Meet Viranda Brooks-Gozalez | Editorial Fashion Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Viranda Brooks-Gozalez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Viranda, how do you think about risk?
I view risk as an opportunity to see how capable I am. I firmly believe you must be willing to do extraordinary things to live an extraordinary life. Everything has a sacrifice or a cost related to it. You can either risk losing stability, money, starting over for a chance to live the life of your dreams, or you can risk living with regret, never realizing your potential, and always wondering what could have been.

Every risk I’ve taken in my life has paid off in one way or another. I either learn something or conquer something. I took a risk going to school for film. It’s a risky over-saturated field, and in the end, I didn’t go down that path but found my voice and developed my passion for visual storytelling. Instead of getting a 9-5 job, I chose to go all in with photography. It was never my side hustle or a hobby. I went full-time from the start because I knew quitting was the only truly fail.

Now I have a thriving business doing what I love, and trust me, it’s hard. We still struggle, but it’s worth it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an Editorial Fashion photographer who combines my love for storytelling and evocative visuals to create identity-rich content for Fashion Brands and designers.

My career started during the pandemic, collaborating with local models in my area and shooting concepts I’d been dreaming up. That’s how my career started, me, a model, and my camera and I would buy everything I needed to make it happen. I taught myself how to find models, makeup artist, studio spaces, and everything I needed to make campaign-level shoots happen, and I did it by myself. Not for bragging rights but because I didn’t have a choice back then. Initially, I was trying to stave off the crippling depression from now being able to shoot weddings or elopements because that’s what I thought I wanted to do first.

I’d meet people in masks, and we’d keep our distance, but we would pull together the most incredible shots, and shortly after my first two shoots, I started working for a vintage shop. Getting from there, making $25 an hour, to where I am was nothing short of a roller coaster ride. It took a lot of optimism and persistence.

Along the way, I learned that I’m so much stronger than I ever gave myself credit for and that although I consider myself an introvert, I’m a people person. The two don’t have to be mutually exclusive. I learned that it starts with you. Before you can sell your value to anyone, you must know your worth and believe in your capabilities. Maybe you don’t know how to do something right now, but trust that you can learn.

The most valuable thing I’ve gained on this journey is the confidence to be myself 100% unapologetically. I’ve booked so many clients on my personality alone. The truth is there’s plenty of room for all of us as photographers and creators, there’s an endless pool of clients, but the important thing is finding and attracting the right client for you. You want someone who values you and your work, not someone who will nickel and dime you or try to make you be someone you’re not.

I want the world to know I’m one unapologetic savage, raw, passionate, and bold. And when you create with me, I will empower you to be the same, 100% yourself. Because I believe when we all show up as our most authentic selves, we heal, and not only that, we’re able to build lives, brands/businesses that we really freaking love, full of people who genuinely love and understand us.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I mostly work out of the Austin area, so I don’t know much about the DFW, but when I’ve visited, I always love to catch a Cowboys game or watch the Mavericks play. The sports culture in the city is off the charts. The last time I went, I got the best chocolate ice cream from the Godiva store in the gallery. We also went up to the top of the reunion tower, which was a lot of fun.

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?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my husband, Brett Gonzalez. Without him, none of this would be possible. He worked and supported us while I finished college and then while I chased my dream of being a Fashion photographer. He sacrificed so much time at jobs he hated to create stability in our world so I could go all in, and he did it all with so much love and devotion. Brett believed in me always, regardless of how little I was making, when I doubted myself when I thought about switching careers. He trusted that I would figure it out and that I had what it took to be successful beyond my wildest dreams. I only wish that everyone finds that person who makes them want to be their best selves and loves them for who they are.

Brett, It’s you against the world and me. There’s nothing we can’t do.

Website: https://venturewithvirett.pic-time.com/client

Instagram: @virandamichelle

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viranda-brooks-762496184

Facebook: Viranda Michelle Photography

Other: The best way to book is to email me at virandamichellephotography@gmail.com

Image Credits
Gabrielle Tanner Sydney Nava Eden Allowitz Maggie Deaver Kenah Jonel Kinga