Rising Stars: Meet Andrés Molina

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrés Molina.

Hi Andrés, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am 27 years old, originally from El Salvador, born and raised. Spanish is my first language. I moved to the US in 2016, to Des Moines, Iowa to be more specific. Coming from a foreign you don’t get to hear much from the Midwest, so it was a whole new environment for me. My first year was a process of adaptation to the American culture and learning the language. Before moving to Iowa, I spent some time traveling with a GoPro around Central and South America, learning from other cultures, and I was also in engineering school. I wanted to be a Civil Engineer. Growing up, I always had a fascination for buildings, bridges and the highway system. When making a decision on where I wanted to go in life, although I loved engineering, I did not see it as part of my long-term life plan. After my first year in Iowa, I felt like I wanted to upgrade the quality of my pictures, and I made the big mode into buying my first camera. At this point, it’s all just for fun. I used to have a Dodge Caravan and I took the back seats off the car and started a road trip throughout Arizona and Utah by myself. This is where my actual story starts. I lived in my minivan for a little over a month just hiking, taking photos, and experiencing the beauty of this country. On my way back to Iowa, a close friend reached out and asked if I would take his wedding photos to what I said, “Dude, that’s a lot of commitment, but I am down..” It was a small wedding. But I immediately knew wedding photography was going to become a big part of my life. Things did not happen from one day to the next. I worked at different restaurants serving tables for over three years. I was investing most of my money in equipment, educating myself, learning techniques and just overall improving my skills.

After a while, I started getting paid, not a crazy amount but I was content. I knew I had a long way to go. Right when covid hit, the restaurant I was working for CLOSED PERMANENTLY, leaving me without a job. Also, no photography is happening during this time. I had to sit and evaluate all my options. When things started to re-open, I got a job at a different restaurant (Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in West Des Moines, IA) as a server. Even until this day, I have so much appreciation for this restaurant and my coworkers. For the first time, I felt like I was working in a healthy environment, not perfect, but I felt like my voice had been heard. Indirectly this place was the key that opened the door for me to move to Colorado. On New years eve of 2020, I spent some time with friends and family; despite I felt so much gratitude to be in the place I was, I knew there was something bigger waiting for me. On January 2nd, I took a road trip to Colorado with no itinerary or agenda. I set my map to the Rocky Mountain National Park area and spent a week or so in Colorado exploring different towns from Breckenridge down south to the Sand dunes. My last stop was Colorado Springs; this place just felt right. While driving back to Iowa, I knew I was going to move here, and I told myself I’ll be moving before March. On February 14, I put my two weeks at work. I found a couple of roommates on a Facebook group and on March 1st of 2021, I fully moved to my new home “Colorado Springs.” You have to be thinking, oh he just made it happen everything went smooth… not so fast. My car broke down a week before moving and I almost had to spend $2400. Luckily it ended up costing $900, still a lot of money but not the original price. Another thing was that most of my 2021 weddings were in Iowa. I was okay with that, having to fly 2-3 times per month during wedding season was definitely challenging but the support of my family, who’s still in Iowa was extremely helpful. I never stopped trying to connect with people in Colorado, while Iowa was providing enough income for me to pursue this career, I could have easily got a job, but if I would have done that, I would have not given photography my 100%, and I think that’s the key that took me to where I am today. I never stopped hustling, you can say I made photography my full-time career the moment I moved here to Colorado.

I’ve met amazing people here, in and out of the wedding industry. Despite I decided to give photography my 100%, I still had 2-3 things I’m extremely passionate for, like hiking mountains and merging into the fitness and health world. It is super important for me to take care of my physical and mental health. I put myself into challenging situations that forge my character; hard things make you kinder. Something I’d like people to take from this is that I never expected to get anything easily just because of my skin color or my country of origin. I was taught at a very young age that you have to fight hard to get what you want, always pursue what you love, don’t expect anything from anybody, and most importantly to ALWAYS ALWAYS stay kind, you never know what someone’s else struggle is. I’ll leave with this, I would not be where I am without the support of every person who has believed and continues to believe in me. In 2022, I went from going to Iowa 2-3 times to 1 every few months. At the beginning of the year, I set a goal to book 20 weddings, I’m over that number now, I feel like I’ve finally found my style (Photojournalist/ Cinematic between airy and moody), photos I feel so proud of.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not always smooth. Probably when my car broke down before moving to Colorado was tough. It makes you question your decision if it’s worth it or not. But when I got quoted $2400 to fix my car, I’d never forget what a co-worker and friend at the time told me… “DO NOT MAKE ANY DECISIONS. RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE GOING TO DO ANYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO GET TO COLORADO; ALLOW YOURSELF TO FEEL WHATEVER YOU FEEL (SADNESS, ANGER, DISAPPOINTMENT..) AND MAKE A DECISION ON MONDAY..”

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an adventurous wedding photojournalist. What does that mean to me? It means I am a visual storyteller of couples’ love. Besides wedding photography, I also do a lot of Nature/Landscape and Architecture photography. This is mostly for fun, anything that calls my attention really. I am most proud of where my current life is at, of me making the big move to Colorado and despite coming from a third-world country, where education, food, water and security aren’t a warrantied situation… Despite all that, I moved here, learned the language and started my own small biz. I think what sets me apart from others is my authenticity. I’m not afraid of speaking my mind and fighting for what is right. You won’t see me following the masses. The online version of myself is the same that you’ll get in real life.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Probably going to the Beach in El Salvador with my parents. Some of my favorite memories are always near the ocean or nature.

Pricing:

• WEDDINGS 2000-3500
• ELOPEMENTS 1800 – 3500
• ENGAGEMENTS 400-650

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nomadicfitlust.com
• Instagram: Nomadicfitlust
• Facebook: Nomadicfitlust Photography