Meet Louie Forte | Photographer

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

Hi Louie, what inspires you?
What inspires me is the ability to freeze moments of real joy—people laughing, embracing, simply being themselves around the people they love. Capturing those genuine, happy moments is priceless to me. It’s what drives me to keep growing, to keep learning, and to give more with every session.

Photography isn’t just a job—it’s a way for me to build a life that offers freedom for me and my family. I want to create a business that reflects who I am and what I value: connection, happiness, and storytelling through images.

I love seeing people enjoy themselves, and I love being the one who gets to preserve those memories. When clients see their photos and react with awe or emotion, that feeling is everything to me. It reminds me why I do what I do.

My passion for photography fuels me every single day. I believe that when you’re truly passionate about something, people can feel it—and I strive to make that passion shine through every image I capture.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from others is that photography isn’t currently my main source of income—but I treat it like it is. I show up with the same drive, discipline, and passion as someone whose entire livelihood depends on it. That mindset pushes me to keep growing, to deliver at a high level, and to keep striving to make this my full-time reality. My passion is what fuels me, and I believe that energy comes through in every session.

One of the things I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come in such a short time. I set a goal in my first year of business to book 10 clients. I ended that year with over 45 paid photo sessions. That kind of growth was more than I expected—and it showed me that I really can build something lasting and meaningful with Louie Forte Photography.

Getting to this point wasn’t easy. I’ve had to balance a lot—learning the business side of things, finding my creative voice, and juggling a full-time job while building this dream on the side. One of the biggest challenges has been managing the time and energy it takes to do both well. But I’ve been fortunate to have my wife by my side—her support behind the scenes has been a major part of my success. From handling our accounting and contracts to culling galleries and keeping things organized—she’s been a true partner in all of this.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is that consistency and heart go a long way. You don’t have to have it all figured out, but if you keep showing up, learning, and improving, your work will speak for itself.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is this: I don’t just take photos—I preserve memories. I don’t see a photo as just a picture; I see it as proof that a real moment once existed. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to reliving that feeling, that connection, that time in your life. That’s what I want people to take away from my work—and that’s why I plan to do this for the rest of my life.

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 I had a friend visiting South Florida, the first thing we’d do is eat—because the food scene here is incredible. We’ve got amazing international spots, from Cuban and Venezuelan to Colombian, Mexican, and all kinds of fusion cuisine. Honestly, you can’t go wrong—there’s flavor everywhere!

I’d definitely take them by the water to soak in some of the most beautiful views and sunsets you’ll ever see. South Florida really knows how to show off when it comes to natural beauty.

And of course, we’d have to hit the bowling alley—I love bowling! I actually play in a league during the week, so it’s one of my favorite ways to unwind and have fun.

There’s so much to do down here that even though I live here, I’m always open to exploring new spots and experiences. South Florida has a way of surprising you—in the best way.

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 give a huge shout-out to my wife—she’s been my biggest supporter and the driving force behind so much of my success. She’s constantly pushing me to dream bigger, to set goals, and to chase after the life I envision. What people don’t always see is how much she does behind the scenes—from managing our accounting to preparing contracts, invoices, and brochures. One of the most important things she helps with is culling my galleries—going through thousands of photos to help choose the absolute best ones. Her eye, her support, and her belief in me make all the difference.

And I also want to take a moment to recognize myself. Starting Louie Forte Photography was a leap of faith, and I’m proud that I took it. I’ve worked hard to get where I am today, and while I’m proud of the progress I’ve made, I’m even more excited about where I’m headed. I’m constantly pushing myself to grow—not just as a photographer, but as a person, a business owner, and a creator. This journey has been full of learning, grit, and passion, and I’m thankful for every step of it.

Website: https://www.louiefortephotography.com

Instagram: @louiefortephotography