Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Ortiz.
Hi Jose, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Well, I grew up in a household of a single mother of five boys no girls. Being born in Bridgeport CT, But raised in “Hartford, Norwich, Manchester, New London, Groton CT… etc.” I got to experience growing up in different neighborhoods and communities good and not so good. My mom, always working on projects, building something, breeding animals, repairing computers, selling food, making baby clothes or anything that created revenue and business ventures on stuff I never knew she knew lol just making sure we grew up with purpose and preparing us for when we moved out on our own lol The family separate but close, as the second oldest I would always be up in everyone’s business lol So I already knew growing up would be very informative and motivating but tough. Especially with no father around. My mother is my biggest inspiration to be completely honest. That lady made sure we went to school everyday, NO MATTER WHAT LOL, applying ourselves to everything. Being open to learning new things. So growing up id be right there next to her learning trying to figure out “What I Want To Be When I Grow Up” lol.
After high school dealing with life’s trials and tribulations… Homelessness, drug addiction, gogo dancing, adult film, drag shows, fashion show modeling, depression, modeling for weird older men, mental health stuff and currently medical stuff… I did whatever I had to do to make sure bills were paid and food was on the table. Learning more about things I loved doing and didn’t lol things I dreamed of doing for work and got a good dose of reality when I realized I had a gift but wasn’t using it right. I remember being 18 or 19 just finishing up modeling for an upcoming photographer and he gave me some advice I honestly never expected to be given from. He said, “you look tired’ lol I laughed a little and I said, “yea I am, it’s been a long day. I’ve been running around NYC shooting all day and the pay isn’t really worth it lol’ and he laughed and said “that’s why I work for myself kid. And until you do, you’re always going to look tired or feel even worse.” ever since then I would go and help out at his studio and learn everything about cameras and lighting and he taught me how to use my “third eye” so to speak.
Fast forward through a lot of great opportunities and doors closed… I found myself at a point in life where I was working 2-3 jobs always tired. Serving tables, working fast food and booking gigs and still couldn’t seem to find a balance. In 2016 I believed, after doing my taxes and working off server wage in Enfield CT and a bi-weekly check no more than a few hundred dollars… That year I literary took every penny I got in my return which was no more than $1,500 and invested in starting my photography/marketing business and becoming my own boss. Shortly after, I moved here to south FL to expand my horizon! Currently been working on a new business venture this year to hopefully go public summer 2022!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely Nott, and if it was id ask, “does it come with a refund? what’s the return policy?” lol honestly looking back now I’m glad it wasn’t easy. I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes and the bumps in the road along the way. A lot of my “obstacles, struggles and challenges” I’d say mainly were from my depression and low self-esteem or making uneducated/selfish choices. Since the early parts of my childhood, I was bullied in school for my weight, my reading glasses, my teeth, being different. Especially after coming out/being outed to my semi-religious family straight from Puerto Rico and school about being gay. Which led to me leaving home at a young age and going years without communication with the one main person who is the only reason I exist, my rock, my inspiration with all she/we been through… My mother, It hit her hard. “I’m raising MEN, independent strong MEN.. none of my kids will be gay. I’ll be damned” she once said… That hurt me deeply. So since then, I’ve been focusing on learning to love myself, educating her about my beliefs/lifestyle and how it’s ok to not agree but still support/love me unconditionally. I just want to make her and myself proud. I can’t imagine her upbringing on an island in the “below poverty” area and have to attend church services regularly. Which pushed her to leave home at a young age and barely knowing English to come to “the states” as they call the US. damn near really on her own… just to give herself and help her family have a better life.
But also couch surfing, finishing high school and trying to put myself through college almost right after…. at that point, I stopped and said “college can wait, I need to stabilize my life ASAP!” Always getting in my own way, shutting open doors meant for me along the way to grow and learn from and kicking down the closed ones not realizing it wasn’t a door meant for me. But depression of my living situations, my mother’s health, financial stability, and even with having the resources/connections I thought I had. Took a huge toll on me, diming that flame lit underneath my rear end. Still ultimately needing to prove myself before being taken seriously in a shark eat shark industry. Let’s be honest, it’s already a lot to start a business especially on your own. Lol, I can’t elaborate much in case certain people try to come for me for being honest! Lol BUT once there’s certain partnership/investor deals, mentorships or projects involving “close friends” and nothings in writing things can get messy if all parties aren’t communicating properly and no one is comprehending each other! I’ll leave it at that… lol OH, and can happily say my mom fully came around and has been honestly one of my biggest fans/supporters in every part of my life!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Sooo, technically I like to consider myself as a self-made… semi self taught entrepreneur… jack of all trades if you’re asking me lol others would say “wait, Jose does what?” or “I know he does construction work but didn’t know he did that!”. But I’m known for wearing many hats, it just depends on the day, week or month tbh lol For a living, “what pays the bills and funds my business” for the last 3-4 years till today. One week out of the month, I get to travel to a different town or state in the US doing mechanical installation work building carwashes as an independent contractor. On my off weeks/month, I pick up little part-time work and gigs to keep busy. What I specialize in though, is photography and marketing. Editing mostly lol but being able to capture a vision you saw looking outside the box and everyone seeing the beauty/vision u saw and created and loving it as much as you do is a win-win in itself… the marketing side is as fun and better id say now with technology being 21st century lol and I’m a millennial so it’s definitely something I do as well.
To date, I’m most proud of “myself” for not giving up when it got tough and eating ramen noodles for lunch and dinner because it’s all I could afford some days. So when you ask me what sets me apart from everyone, I have to say my HUNGER, My Drive, My Vision. That gut turning pain in the pit of my stomach that keeps me up late at night wondering “Was that enough? Did my choices add value to my work? Am I even good enough?”. Besides my low affordable rates, easy/outgoing personality and down to earth vibe. I’m an out of the box thinker, dream chaser, no regret living businessman trying to be seen.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Lol, you guys aren’t going to make this easy are you ?!
My favorite childhood memory… Honestly has to be is when I was like 11 or 12, I believe. Me and my neighborhood friends had started a little dance crew “DDC – Dynamo Dance Crew” and wanted to put on a show at the next “sail fest” a huge pier event with rides and shows and huge boats lmfaooo! Listen, we literally ran around our small town getting donations and sponsorships even from a radio station and a logo company gave us our team shirts. Omg did we think we were hot stuff lmmffaaooo! The radio station gave us a check for $500 and says “now little guy you know I can’t write this out to you..” and I quickly said “it’s ok you can put it in my mom’s name she won’t mind..” lmmffaaaooo my mother called that man soooo quick because she didn’t believe me and my friends when we got home! She took us shopping for the rest of our matching uniforms and bling lmffaaooo… But she looked at me and cried and said “wow you’re putting on your big boy pants on now keep them up”…. “I’m proud of you”… but we didn’t make the deadline for entry fee… Definitely a great experience though!
Pricing:
- Hourly session rate, $75
- Headshot rate, $50
Contact Info:
- Email: atwu.jpg@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atwu.jpg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllTheWayUpPhotography
Image Credits
Models: Moises, Tavis, Jonathan, Anthony, Justin, Shanna & AllTheWayUp Photography
