Today we’d like to introduce you to Hector Torres.
Hi Hector, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was in college studying Business I came across a flyer announcing a photography workshop. I totally fell in love right there! I took all workshops and courses related to the subject while in college and even became University’s Photography Association president. I finished my bachelor degree in business but decided to find my way into the photography world.
At the beggining I shot lots of weddings, school portraits and events. later started to work in an editorial company called Casiano Communications whish had 11 different publications. The pay was little but the experience was fantastic.
After a while I left and started to work with advertising agencies. It was not as good in terms of excitement but it was financially rewarding.
Almost half of my work life was in Puerto Rico and I have been in Miami for the last 19 years. Where again, I started in editorials and then, advertising agencies.
One of my best clients was People En Español magazine where I collaborated for over 15 years. My work have been published in lots of local, national and international magazines. On the commercial side, my work have been on the Miami Herald, Billboards all over Miami.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been, I guess that like everybody, up and down like a rollercoaster. Moving to Miami was a tough decision. I had other options like New york, Chicago and even Los Angeles, but with my family in Puerto Rico and been Miami so close to the Island, was the choice even when It was not as economically rewarding as the other cities. Still it was very very good.
Then there’s the COVID where there were no work or very little. At the time I was living by the beach so although it was slow, I had a great time enjoying the beach just for me and the few that were living by the water like me. Can’t complain.
Lastly, technology; cellphones cameras, and everyone learning through Youtube took a toll on the jobs I used to do. Thank s God, people learned the difference between their pictures done with a cellphone or by a professional. The good thing is that the situation created a lot of great artists.
Ai is the new “threat”. For many colleagues it meant the end of their careers but I see it as an opportunity to get better at what I do. After almost 40 years, you learn to “surf the wave” of challenges and face everything with good attitude.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My passion is photography. I guess that is totally clear by now… lol… I make a living completely out of photography but it is also my hobby.
I began doing art and understood that it was going to be rough to make a living out of art just like that without any formal art education so I as said, back in the day I did lots of weddings, events, school portraits, etc. just to be able to keep buying equipment and supporting my hobby. Always loved the human form so in college I did lots of nude photography. Later I started doing more conceptual work and I have never stopped working for me. I had some exhibitions while I was living in Puerto Rico and a couple more shows here in Miami.
With 40 years doing this, I have done almost everything in the photography business. But I can tell you that having seen my work in the billboards all over the highways, looking at my work in National and Latin American magazines in the supermarket have been a huge privilege and honor. My work have been mainly about hispanic celebrities. But I have also work for food, health, and product campaigns as part of the advertising work.
I love people. I try to earn their trust and I work on capturing the best out of them. Everyone have a beautiful side and contrary to what some people may think, everyone is photogenic. Is just that they have not been photographed by a good photographer. There are many, and I like to think I am one of them.
Now that I am a bit more “seasoned”, I am back, focusing more in my personal stuff. Art related work.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I was very comfortable back in Puerto Rico. Moving out was a big risk and challenge. I knew nobody except for one person who hosted me for three month when I got here in 2008.
Based on what I saw just before moving, I thought it was going to be outstanding from the beginning but I moved and the collapse of the economy hit right there so bids and quotes and calls got to a halt for me. I found a place in Miami Beach but there was no income. I was living out of my savings until I found a job as Photography teacher at an institute in Brickell. Luckily I connected with someone in People En Español.
I loved the teaching gig and still with very little money I moved to a bigger place and started to teach small groups of six people coming home twice every week for four hours unless there were an editorial or commercial production, and suddenly I started to pick up again pretty fast.
Looking back I can see I have been always going with the flow. There are events that may seem terrible but you will find the way if you keep going.
Pricing:
- There are so many variables it is hard to give a price.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hectortorresphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hectortorres/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HectorTorresPhotography/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-torres-1520369
- Twitter: https://x.com/HectorTorres
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hectorotorres
