Meet Camila Urrea | Wedding Photographer

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

Hi Camila, what do you attribute your success to?
Living and working in an inspired coalescence is absolutely the greatest factor behind the rise and success of my brand. My brand was born out of a hobby and passion. As a young teenager I loved taking photographs of the people around me who inspired me for the significance they had in my life. I would love capturing my friends and my family in all different settings. As I grew I discovered other interests like contemporary art, design, and fashion. When my photography began to roll into a proper job it felt organic to combine it with my love for elements of architecture and reference art movements that made me feel my work had transcendence. Today I can say, my work has overflown into all different aspects of my life which definitely helps feed my constant search to rise and transform through what inspires me. There’s nothing I like more than going through books that channel the masters of film photography or the Impressionist art movement. I do this in my free time when I need time to decompress and relax. I intently have made an effort to work alongside my friends in whatever it is they do, sometimes even working in what they do just to get to collaborate. I provide experiences to my clients that work towards creating a relationship with them even after we have finished a job. It’s all part of the circular processes that allow me to feed and take back satisfaction, fulfillment and gratification for my creative labor. I have finally reached combining the lifestyle I want with the work I do, which has always been my ultimate dream. What more is there to success than this?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My age definitely sets me apart. I captured my first wedding when I was 18 and won Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars when I was 23, which I am certainly proud of. I think starting young has given me a sense of freedom when moving forward, especially in not taking rejections too seriously and in envisioning that there is still a lot ahead. Of course, it has not been easy. I’ve given up thousands of hours to get to where I am. When it comes to wedding photography, work is on the weekends. Not being able to fully enjoy a weekend’s itinerary has unquestionably taken a toll on me at times. But when I grew the most was when I booked close to 40 weddings in one year. By the end I understood what burn out was and changed my workflow to prioritize the jobs that were more aligned with where I wanted to go professionally. Of course, this is a privilege which I am extremely grateful for and proud of. Setting these limits is something I undoubtedly recommend all professionals need to do at some point. Quality over quality is finally a practice I can value. If I could give the world advice that comes from my own experience, it would be to protect your energy. Nothing speaks louder in creative work than what is reflected internally.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you are ever in town in Guadalajara, Mexico you must stay at Demetria Hotel or Casa Habita. Both are located in one of the city’s most lively neighborhoods, Colonia Americana. Most of Mexico’s most recognized contemporary artists are originally from Guadalajara. So, you can’t miss a visit to Gonzalo Lebrija’s studio. You have to see Jose Clemente Orozco’s historic murals at the Hospicio Cabañas and I would end the art tour with a visit to the gallery, Travesía Cuatro, which is actually located right next to Demetria Hotel. To suppress Guadalajara’s heat I would certainly get the freshest bite at La Docena. Save the night to go to Guadalajara’s most praised theater, Teatro Degollado, and attend a classical music recital. I would end with dinner out at Xokol, an extraordinary culinary experience that highlights all native ingredients and flavors.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Nothing would have been possible without the endless support of my family. I dropped out of school to pursue my creative career so at first it kind of was like jumping into oblivion. Having their back undeniably helped me stay focused with my feet well grounded to what it was I needed to do on my own to get from point A to point B. Although I was not going to “traditional” school, my parents always pushed me to engage in other unconventional ways to stay at the top of my game.

I have been with my boyfriend for years which has made him become my creative partner. I consult everything I do with him because he always encourages me to think out of the box even if it means starting from zero. He has been my accomplice in building a lifestyle that goes in hand with our work. Our favorite date is to bounce back ideas. He’s a pianist and financial analyst so his insights from a different point of view are consistently appreciated. Work is more meaningful in great ways when it combines music, food, and emotions that are usually overlooked.

Last but not least, I want to thank my personal assistant and creative manager, Renata. She’s the ying to my yang, especially in her ability to bring down ideas to create a plan of action to achieve what I want. We have been friends since we were young, making me very proud of how well we have handled our friendship and work relationship. If I am losing it she’s the one who talks me into clarity. If she’s too stressed and needs a lift, I am the one who gives her that assurance. Our team has stayed strong thanks to both our efforts.

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Website: www.camilaurrea.com

Instagram: camilaurreaa