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Conversations with the Inspiring Iliana Chea

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Iliana Chea.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Iliana. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in a family of storytellers and was a very curious person from a young age, always listening and observing. I was fascinated with the way certain people in my family would tell and retell the stories that were all pieces of our history. It felt like art to me, and I always wanted to hold onto it. I believe listening to stories was actually the beginning of my road to photography, long before I had my own camera or knew I wanted one because it made me want to be a storyteller too. So much of who we are is made up of the people and places we come from, and stories are what connects us to those things.

My mother immigrated to the United States from the Czech Republic, and shortly after college, we traveled back there to visit our family. I never met my grandparents because they passed away before I was born, so all I knew of them was the stories my Mother told. During our trip, my aunt pulled a stack of old books off the shelf for me to look at, and I opened them to find hundreds of my Grandfather’s black and white film photos filling the pages. I sat for hours paging through the books, running my hands across the photos, many of our family, staring in awe at the fleeting moments in time he had captured on his film camera. It felt like a meeting of some sort like I was finally able to say hello and understand a part of who he was and the way he saw the world. I realized then how photos are a bridge– connecting us to history, the ones we love, our own memories, and more. I was already pursuing photography, and after that, I delved into it further and knew it was for me. I wanted to tell stories and leave them in the world, to be passed down for generations.

My first camera was a red + black Polaroid 600 that was in our family for decades and is the one I vividly remember capturing so many of our memories, and the photos it took are still hanging on my walls. I found it dusty on an old shelf in our home as a teenager and my parents let me keep it. Back then, you could still buy instant film at a lot of stores, so I went downtown and used some cash to stock up on a few packs of it. I mostly used the camera for fun, taking photos of friends and random things. I loved the way instant film worked and the anticipation of waiting for the photos to develop, it was always magic to me. Instant film left a lasting impact on me, and the way I edit my digital photos now has a film feel and nostalgic vibe—similar to the way the old Polaroid makes you feel. I love the way photos speak without words, and how they preserve story in an unparalleled way.

I always wanted to go to college for art with a focus on photography, but I talked myself out of it and let others convince me I wouldn’t be able to make a living in a creative field. So, I got a degree in a different field and photography was always something I kept on the side, building my skills as time would allow. I consider myself a self-taught photographer, and I am proud of that. People talk about “flow” and how when you’re doing what you’re meant to be doing, the world melts away and you sort of fall into a time warp. That’s how I feel when I am behind my lens. I built my business slowly, working with people who didn’t mind my small portfolio at that time, and now it has been over 10 years. I enjoy photographing people, my travels, and the natural world. I have always worked full time and run my photography business on the side part-time, and this has become a great balance for me. I book many types of photo sessions throughout the year and up to a few weddings, mostly in the summer months, and then I work full time in the human services field where I am able to give back to my community. My husband and I also have a photo booth business now that sort of branched from my photography business. Our photo booth is built inside of our 1973 VW bus and we book weddings and special events across Colorado. You can check us out at www.thewanderbusstory.com.

Great, 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?
It has definitely not always been a smooth road, but I am lucky to be surrounded by a close circle of people who have always been my number one fans and pushed me along when I was doubting myself. I think as an artist it’s easy to doubt yourself and easily fall into a space where you feel like you aren’t good enough or never will be. Like many others, I have definitely dealt with my share of “imposter syndrome” and that is always difficult, no matter what profession you are in. I have always known who I can lean on during those times though, and I would advise others starting their journey to know who they have for encouragement and support, and use your support system as you are pursuing your passions. Your community is important, and the people and energy you surround yourself with is vital and plays a role in your success. People may believe in you long before you believe in yourself, and it helps you keep walking down the road.

I promised myself early on in my journey that I wouldn’t go into debt to start my business, so I have always saved and slowly purchased my photography equipment. This was a struggle at times because I spent quite some time surrounded by other photographers who had dropped huge amounts of money to get the fanciest gear– and I was still using an older camera and lenses. That sort of thing can create a lot of self-doubt and it’s easy to get sucked into. But starting small actually taught me a lot, beginning with the fact that it’s not about your “gear” and who has the fanciest equipment, and your camera is just a tool to capture what your eye is seeing and the story you want to tell. One of my friends takes the most beautiful photos you’ve ever seen using a simple wooden pinhole camera, and you can barely believe it most of the time. You can take an incredible photo on a basic Polaroid, and you should learn to before you buy the latest and greatest. And my advice for young women starting out in the world of photography would be to do the same–learn to take photos on something basic and don’t stress out about having the best gear right away. One day, you will have it, and it will be worth the wait! Take your time and get to know yourself and your art so you can figure out what tools you even want/need. There are also a lot of options for renting equipment when you are starting out, and this is helpful as you hone in on your style and determine what fits with you best.

For you young women out there starting your own journey—don’t worry about having to work full time while it’s your side hustle! Everyone is dealt a different hand, and not everyone has the ability to jump right into what they want to do. It can be hard some days, especially when all you want to be doing is what you really love, but take it one step at a time and build up to the vision in your mind. Keep bridging the gap between your day job and your dream job and one day you’ll get there. I actually came to enjoy the balance of my full-time job with photography, and I currently maintain it rather than giving up one or the other.

What should we know about Iliana Kazi Photography? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I primarily photograph families, engagements, weddings, travels, and small businesses. I have recently been photographing a lot of small businesses owned and run by female entrepreneurs, and it’s a niche that I absolutely love! Most recently, I worked with a local coffee shop, an eco-seamstress + calligrapher, and an apothecary & boutique in northern Colorado. I love spending afternoons capturing the soul of a business, and as an entrepreneur myself, I know where to look for the magic. I love capturing the hard work people are pouring into their business and the beautiful things they are bringing to the world. When small businesses hire me, we spend a few hours taking photos to tell the story, and afterwards, they have a collection to use on their website and other social media spaces that feel true to who they are and what they are offering. When it comes to families, engagements, and weddings I strive to capture people as genuinely as possible and in candid moments when possible. I would say my style is mostly Lifestyle with a cross into Photojournalistic at times. I am a traveler and passionate about photographing adventures, which is a bit different from other types of photography I do, and I love the ways I can be creative with that. Something that sets me apart from others is the way I see the world and the people + places I capture in my photos. There are many storytellers in the world, and I am just one, but I feel I have a lot to offer through the way I see.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I feel that a big barrier in photography when it comes to female leadership can be a lack of community. People aren’t always open to sharing their craft with others, but I believe in the opposite and feel we should help each other and share knowledge and skills. There have been several people in my life that have helped me fine-tune my skills and get to where I am, and I am forever grateful for that and do my best to share that with others now. Another barrier is being taken seriously. I am approached all the time by people who don’t really believe or treat me as if I am a “real photographer” before they’ve seen my work. When you are in a creative profession, it’s easier for others to assume it’s “just a hobby” and not understand or respect all that you do, and people can internalize that and then it leads to a lack of self-confidence and women not believing in their own talent and credibility. I believe it’s important that we lift each other up and build a strong community of female entrepreneurs and leaders that are willing to help each other and younger women who are just starting on their journeys. Together, we can do so much.

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Image Credit:
Photo of Me: Taylor Nicole Photography | Greeley, CO

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