Meet Stephanie Olivera | Content Creator & Photographer

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

Hi Stephanie, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Authenticity, owning who you are and being confident in what you bring to the table. It’s often times easier said than done, but I see way too many people with so much potential miss out on opportunities because they were afraid to put themselves out there. A big part of what I try to teach my audience and clients is confidence in your own essence. Embrace everything that is you and everything else will fall into place. When I speak to my audience or clients, I speak to them like they’re my best friends. I let them know they are in a safe space to let go and be themselves. It always amazes me when I compare shots from when a shoot first begins and the client is still a bit reserved to when the shoot ends and the client has really allowed themselves to have fun and be themselves. It’s that feeling of “This is a person that I can relate to and makes me feel good” that keeps them coming back. Today’s world is very easy to find success just from posting what it is you love to do, whatever it may be. We’ve proven there’s an audience for literally everyone with apps like TikTok. It’s just a matter of whether or not you’re willing to step in front of the spotlight.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Well, I am a creative portrait photographer. I mostly work one on one with my clients and come up with creative personalized concepts for their shoots based on their wants and needs. I feel like what sets me apart from the rest is that I specialize in working with people who are not usually the first to jump right in front of a camera. I love to cater to those who lack a little bit of confidence and need a little bit of a hype person to be able to really see their beauty. Taking the time to really show them what would work best for them specifically, in a way that still makes them feel confident and like they’re being true to themselves. There’s just something about seeing the transformation in confidence from the beginning of a shoot to the end in a person that really keeps me going.

How I have gotten to where I am today was a bit of a whirlwind, but looking back now I see that every single path I’ve taken to this point has definitely been for a reason. If I said it was easy, I’d be lying. I’ve always been a creative at heart, but also a realist and rationalist. Participated in the performing arts all throughout high school, but when entering college decided to take a more “practical” route and study hospitality, Event Planning, to be exact. I figured there’s still some kind of creative aspect to it and it’s not as crazy as trying to move to New York and trying to make it in the fashion industry. Which I had subtly, but briefly considered doing. My last semester of my hospitality program comes along and I decide, I am completely unhappy and want to go after my passion of fashion and content creation. To say that I was going through an existential crisis, was saying the least, but I decided to take a risk and completely start over in a new program. That’s when I began my fashion journey at the Miami Fashion Institute and with Nordstrom stores, where I got to experience the other side of fashion that not many people get to see, the business side. I learned a lot over the two years studying at MFI and made some really great connections as well. All throughout my time at MFI, I was also climbing my way up the corporate ladder working at Nordstrom; I did very well for myself there. I acquired my associates in Fashion Merchandising and the next step was to go on to get my Bachelor’s in Business Administration and the only other school my credits were transferable to was LIM College located in New York City. Yup, you guessed it, Stephanie takes on New York City. I made the decision to leave everything I knew back home, including a relationship of 4 years, to do the exact thing I said I was not going to to do 4 years prior because it was “too crazy”. It’s safe to say it was one of the hardest yet best decisions and periods of time, I’ve ever made or had in my life. I had the opportunity to open up the first ever Nordstrom flagship store in New York City. I became more in touch with who I am as a creative and a person with every new thing I was exposed to. Unfortunately, my time in the big city was cut short due to the pandemic. I lost my job in New York with Nordstrom and I had to pack my bags and come back home to Miami. THAT’S where my photography comes in. The pandemic caused me to take a look at where my life was headed and although, I did love being in the fashion industry, I didn’t love the route I was taking within the fashion industry. I decided to take a step back from corporate retail and try my luck with photography. I’ve always had an eye for composition and detail, but never really saw myself as having photography be my bread winner. Funny enough after having invested in my first professional camera and discovering the creative safe haven that is HGAB Studios, everything else started falling into place and the rest is history.

Nothing that’s worth having in life ever comes easy. A lot of the times you’re going to go through points in your life that are not the most ideal or wanted, but are completely necessary for the greater scheme of your plan. What’s important is that you never give up. As cliche as that may be, you’re only a failure once you give up fully. That also doesn’t mean you can’t change the plan if it’s no longer working. What I mean by “give up fully” is giving up on you and your own happiness. And that’s what I want people to know about my brand, that my brand is really just me being me and you all being gracious enough to support. There’s really no big success secret. I am just a regular girl trying to figure it out as I go just like the rest of us. Taking things day by day and utilizing those around you who love you to support you when needed is the best advice I’ve gotten and I’m passing it over to you. If I can do it, than you sure as hell can too.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Most definitely would have them checkout HGAB Studios just because it really is an amazing creative resource to have in Miami, especially if you’re starting your creative journey.

It isn’t a trip to Miami if you don’t do brunch, so I would definitely have to take her to few of my favorite brunch spots throughout the week like American Social, R House in wynwood for the littest drag brunch they will ever see, and Casablanca on the bay.

At night we’d probably have a cute little girls night out at places like Laggniappe for some nice conversation and wine or Ball and Chain for some Miami fun, And of course we would have to catch some sun rays at the beach.

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 honestly feel like every single person I’ve encountered in my life is due for a shoutout because without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So if you’ve ever had a time where we’ve vibed together, conversed together, made any kind of connection together; even if we no longer speak. I would like to say thank you! I obviously know that’s a bit broad, so I’ll take some time to name a few specifics.

A huge shoutout to the woman responsible for my work ethic and drive, my momma. A shoutout to all my amazing friends who have helped me with so many of my concepts and continue to be an amazing support system. A shoutout to The Miami Fashion Institute and LIM College in New York for the education and experience it’s provided me within the industry. And another huge shoutout to HGAB Studios, where my creative family resides and my creativity continues to flourish.

There are no words to describe the love I have for these people, but I am ever so grateful they were put in my path.

Website: https://stephanieolivera95.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatgirlsteppssss/ ; https://www.instagram.com/olilens.photography/

Image Credits
Image credits to Jorge A. Escobar Mata for my Cover Image Muses Featured: Gilma Somarriba, Cristy Fana, Tatyana Bryan & Zienelle Isabelle
MUAs: Andy Beheit