Meet Victor Sanabrais | Photographer

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

Hi Victor, how do you think about risk?
I have never shied away from taking risks. From an early age I learned that if I wanted to break through to another level, and elevate where I stood, I would have to calculate some risk taking into my game plan. Incorporating a “no fear” attitude, and focusing my efforts so that I was prepared for what is to come, win or lose, was always a mind set for me. I was born and raised in the Chicagoland area and when I was a 24 year old rookie, just trying to get into the photography business, I moved downtown into the West Loop area. This was a big risk, as I did not have any steady income, nor did I have a customer base that would allow me to sustain paying rent, building a portfolio, and having anything left to eat. I jumped into the deep end of the pool, as they say. Learn to swim, or sink and drown were my options. I took on any photo related job I could find, and hustled every day of the week to land jobs that would pay me just to survive. Sleeping was a bonus I would reward myself with from time to time, but there wasn’t much time for resting. I had to tirelessly pursue doing sales, making calls, going to show my portfolio, take on assistant jobs, you name it, I did it and then some. I told all my friends, that one day, I will be discovered, and someone will see my talent, and open a door for me. I was manifesting this message 24/7, and kept pushing forward even through the darkest of days where I was truly a staving artist. And then, it happen! It was New Years Eve 1995, and I decided to invite all the models I had met while doing test shoots all year, to my loft to for a big celebration. At the time, loft parties in the city were super popular, and I invited all my friends to come join in the fun. As the party was in full swing, I looked around and I saw a guy sitting on my couch who didn’t seem to fit in. Many of the models seemed to know him, so I became very inquisitive as to who he was. I walked up to him and asked him who he was and who invited him. He said “Are you Victor? I have been hearing your name from many of the models, and would love to speak to you about some photography opportunities.” I was instantly surprised at what I just heard, and then he handed me his business card. It had a big gold embossed bunny head on it, and his title read – photo editor Playboy newsstand specials. I was in total shock, and I instantly looked at him and said “I have been waiting to meet you…” The rest they say is history. I had found a way to get my career started and with a brand that would soon open many doors for me. Taking risks had payed off. Staying focused, and putting in the hard work and long hours showed me that risk taking is not something to fearful of. I chose to embrace it

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the owner of VSPstudios.net, an e-commerce fashion content creation studio located in the Little Haiti district of Miami. VSP Studios specializes in professional on-model photography, ghost mannequin photography, and video content production for fashion apparel brands, and retailers. Fashion brand owners from all over the world send us their apparel items to be photographed for advertising campaigns, online shopping sites, and social media marketing. My wife Elena runs our ghost mannequin department, while I run the on-model department. Not many people know what ghost mannequin photography refers to, but everyone who has shopped for clothing online has seen this type of imagery. Almost every online fashion retailer uses ghost mannequin images to some degree, to showcase their apparel collections. VSP Studios didn’t invent the ghost mannequin process, we perfected it, and were the first to offer it to the masses online. As the fashion industry moved away from brick and mortar, and into selling online via Shopify, Amazon, and other web based selling platforms, having a content creation company that focused on this specific need was paramount to the success VSP has attained today. As I saw the industry changing, I rebranded the way in which I advertised myself as a photographer. I moved away from using just my name and instead used the brand name of VSP Studios as my moniker. This way of presenting my business efforts, set me apart from the competition. No longer was I just another guy with a camera you could hire, but rather a professional studio that was focused on a specific niche of the fashion industry. By simply presenting myself in a new manner, helped to elevate my online SEO status, and delivered a more targeted message to perspective clients who were in need of the services I provide. A changing industry, required a change in how to sell myself. If you are the owner of a fashion brand looking for someone to handle the content creation process for your apparel merchandise, and you go searching online for one company to do so, then you most likely will see VSP in your search results. Im proud to say that my team and I have established ourselves as leaders in this fashion photography market, and our portfolio and clientele list speaks for itself.

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?
My wife and I are big on dinning out and enjoying amazing food. Im not afraid to pay extra for a place that does it well and delvers a great experience. We are always being asked what our favorite places are and as friends come to town we direct them to our top spots. At the top of my list is Hiyakawa, a contemporary Japanese restaurant located in Wynwood. It’s a small, intimate place, that focuses on traditional Japanese style cuisine. It’s an artistic experience with amazing ingredients and flavors that must be experienced to fully understand. The sake is flown in from Japan, and its a mist have to compliment your meal. Next up, I would have to say my favorite is Doma, also located in Wynwood. I walked into Doma on a Monday night and it was packed. I had heard it was good, but I could see there was something going on here that was special. I was greeted by Luca the manger, and his Italian accent had me focused on what was to come next. Italian food made by a staff of Italian chefs all working in unison in the kitchen. I invited my good friend Paolo, who is from Milan to come try Doma, and after one bite he calls over Luca and said something in Italian that I could not understand. I asked him to translate and he said that he told him “this is real Italian food, and I will be back for more!” I take all my clients to Doma, and it never fails to deliver an on point experience. I would also note that Luigi the bartender, who was brought in from Milan for his skills, makes the best dirty martini in town! Grazie! I would also like to mention Cote in the Design District, This Korean BBQ place is a sleek and sexy experience for those who love steak and want to have a nice evening out in a sexy, dimly lit dinning experience. I have lived in Miami since 2009 and my favorite areas are Midtown, Edgewater and the Design District. Wynwood is a bit loud for my tastes, but there are certainly gems to be visited there. I have lived in many places in my life and I can say that Miami is my favorite hands down. There is no place I would rather be.

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?
When I first put a camera in my hand and was deciding to possibly pursue photography as a profession, I was not sure I had what it took. It was then that I decided to reach out to the real artist of my family, my sister Liz. She had always shown her high level of god given talent with drawing, painting, and graphic design. It was clear this would be the path she would take in life. She had just gotten a job as an art director working for a local graphic design company, and her career was taking off quickly. I was so proud of her, and to see her find her way with her artistry was a blessing. I knew that if I had her review the portfolio I had assembled, she would give it to me straight. I trusted her vision and knew she would be able to tell me if I was pursing something that was a pipe dream. She sat me down and we reviewed all my work, and she gave me some great advice and suggestions on how to proceed down this path. She said that I may just have an eye for this. She showed one of my portfolio shots to her boss, and to my surprise, I was called into her work for a meeting. Next thing I know, I was asked to create some images for a coffee bean company. It was my first taste of success, and having my sister mentor me through the process, showed me that my path in life was indeed going to be with a camera in my hand, Sadly, Liz passed away, and I now I am left with the amazing memories of her teaching me how to handle myself as a professional image creator. I do my best to make her proud each and every day. Love you Liz!

Website: https://victorsanabraisphotographer.com/profile-victor-sanabrais-photographer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorsanabraisphotographer/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-sanabrais-photographer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictorSanabraisPhotographer/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW2u3mkeZjN7dPOjmxVxO1w

Other: https://www.vspstudios.net – this is my business website.