Meet Olivia Valdes | Photographer

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

Hi Olivia, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
One thing that makes me happy is getting outside and exploring nature and exciting places. I love capturing my journey as I go and taking photos you can’t see with the naked eye or even going as far as creating pictures that are just otherworldly. It also gives me a therapeutic creative outlet that helps with my anxiety and depression waves. I also enjoy taking workshops and classes, whether creative or not, such as jewelry making, yoga, cooking, etc. I am always looking for new ways to be more creative with my friends, family, and in my life and connect with other people with similar hobbies.

What should our readers know about your business?
One of the reasons I became a photographer was that I felt like it was a way to give every person who sits down in front of me a chance to feel confident enough just to be themselves. Everyone should have ample opportunity to experience what they want out of life without imposing limits on them–whether those limitations come from society’s expectations or our fears. I believe everyone deserves to be self-confident with their true selves and should be able to express and share that however, they want. Therefore, I thrive on capturing people’s essence during each session while providing a safe, comfortable, and fun environment.

Photography is my passion, helping others be happy with themselves by capturing their true beauty and light both inside and out on camera.

Unfortunately, these days, especially with social media, many people often feel insecure because they compare themselves to others who seem “better” than them in various aspects of life. These actions can lead to someone feeling inadequate and unworthy, which eventually creates a vicious cycle impacting mental health and self-esteem. I know what it’s like to feel ashamed of your body and hate yourself because you’re not perfect. I’ve been made fun of for my hair, body, weight, scar, accent, and hearing disability (which all are part of me that makes me who I am). So that is what makes it so fulfilling and exciting to be a photographer because I’m proud and delighted about how happy my clients are when they see themselves positively that they didn’t think possible and watch their eyes and smiles light up. Another significant part of this is when clients come back with new confidence and self-assurance after seeing what’s become possible over time through our work together.

I learned that nothing comes easy throughout starting and creating my business, and if you want something bad enough, you have to do whatever it takes to get it. Since day one, that has been ringing in my head since starting my own photography biz. It was a hard road getting to where I am today, and I still have a lot to learn. I had to take care of myself mentally, physically, and spiritually and keep learning and honing my skills to do what I love for a living. The photo industry is constantly evolving and changing, so it’s essential to stay updated with new trends. I know it sounds cliché, but the best way to get started is by going out into the world and doing photography. Also, some of the most helpful things I do is I will talk to people who do this professionally in their respective fields, find answers online, or take classes.

It’s been an incredible ride. I’ve learned so much and met amazing people along the way. It has not always been easy; there have definitely been times of stress and difficulty, but it is all worth it as long as you’re growing every day and making progress to becoming who you want to be. As for what my future holds: I hope that this will be one part of an incredible journey full of opportunities with many more brilliant people on their own journeys beside me!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I had just moved here right before COVID-19 hit, so I feel like I have so much more exploring to do, but so far, this is my list:

One thing that makes San Diego so different from other cities is its art. From murals to public installations, you’ll find a lot more around this city than in others. The people are exceptionally proud, and they love showing off their artistic side. It’s not just paintings on walls or statues dotting the streets. There’s also music playing out of open windows and street performers who add some color to any day, along with food vendors offering unique culinary experiences. So I like to do a “scavenger hunt” and walk around different neighborhoods to explore these incredible things.

I have always loved to visit Balboa Park because it’s such a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city. You can go for a stroll on tree-lined streets, enjoy world-class museums and gardens or listen to live music. Balboa Park is easily one of the most beautiful places to visit in San Diego, especially being a nature lover; I love that the park has so many beautiful luscious gardens to walk around and explore.

Sunset Cliffs is a beautiful, close-up view of the Pacific Ocean. The cliffs are painted in various shades of red and orange when they catch the sun’s light at sunset. You can see stars glittering brilliantly above you at night with no city lights to obscure their beauty or make them disappear altogether. One of the main spots I’d visit is on the corner of Ladera Street and Sunset Cliffs Blvd, where you can walk down the Sunset Cliff stairs, which gives you one of the most incredible and unique views of the coastline.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to shout out to my friends and family because they were with me through life’s ups and downs, so I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. They were always there for me during the tough times when I thought I wanted to give up. They bring color into my world of black and white, provide happiness where it was once difficult to find, and help me see the beauty in things again despite all that has happened over time. Their encouragement helped me do my part to make this world a better place, and with every step in life, I am made stronger through adversity.

Website: www.pacificevergreencreative.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/pacific.evergreen