Meet Trailblazer Andii Puliafico

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andii Puliafico.

So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My passion for photography started when I was in college studying. I had to fulfill my Art Requirement so I chose to take a photography class. Growing up, my mom always had a camera in her hand so I believe she was a major influence for me to choose photography. I loved it so much that I continued taking as many photo classes as I could fit into my schedule while still following the path of my major. In the end, photography is what I decided to pursue as a career rather than what I had received my degree in (Psychology). The coolest part was my beginning photography classes were strictly film based. I learned how to process and develop film which at the time was pretty rare to see. Film is definitely making a comeback but actually knowing how to do all those steps by yourself is something a lot of people will never learn. I loved it and still wish I had the equipment to work with film only. It wasn’t until my third year of college that I started using a digital camera and soon after that I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely not. I have moved around a lot recently which has made it extremely hard to build and keep a clientele. Plus, I believe photography is an extremely oversaturated and undervalued field. Especially since smartphones have cameras that are “good enough”. Plus people think just slapping on a preset from Instagram or some social media app makes them a photographer. My advice for anyone wanting to have a career in photography is to be consistent. Shoot as much as possible and share it on social media every day. It will not only help you grow as a photographer, but other people will be consistently seeing your work and they will start associating the word photographer with you. Then, the next time someone they know needs one, your name will pop into their head!

Please tell us about Andii Puliafico Photography – what should we know?
I specialize in portraits right now because that is what brings in money. I definitely have a more artistic style that I love and thankfully a lot of other people like as well and I think that is what allows me to stand out. A lot of portrait photographers edit their photos bright and airy, almost like they are overexposed. I think this editing style is beautiful but it is just not me. I like darker and more realistic tones. When I was studying photography (as my minor) in college, I never shot portraits. All of my work could have been categorized more as narrative photography and that is what I would like to get back into but it just doesn’t sell to the everyday client. I am also trying to get more into TV/Film Photography work which is also extremely hard to break into but that is one of my goals for this upcoming year.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I go on Facebook and Instagram and try to find communities filled with other creatives. Networking is really key and I am kind of an introvert so I prefer to network through social media. Look for different groups and join them and get involved with the community! Do some collaborations with other creatives and your following will grow as well as your clientele.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://andiipuliaficophotography.pixieset.com
• Phone: 9199249127
• Email: puliafico.andii@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/andii.photography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andii.photography

Image Credit:
Andii Puliafico

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