Today we’d like to introduce you to Matty Villablanca
Hi Matty, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I realized I had potential in high school (at Parkway West), I took my first photography class. I fell in love. I left for college and flirted with photography until 2021. It was a hard year. I felt lost career wise. I decided that if I was going to fail, it might as be at something I loved. It’s been amazing. I get to see the beauty in each person I photograph. If people feel important for the time I have with them 90% of my job is done. One of my favorite photography memories was at The Waymakers Church for the homeless and special needs. I got to capture their Thanksgiving meal and them spending time together. Those pictures were used for their marketing and the money went back to food for their pantry. My favorite part of the year is coming up. I do Christmas Minis, and ALL the money goes to Giving Machine Charities. I LOVE feeling like what I do makes a difference, and this is the time of year to do it. Any gift we have developed or are born with can and should be used to uplift those around us.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I didn’t anticipate how competitive the photography field is. In any given Facebook group asking for a photographer, there are anywhere from 80-200 comments from different photographers promoting themselves or being promoted. I wondered what makes my photography different or better than these 80 other people? Some people get paid $350 for a 15-minute session others ask $50. Some styles are dark and moody, some bright. My mother-in-law once said, “The sun shines for us all”. I’ve learned that there are different clients for different photographers. Finding my people has been the most rewarding part.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a photographer. I specialize in loving people. I capturing moments with newborns, seniors, families, engagements, and weddings. My goal in each session is for that person to know how valued they are, not so much as a client, but as a person. They exist, and so they matter.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
When I started, my husband was in nursing school, and I had just been working part-time, helping care for my elderly grandfather and my own kids. Money was tight. Buying a camera and paying for photography courses took half of everything we saved for our first home. When I felt like I was failing initially, I had to remember that my little family had invested so much into this dream. It wasn’t an option to quit. It has been gratifying to pay that back and continue contributing to my family.
Pricing:
- 8 Hour Weddings $1800
- Newborns $300
- Engagements $250
- Senior Sessions $250
- Family Photos $250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mattyvillaphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattyvillaphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087283909322
