Today we’d like to introduce you to David Beltran.
Hi David, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a creative and a generalist, I follow the ethos of Ikigai in my life and basically what that means is finding a sense of purpose. For me, that purpose was making people laugh and smile which led me to photography, I started with a Canon T1i and photographing friends that were brave enough to stand in front of my lens (while I was figuring out exposure, composition, and posing) and eventually led me to work for a couple of local agencies.
I loved working with both non-models and new faces because usually most people shy away from the camera (including myself) but part of the fun for me is convincing someone to finally trust you with their portraits.
Historically portraits have been the keepsakes for many families as a memory for their loved ones, a memory preserved in time. I believe everyone should have a wonderful portrait to serve as a constant reminder that we may age gracefully despite our society’s obsession with maintaining our youthful appearance.
So as a problem solver, I launched a personal project called the Endlessly Gorgeous series where I take not only models but everyone I deem gorgeous and create portraits of them. Because many people don’t realize that just because you don’t fit the typical definition of beauty for the corporate-industrial complex doesn’t mean you’re not attractive. It has become one of my favorite things to do since it has allowed me to meet so many incredible people and given them a chance to show me a side of themselves that they have never shown before. But the larger mission here is that it serves to stave off excessive and unnecessary modifications down the road because our physical appearance should be appreciated no matter how much time has passed, you’ll always be endlessly gorgeous.
Today, I’m beginning to do more video portraits. In a very brief story format, portraits serve to represent the subject, and while photography is still a great medium for that, I think video has more versatility in that it can show more of us as humans than just one single frame.
On the other hand, I own a tech consulting company (technology is my second love). This gives me the opportunity to work where I want and with whom I want, as well as to pursue my never-ending quest to learn new things! Next to the scientific method, in my opinion, technology is the second-best human invention. Technology was developed so that we might better balance our work and personal lives. My role is assisting small and medium-sized businesses in being more productive so they can offer their employees longer vacations, shorter work weeks, and more flexibility in their personal lives.
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?
The biggest challenge is you aren’t paid for the things you like to do. But the ability to get paid which allows you to pursue your passions, is unbeatable. When I go back to shooting for my Endlessly Gorgeous series and I learn about the subject’s challenges, it serves as a lovely reminder to be humble and grateful for the life that one already has. There’s always room for improvement you don’t have to settle for what you have, but there’s someone out there who has it worse than you.
As for the tech consulting side, I’ve had several times where the problem here isn’t the technology implementation part that is difficult, but the human part. The decision-makers fear change because they don’t understand the benefits it’ll bring to their lives or just out of pure ego. After all, it wasn’t their idea. Teaching people how to think instead of telling them what to think has been the best approach for these challenges.
If you can teach in their learning language, they’ll be able to adapt and implement the best solution, at the same time be at peace with the advice and recommendations I give. I credit this method to the genius of Clayton Christensen for teaching me this approach.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love creating portraits I’m known mostly for swimwear and lingerie (because in Miami you either have something to cover up or nothing at all with this heat).
I’ve recently started getting hired for pre-wedding boudoir shoots which I enjoyed doing since each client is very different from the next, most have never modeled before so getting them ready to relax and prepared is a really fun part of the challenge. Seeing the printed book with the results is my favorite part and then later getting the text of how their spouse reacted is priceless, best-paid job ever haha! The only sad part Is I don’t get to share the photos since these are on a more intimate side but like I said it’s worth it.
I think what sets me apart is my ability to understand what the client needs whether it’s tech or creative. Then provide solutions by teaching them how to think instead of what to think.
What were you like growing up?
I was born in Bogota, Colombia, my family came here to escape the violence from the FARC, and the Medellin Cartel at the time was at its peak late 80s early 90s. I’m the oldest of three brothers, so obviously the favorite, just kidding I think my mom loves us equally… I’ve been consistently a tireless researcher all my life, curiosity is a lifestyle for me.
I love to figure out how things work. PBS, History Channel and Discovery Channel were my favorite things to watch growing up, especially MythBusters, Modern Marvels, and Bill Nye the science guy. I’m an introvert, I prefer being at home than out at a nightclub, although I do love music concerts and stand-up comedy, I’m always down to go out for that. I’ve always been a problem solver for everyone, I guess part of the fun of life is overcoming obstacles and helping people grow, that’s how I ended up being a generalist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://anchorsanvils.com | https://bc9.io/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anchorsanvils/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdwpynW5-CHfQd4yjY1k2sw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@anchorsanvils
Image Credits
Sylvain Von K
