Daily Inspiration: Meet Raquel Guillen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Raquel Guillen

Hi Raquel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I was a kid I always had a camera in my hand, pointing in all my friends and families faces. I still do, to this day. My passion for photography started off as a hobby which is crazy seeing where I’m at now. For a long while I wanted to be an architect, I was so fascinated by homes and building and their layouts and how you could create something so magnificent from scratch. In my first year of college I took a photography class to fill a credit and fell even more in love with photography that I said to myself “there’s no way I can do anything else.” After my first year, I transferred to an art college-Savannah College of Art & Design where I got my BFA in Commercial Photography. I was blessed to purse it full time a couple years after graduation at a social media agency specializing in Hotels & Restaurants. I got to travel the country for 2 years to different hotels & restaurants capturing the experience they offer to guests. The hotel’s and cities I’ve been able to see and experience is not common for photographers my age. Unfortunately, traveling 3x a month being away from my husband and pup made me really burnt out from traveling and it was time to go a different route. It’s funny because before I was let go from the company due to restructuring I was already planning on leaving. Thus began the journey of Luxe Lens Collective. I am so grateful for all the experience I got and using that towards my business. Luxe Lens Collective is all about catering to brands- hotels, restaurants, personal brands, big brands, small businesses and more. With how big social media has made an impact for companies and how content is always needed, I knew this was the way to go.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not, I started off strong with a lot of momentum but then got discouraged as we all do, feeling like its an over-saturated market for photographers. But I’ve given up on my business before and I refuse to do it again. Some days are scary not knowing who my next client will be but I put my trust in God and His perfect timing and will for my business. I know that He would not have brought me to this moment if He didn’t want to use me for something great. I know there will be more challenges along the way as I continue to grow but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I am so excited for what’s to come for Luxe Lens Collective.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is commercial & lifestyle photography for brands, hotels, and restaurants. I am known for how clean and vibrant my work is. A lot of work goes into color grading and retouching to make sure the photos don’t look like just anyone person with an iphone or camera took them. I am most proud of the experience I offer to my clients, the comfortability and trust they put in me is something I value so highly. It can be nerve wrecking having your first shoot or having shoots where something always went wrong and not having a problem solver to pivot or offer a solution. Being on a shoot and not having a photographer who is in control, a problem solver and sure of themselves is someone clients can’t depend on and I believe that’s what sets me apart from others.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Favorite books is definitely the bible, there is so much knowledge and wisdom that can be applied to our every day life; but I’m also a sucker for a good romance book. I recently read the Seven Year Slip with a few friends and the way it spoke about love and being patient when someone isn’t ready to know you yet is incredible! A few podcasts I’ve been into lately is My Morning Devo and CreativRise. Listening to My Morning Devo Podcast every morning sets the tone for how the rest of my day is going to go. Beginning my day spending time with God has helped to remind me that He is always in control, if we allow Him to lead His plans are always greater than anything we could ever imagine or hope for. The CreativRise Podcast has helped me learn more about the business side of being a creative and being surrounded by like-minded people who are on the same journey as me. It’s a reminder that I’m not alone in my creative business. My favorite app would definitely have to be Royal Match, its like Candy Crush but way better! My husband thinks I spent too much time playing it but I’ve been going on 2 years and have won 15,000 levels. I can’t stop now.

Pricing:

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Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.luxelenscollective.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxelenscollectivee/
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/luxe-lens-collective