Meet Inês Piquet

Inês, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have been studying photography since the 90’s when I fell in love with black and white film photography. I just loved the entire process, from capture to film developing to darkroom magic. People has always been one of my favorite subjects.

I love meeting, connecting, learning about people, getting inspired by them. I was living in LA and, after a few years studying it, started working as a professional photographer on a part-time basis. I had a nice corporate job and never had the courage to quit stability for uncertainty. At one point, with the transition to digital, I lost inspiration, didn’t like what I was creating and decided to stop completely. For about four years, I didn’t touch my camera equipment. I moved to Scottsdale in the Summer of 2016 and was let go from my job six months later. Per my husband’s suggestion, and with his incredible support and encouragement, I decided to launch my business in AZ on a full-time basis. I spent six months refreshing my brain, creating a new folio and learning the business side of it all. It was the best decision I could have made and it was all because of my husband. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful for doing what I love.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I am hard-pressed to believe that there is ever such a thing as a “smooth road”. I don’t like to use the term “struggles”, as I would rather see them as challenges. To me, launching a new business in a town where I didn’t know anyone was a challenge. Going from a six-figure salary to no salary was a challenge. Learning how to run a business is a constant challenge but also constant growth. Life/Work balance when you have a home business is a challenge. Dealing with self-doubt and self-value is always a challenge, always a work in progress.

Ines Piquet Images – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a portrait photographer. I specialize in magazine-inspired portraits, modern headshots and personal branding images. My core values are integrity, transparency and gratitude. I could tell you that there are several things that set me apart from other photographers, which are included in the services I provide and the products I offer, but what really sets a creative apart from other creatives is their art and their vision. You can have ten photographers take a picture of the same person, under the same lighting setup, in front of the same backdrop, and you will end up with ten completely different images. What sets me apart from other photographers is the way I see you.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is feeling fulfilled by whatever it is you do. It is not just about how much money you make but how much you enjoy life and are proud of the person you are. Is working hard on becoming the best you can be in a professional and personal level, and working just as hard on giving back, enjoying life and spending quality time with your loved ones. It is practicing gratitude on a daily basis and choosing what is right over what is easy.