Meet Laura Gordillo of Laura Gordillo Photography in Goodyear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Gordillo.

Laura, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was a 3rd grade teacher that loved to take pictures. People would comment on every day pictures I took with a regular point and shoot digital camera. I always had an interest in photography. My husband encouraged me to pursue photography. He knew I wanted to stay home when we had kids but financially we couldn’t afford it. He bought me my first DSLR for Christmas and created my LLC. He said what I did with it was up to me. I slowly began going to conferences and workshops to learn. I continued to self-teach myself and take pictures of people to develop. My daughter was born a year later and I put everything into my business after that. I never went back to the classroom and have been running my photography business as my sole income for almost 8 years.

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?
My path has definitely included adversity and several bumps along the way. My family with the exception of my husband doubted me and thought I was crazy for leaving teaching. Learning what my value is and being confident that people would be willing to pay that was a struggle. The time commitment that took away from my family. The financial ups and downs starting out of not knowing how much money I would make from week to week and month to month. My husband has a career but we still need my income to live our life. The fear of not being able to contribute to our family motivates me. Branding and rebranding. I could talk about struggles all day but every one of them has made me better and stronger.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I provide services for all types of photography family, senior portraits, newborn, maternity, boudoir, wedding, engagement, milestones and commercial as well as other types of photography. If I have a specialty it is newborn and maternity shoots. I am known for those and most of my acclaim is from these shoots. I am most proud that I have a successful photography company that I believe provides excellent service to all of my clients despite me being the only employee. The returning clients and referrals makes me feel blessed and proud. I think what sets me apart is that I cater my shoots to my clients. It’s more than just showing up to take pictures. I build relationships with my clients to find out who they are and then customize the shoot from clothing, location etc. to reveal who they are. I want every shoot to be different than others rather than doing the same thing for every client. Each client deserves to be treated differently.

Being a former educator, most people know many of us don’t do it for the money. Because let’s be real, teachers don’t get paid what they are worth. After being in business a couple of years, I started doing fairly well. I felt truly blessed that my little business was doing great and wanted in some way to give back. I wanted to feel like I was making an impact the same way I was when I was a teacher. I knew the impact would be different but wanted to touch people lives through my art. This led my friend Desiree and I to create an event called Beautiful YOU in 2013. Which was inspired by her sister Netis who has suffered from stage 4 cancer for a few years now. Each year we gather a group of women who suffer from cancer get dolled up /made over by an amazing team of make-up artists and hair stylists. I then take some breathtaking images of them! They are always so appreciative, and can’t believe it is THEM in these images. They can’t thank us enough for making to feel beautiful and allowing them to forget for a few moments about the cancer they suffer from.

What were you like growing up?
I’m an identical twin. I’m known as the outgoing talkative one! This would get in trouble at school a whole lot! I believe having an outgoing type personality has definitely helped me with my business.

I recall several of my friends mentioning they were surprised when they heard I was a teacher because most of them figured I’d do something with photography; since I always had a camera in hand. I often wanted to capture different moments in my life as well as others’. I remember my oldest niece who is now 23! OH GOSH, I feel old 😉 haha! Anyway, she was a baby and my twin and I used to use her as our little model. I was only in 5th grade when she was born. I would get my disposable little camera and create backdrops and dress her up in cute outfits so I can take her pictures! That is my earliest memory of me trying to be a “photographer.” After being in education for 5 years, and falling in love with my career I would have never thought in a million years I’d leave it to make living from my passion of photography.

Pricing:

• Maternity & Newborn Sessions begin @ $400
• Portraits begin @ $350
• Weddings begin @$1500

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lgordillophoto.com
• Email: laura@lgordillophoto.com

Image Credits:
Anna Marisol Photography (Headshot)

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