Meet Leticia Gutierrez of Gtrz Photography in North Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leticia Gutierrez.

Leticia, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I had always been interested in photography and was told I had a ‘good eye’, but I never pursued it seriously. I had owned a few point-and-shoot cameras throughout the years but I never took the time to fully understand them. It wasn’t until two years ago my husband Juan Angel surprised me with a Sony a6000 for Valentine’s Day and I decided it was time to put some time and effort into learning about not just the camera itself from a technical standpoint, but also the fundamentals of photography. I spent hours reading articles, watching tutorials, and practicing shooting. With the help and support of my friend and mentor, Don Shader (donshader.net), I was able to really get a grasp for some concepts and expand both my knowledge and photography gear as well.

Within a few months, I had upgraded cameras to something more professional and capable; I had also grown my lens collection and equipment quite a bit and had everything necessary to hit the ground running! I started slowly by offering free sessions to friends and family to build a portfolio and have since steadily grown clients simply based on word of mouth.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been easy, but things started to settle once I realized I was my own roadblock. My main challenge initially was that I kept comparing my work to other photographers and I struggled with that because I too wanted to produce amazing work. I was hard on myself and at one point I just gave up and put the camera back on the shelf and told myself: ‘this isn’t for me’. But thankfully, my supportive husband saw right through my self-disappointment and knew that what I needed was encouragement and patience. After all, no one becomes an expert overnight. So I picked up from where I left and eventually noticed that every photographer has their unique style, and I knew that I simply needed to find my own and develop it further. I am now confident enough to say that I’m proud of my work and although I still have a lot to learn, I am content with it and my clients are too; that for me is very rewarding, and it proves to me that I’m on the right path as long as I continue to persevere. 

Please tell us about your business.
I am a freelance photographer and I love capturing special moments, no matter the occasion. Photography for me is not so much about the pictures themselves; it’s about the experience. My goal is simple: I want my clients to be truly happy with the experience of having their photos taken, and be satisfied with the results: beautiful, candid images that represent beautiful, raw memories. I shoot anything from family and couple portraits to weddings and quinceañeras.

I also offer what I call Adventure Sessions, which are intimate sessions for couples in the beautiful scenery of Sedona. But these are not your typical couple sessions because we take clients off-roading! These sessions include everything from transportation, an experienced driver, prints, to even lunch – the clients simply choose a date and off we go! To learn more, check out gtrzphoto.com/adventure. It’s a ton of fun and an awesome experience for the adventurous minded!

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For me, success is hearing from clients that they love their photos. It’s like music to my ears and truly fills my heart with joy. What I enjoy as well, is when I see my work printed and framed in their homes. Knowing that I captured that special moment for them and they put it on display, makes me feel very proud and happy that they are content with my work.

Pricing:

• 1 Hour Portrait Sessions are $120
• 90min Engagement and Couple Sessions are $180
• Adventure Sessions are $800
• Wedding and Quinceañera packages start at $500

Contact Info:

• Website: gtrzphoto.com
• Phone: 602-529-1874
• Email: info@gtrzphoto.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/gtrzphoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/gtrzphoto

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