teaching myself how to edit pictures using Lightroom but I didn’t want to let go of my “editor” side.
Within the past 2 years, my work has taken me farther than I could ever imagine. A lot of what I photograph or film is surrounded by artists in the Latin music industry and has even brought me the opportunity to be working with Galore magazine. Taking on new roles like the creative director and graphic designer for music visualizers and album artwork.
Having the chance to create all different forms of art over the years has led me to being a more well-rounded creative here in Miami which I am beyond appreciative of. I continue to work towards creating a sense of editing style that can be seen across all the different types of mediums I work in and branch myself out as a creative.
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?
The most challenging part of getting where I am today was honestly dealing with myself. Periods of creative blocks and constant comparison are what tend to hold me back the most. I know that I am my best and worst critic and sometimes I feel like I’m not doing enough. The way that I deal with this is, if I’m in a creative block, is stepping away from creating for a little until I miss it or get a burst of ideas.
Social media is a blessing and a curse for me because at times it can be the best advocate for the community, showcasing work, collaborating, etc. Other times it can make me feel like I’m behind or not good enough as a photographer as others. I deal with this challenge by taking breaks from social media and reminding myself of just one perspective of who I am.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is a combination of different forms of art blended. With photography and video editing being the core of what I do, I’m beginning to also learn and create work in graphic design. I enjoy working with film, VHS, and polaroids, and those textures are often seen in my work.
Digital photography is fun for me because the raw images I take allow me to do as much manipulation as I want to an image in programs like Photoshop. I think what sets my work apart is the editing style I’m creating. What makes an image or video more compelling to me is the editing, the more obvious the edit, the better it is to me.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Lately, I feel like staying true to who I am and trusting my evolution/growth. I think those two things hold a lot of importance to me, especially at this point in my life.
I used to question and doubt myself, and my art but I’ve learned to realize that I have to continue to pursue my creativity more organically and always know that as long as I put in my best efforts I will remain happy with my work and journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.boltfilms.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamyllle/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/boltediting/
