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

Hi Laci, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The one thing that is most important behind my success and brand is the connection I make with other business owners as a person. I feel that a genuine connection between people is my biggest strength, especially as I showcase others in who they are for their audience. Being kind, loyal and considerate are things I strive for in my business because it makes my clients feel appreciated and like they matter. I know it’s hard for anyone to be the forefront of their business as they create a brand, so I do my best to make sure they feel comfortable and confident.

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.
So 10 years ago I started my journey as a photographer. I’ve worked within the commercial photography industry for most of those years, photographing products, architecture and now brands. At first I was just working with business owners in general but felt a calling towards a specific kind of niche. Mainly because I realized within myself that I wasn’t 100% comfortable with dealing with any kind of business owner. I’ve always had a hard time with networking because it’s never come natural to just go up and talk to a random person. In fact it’s very uncomfortable for me because I’m an introverted person by nature. So one night as I was in that uncomfortable place at a networking event I ran into a female who was introverted, just like myself and we had a great conversation. It was later that night I finally realized what I was looking for in my business and that was to serve other introverted business owner with their personal brands and product photography needs. Serving introverts has definitely set me apart in my field and I feel has provided genuine connections within my business. I feel more comfortable and like I’m making a difference in allowing others to be who they are for their audience. I strive to lead by example and showcase myself in my social media to let others see it’s possible for an introvert to be visible. This has even given me the opportunity to still work with extroverted business owners who still feel awkward in front of a camera and gain confidence in themselves. Recently I have decided to branch out a bit and help educate others in DIY flatlay photography and am in the process of creating a course for business owners. The course will focus on how to photograph lifestyle flatlay photos at home with a cell phone or a DSLR camera. I plan to go into detail of lighting tips, prop styling, phone/camera settings and simple edits to photos. I want to make sure business owners have the tools they need to help themselves during times where finances may be tight. I’m excited to finally get the course completed so I can better serve my audience and their needs. I always want them to know, I’m always here to help and serve them when they need it most.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
There are a few places we would definitely go check out! We love playing tourist so downtown is a must when anyone comes to visit. The Dallas museum of art, Klyde warren park, trolley tours and the arboretum are some of my favorites. Some of our favorite restaurants we would go to would include the food trucks at the park, Enzo’s pizza, Alkeys for some food and a drink, the farmers market, Edison’s & wellmind coffee.

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?
There are quite a few people that have attributed to my success and an amazing group I’m so glad I found when I was lost. First off I want to thank Social Curator for being a beacon when I felt super lost in the social media world and how to market myself. Second I have to thank my amazing business friends I have gained over the years, without them I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now. Having those people to bounce ideas and support each other has been the greatest gift besides my amazing clients in my journey.

Website: www.warrlockphotography.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warrlockphotography/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laci-villarreal-80034846/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warrlockphotography/