Today we’d like to introduce you to Hugo Lopez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Hugo. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I moved to Miami from Mexico in 1997 to study Hotel Management at FIU. I started getting into photography in 2001 focusing on Landscape and Architectural Photography as a hobby. In 2007 while being out drinking with my brother and realizing neither of us were happy with our jobs (him Director of a prominent gallery in Wynwood and I managing a Hotel), we decided we should combine our expertise and open up our own art gallery, FIFI projects. We opened in 2008 and have since moved to New York and now have 2 locations in Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico.
Having the gallery (representing 12 artists from around the world) made me start seeing photography as a business. In November of 2009 I decided to leave Hospitality and focus full time as a Fashion & Commercial photographer. I have since shot for all the major agencies around the world, been published more than 20 times including 6 magazine covers and have shot for clients such as Bacardi, Herman Miller and Marie Claire.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Leaving the Hospitality industry, having been a General Manager to go into photography cold turkey was very tough. I made 1/4 of the salary I had been making in my first year as a full-time photographer.
My goal for year two was to double it, and so on. It took me many years to get used to a volatile flow of income and to ride out the slow periods without questioning my talent (which happened many many times…it was tough!) The fashion industry is where my heart is, but it’s the commercial industry that has the big budgets. I have been lucky to have only a couple of nightmare clients, but even those we were able to smooth things out.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Hugo Lopez Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
Hugo Lopez Photography is today a full faceted photography service with portfolios ranging from Fashion, Editorial, Commercial, Wedding, Corporate and Product photography among others,
I believe the work stands out because I strive to create ethereal images regardless of the type of photography I am making. Although I am Miami based, my style is definitely not “Miami style”, it has a more New York/European style to it.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity, as said by Roman philosopher Seneca. I have had opportunities pass by when I was not prepared, and many times I have felt prepared for a challenge that took much longer to present itself. As they also say, timing is everything!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hugolopezphoto.com
- Phone: 7869739289
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @hugolopezphoto
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hugolopezphoto
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