Portrait Artist Blog

Building a Legacy

Julizza Gomez • October 24, 2020

Full Steam Ahead

{Original post date: May 24, 2019}

I’m a mix of emotions. I’m super proud and happy, and completely and utterly sad and broken up. I got my (building) sign up in front of my gallery on Monday, and I saw it for the first time Wednesday. I am SO proud, but I am SO sad that my Dad can’t see it or know about it, and I can’t hear his voice or his response. I just imagine that he would be REALLY proud of me.

One aspect that I didn’t expect when I started this business was to do it alone. That tears me up, but Dad didn’t raise a weak woman. He always told me that I don’t have to depend on anyone, and that I should be independent, and I aspired to be that…and I became that. Things happened as they needed to happen for this dream to come to fruition, and God has continued to bless me. It took a talk with God a few years ago that affirmed me that I CAN do this by myself, and I had a mixed set of emotions then too. I was happy to be told that, but I was also scared. The last time I felt empowerment like that was when my Dad was alive. Leading up to that moment, and every day since, it took hours of prayer, petitioning, and being on my knees searching…to understand what my capabilities are. It has taken a few key people saying some key things during life altering moments to help me as well. God led me to those people.

But without constant prayer, faith, and belief that I had a larger purpose that I needed to fill, I would not have gone this far, committed this much, or fought this hard. I would not have a reason to chip away at the mentality that a woman-that I, especially-couldn’t build a business on her own like this. God needed me to believe that I could do this on my own, and He beckoned me to believe in myself. I had to question my mentality over and over and over again, and still do. I questioned who I was hanging out with, and what I was taking in.

I am PROUD of myself for accomplishing what no one thought I could do, including me. But God knew. And I think my Dad knew. I’ve had to channel his words from when I was 19 or 20 years old. I’ve been trying to channel his words to get to a moment like this, and moments yet to come. I've been using that fuel for so long, and the fuel of the scriptures in the living Bible. It keeps me going. I haven't completely "made it", but I see what y hard work is able to create now, and I want to encourage you to never give up, no matter what you are trying to achieve.

My Dad wanted a legacy for himself, and he has one. I am a part of his, and this is part of my legacy too, and that's how I've always viewed my business. I'm happy that it was his hard work that I channeled to get me through-to create what I've created, and do what I've done. I just want to share this moment with you....I am really proud, and I am really sad.

Rio and Lathan, if you ever come across this, I HAD to do this for you. You mean THAT MUCH to me. You will always mean that much to me-this is NOT about me. It's not. I want you to see what you can do, what your mom did, with the empowerment of where she came from, not the crutch of where she came from. I'm giving you a glimpse of what you can do, because you're starting out way ahead of me, and I will always support you. I love you both.

Image by Michael Martinez Fine Portraits

{1 year, 5 months later}

This is still hard! I simply cannot believe how hard this is, and it's still scary! A rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, giving up then getting up, and barely moving forward when I simply don't want to. My kids and the freedom I have to be here for them, provide for them, and spend time with them, are still the only reasons I keep moving forward. I wish I could admit that what I do is enough to keep me motivated, but to be honest, it isn't. Especially when I feel like I'm in a battle, I feel rejected, or I feel like what I do isn't important to anyone. I think about walking into Lowe's and grabbing an employment application embarrassingly often. Deep inside I know what I do is good and important, but sometimes the signs and the constant failures make me believe its not. I fail every. single. day. Every day. Every. single. day, and I wish I was exaggerating. But, I try. And I'm learning to actually celebrate the wins, and be proud of my trying. It seems harder to be taken seriously as a single minority woman in sales, but I'm learning that I cannot back down for the sake of the kids. Life isn't fair, owning a business isn't easy, and I've been swimming upstream for a long time. But, I know there's a tipping point ahead. A point where all these efforts will tip the market, and what I've done to build this business will be what everyone wants, and I am looking forward to that! With the love I feel from the people closest to me, it's full steam ahead!

Why what I do is different from everyone else:

I am a portrait photographer with my own fully equipped studio in which I create an experience for my clients that helps me empower them as individuals and families through my lens and editing, and makes them feel truly great about themselves. The portraits I create will help them be remembered beautifully, and establish their legacy by being passed down from generation to generation.
I care about long-lasting LEGACY. I only sell products that your grandchildren will see. I don't sell digitals, I GIFT them with your prints. I sell portraits, not images to keep on your phone and go no further. Or even to a consumer printer. That's not legacy, and it's not ever what professional photography was about. I believe that's a lazy way to do business, and it's a disservice to families who feel they're getting a great deal, but are losing memories every year. They spend their money for quite literally a collection of 0's and 1's, no prints, nothing. I'm extremely passionate about that and against it. The generations before us had it right. Go to a professional photographer for professional imaging and printing (doesn't pertain to headshots or commercial product shoots designed solely for web presence, of course).
I work on commission. If I sell, my kids and I eat. No side hustles or baking. This is what I do. That makes me extremely motivated to make you happy and make each image perfect so that you'll want to buy it. There's no $250 fee and I send you the digitals and run and hope you don't have any complaints about your gallery. I have to sit there and watch you react to my work, and help you buy prints, which makes me do certain things during the photo shoot. It makes me fix hair. It makes me look at your figure, your face, and the lighting. It makes me tell you I hate your shirt and suggest a change (sorry). Losing your pictures would be like losing rent money. I'm going to do everything in my power not to. You think I won't show up? Don't worry. I'll be there. If I sell you a wall-sized portrait, I'm going to make sure it looks incredible, and we are both extremely happy on installation day.
I offer on-location or studio portraits • Wall portraits , Wall Galleries, and Portrait Framing • Portfolio Collections of loose matted prints • Portrait Albums • Gift Prints • Framed Collages • Mixed Media Artwork
I have experience capturing families for 13 years, and with making people smile for my entire life. I love people through my camera. That's a gift I carry.
I'm artistic, I can digitally paint a portrait, and I succeed in creating beautiful things that people are proud to show off.
I'm a mom, so I think about all the special little details I love about my kids, and I remember to capture them for every mom.
I'm a jock. So I know what it means when men want something manly and done right.
I'm a Christian. So I'm going to show you kindness and grace, and I'm going to strive for impeccable customer service. However, I am not perfect! When I fail, I will apologize and fix my mistakes and make them right as quickly as possible.
I'm a business owner. So it matters to me what my business reputation is. If you love doing business with me, you'll tell your friends and they will too. I will treat you with respect. If I can make you happy, I will.
I'm a networker. I understand your headshot communicates more to your prospective clientele than 1000 words. I will get it right. I will also connect you with my network and bring value to your life and your family by presenting the people I know on my social media platforms. I believe in strong families. So I will use my resources to give my clients tools to build their strong families.
I'm a photographer. I understand my camera, lighting, etc., but I'm a professional too. So, I'm always in training to get more looks, more poses, more ways to communicate through pictures. There is no ceiling to my learning in this profession, and I learn something new every day in my craft.
So many more minor details, it's hard to list them all, but I hope you'll come in and see for yourself!