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

Hi Isabelle, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When I started my Photography business in 2018 it was more of an impulsive act than a well thought out decision. I was in college for Music in a very structured 4-year program that basically planned out my life for the next 10 years. The only thing was that I wasn’t happy with what I was doing. My dad had a nice camera when I was growing up that I had enjoyed playing with, but I never really considered photography as a career since it didn’t feel “practical” to me. One day when I was in college, my friends and I went out to take pictures at Texas Tulips just for fun. Since I had used my dad’s camera in the past, I offered to take pictures of everyone. I ended up having more fun that day than I had all year in my college program. I knew at that moment that something had to change. I just wasn’t sure what that something was. I dropped out of my college program a few months later with little to no plan. The only things I knew I enjoyed were music and photography. Music was no longer an option, so photography it was. It felt incredibly risky since there wasn’t one clear path to becoming a Photographer, and it’s a pretty saturated market. I wasn’t even sure I would like being a Photographer. I figured it wouldn’t last more than 6 months. Well, that was 7 years ago. I’m now a Full-Time Wedding Photographer living my dream. If you would’ve told me all of this 8 years ago, I would’ve thought you were crazy. However, I’m so incredibly grateful that God led me to my dream job in the most unexpected way. For me, taking calculated risks is essential to truly living life and thriving in my career. Some risks I’ve taken, like randomly dropping out of college to become a Photographer, have worked out while some haven’t. However, I know God is always here guiding me and makes good out of every situation.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When people ask me how I would describe my work, the words that come to mind are warm, romantic, authentic, and sacred. Something I pride myself in is capturing my clients as they truly are. Every gallery of mine looks different because every person is different. Because of this, I try to do as little posing as possible. Instead, I’ll give you prompts or actions to do that bring out genuine reactions and smiles. I always pray before all of my sessions for God to help me capture my clients as He sees them. Because my goal is to always capture my clients as authentically as possible, it’s very important for me to relate to my clients on a deeper level, I always tell my wedding clients that your photographer acts as “your eyes” for the day, so it’s important for you to choose someone who sees life the same way you do. Because of this, I specialize in Catholic weddings. As a Catholic myself, I feel like I can serve my clients the best in this setting while also serving God. It makes my work even more meaningful.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to do this job that I love. The only reason I’m here is because of Him and the life He’s given me. I would also like to thank my parents for supporting me as I built my portfolio and letting me explore the possibility of becoming a Photographer in the first place. I know me leaving my 4-year college program wasn’t ideal, but thank you for believing in me and allowing me to see it through. I’d also like to thank my friends, extended family, past clients, and anyone who has shared my work in any way. The reason I get to continue doing what I love is because of all of you, so thank you immensely.

Website: https://www.imagerybyisabelle.com

Instagram: @ImageryByIsabelle

Facebook: Imagery by Isabelle

Image Credits
Imagery by Isabelle LLC

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