Meet Felix Quinones | Photographer and Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Felix Quinones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Felix, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Personally, I think the word risk has a negative connotation in todays society. A decisions with a potential risk does not make it a bad decision. I have always been a fan of betting on myself. You almost always have to take a risk in order to see what’s on the other side of possibility. In my opinion risk is the variable in the equation that too many people try to avoid and hope to still get the desired outcome.

Risk is a substantial factor in my current business and how it came to be. In 2020 I was working as a Human Resources Trainer for a major casino in Southern California. Once the Pandemic hit we were furloughed until further notice. As a father off three children and me and my wife both being furloughed we knew we were not going to make it very far without making a decisions. After discussing it with my wife we decided that during a pandemic we were going to pack up the family and move to Texas and start a photography business. Now any normal person would look at all the risk factors of the cost of the move, no jobs, no client base, a business that requires personal interaction during a pandemic and only a small amount of savings and they would have opted for plan B. However, throughout my time in the Marine Corps one thing that was ingrained in us is mission accomplishment. Once you have set your sights on an objective, it must be obtained no matter what.

I believed in myself and my capabilities and I am blessed to have a wife that supports me and believes in me as well. In looking at the overall decisions, there was a tremendous amount of risk but the reward far surpassed the risk. I would not have had it any other way and our business and all of our clients make my heart so full. I could not imagine doing anything else.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I would say that my art heavily depends on the subject or person that I am photographic. Aside from having a commercial photography business I am also a Photo Major at TCU and I try to incorporate the contemporary art aspect to any commercial work I do. I have always said that I love people and I am fascinated by their stories. So with every session I try to make the experience solely about the client. I like to learn about them and their story and I make it a point to create images that reflect those interactions.

I started taking photos roughly about 3 1/2 years ago. I purchased a camera in an effort to market a T-shirt company I had created while in the military. Overtime, I found that I loved the photo aspect more than I did the T-shirt business itself so I leaned more into that. I started off very slow and very cheap. I didn’t have expensive equipment. At one point I didn’t even have my own camera I was borrowing one from a friend and they lent it to me because the one I had wasn’t a professional grade camera. In the begging as it is today, I just loved making photos. I would take photos of myself for hours cause I wasn’t confident working with models. I would also only charge $50 for sessions because I wasn’t sure it my images were good enough to garner more than that. Truthfully, I only charged the $50 to ensure the client would show up lol.

I wouldn’t say it was easy but it was easier because I loved it. I made a ton of mistakes and had a lot of hard lessons on the business side but I love it so much that it makes those curve balls manageable. I made it a point to try and learn something new each day and try and take photos of some sort everyday. Truthfully, I don’t know what I would do today without a camera. It seems like such a huge part of my life.

The main lesson I’ve learned along the way is self belief. You have to believe in yourself and trust the process. Growth takes time and no one starts at the top. However, In believing in yourself the journey and any decisions along the way will be so much easier.

Our brand is one rooted in stories. Stories of triumph and possibility. It is also rooted in people. We love meeting each new client and we care so much about the end result and ensuring it tells their story correctly.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So I do not actually go out much but I do have a few places that I love to take the family.

-First we would have to eat at Harvest Hall in Grapevine. The food and drink selection is amazing. The Architecture is beautiful and Grapevine is such a pretty gem.

-Second we would have to go to crude craft Coffee in Fort Worth. I love their decor and the coffee is so good. The owner is such a good person and extremely friendly as well.

-Third we would go the the Modern and check out the exhibits currently on display.

-Fourth I would recommend dinner at Wishbone and Flint. The food is so good and the drink selection and setting is so classy.

-Lastly I would say catch the sunset from Atico in the stockyards.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I would like to thank my wife. She is my rock and the source that keeps me going. I ‘don’t think I would be half the man I am today without her support. She is so encouraging and supportive. She also puts me in my place when Im rolling in self doubt and self criticism as any artist does.

I would also like to thank my best friend and mentor William Harris. He is possibly one of the smartest men I know. He is extremely encouraging and genuinely believes in my and my capabilities. His business acumen far surpasses his years and he is a wealth of knowledge. Not to mention has an incredible shoe collection.

My buddy Doc Wright. He is a fellow artist and owner of the Wright Edge. He inspires me everyday. One conversation with him single handedly changed the way I viewed my business and its possibilities.

MY three kids (My Little Humans) they are my heart and my why each and everyday.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank all of my clients over the past two years. I have learned so much from each and everyone of them and the support they give me and my family does not go unnoticed. They are all amazing people with amazing stories and I am grateful to simple share a part in it. .

Website: Currently under construction

Instagram: @qthaphotographer or @qthaphotographermedia

Facebook: @qthaphotographer

Youtube: @qthaphotographer

Image Credits
Felix Quinones Leyna Quinones