Meet Allan Villanueva | Event Professional & Photographer

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

Hi Allan, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work life balance, isn’t that a hot button phrase now a days? I used to think I was always great at this, for the most part I was doing okay. That is until, I decided start a small business because it’s my passion but was unwilling to leave my current job because it’s also my passion that I love very much.. (deep breath)

Originally I started my business as a creative outlet to help relieve some of the stresses of my decade long career in the events industry. Little did I know that as my small business grew, I would come to love it as much as my events. This is where the ‘balance’ became important.

As I watched many of my photography peers in the same position as I was, running our photography businesses while also working full time, try to find ways to scale so they can eventually only do photography. I was just disparately trying to find was to balance it all together. Along with family, friends, and many other interest and hobbies.

This is where I discovered that viewing my life as a balancing act was completely the wrong approach. The term ‘balance’ implies that any offset to one side will completely get you out of wack. From the biggest disaster or the smallest instance, you are out of balance.

With the amount of things happening with my two full time jobs, the family activities, and all the other things I am passionate about. Taking all that on with the thought that anything could get me off balance if things did not completely go as planned, was just too much.

I knew I had totally change my mindset, just do what I love. I fully committed to making the time to do all the important things. What I found out was, I needed to be locked in with what I need and where I needed to dedicate extra time. Because I was so passionate about the two full time jobs, the family activities, and all the other things They didn’t feel like items that would weigh me down or tip the scale. It’s more of a work life awareness, the things that happen that would have weighed me down, just pass by.

It’s not a perfect science by any measurement, but as long as I can continue to evaluate and be aware of where my effort needs to go. I’m feeling pretty happy and fulfilled with what I am doing with my time and talents. Especially, happy with who I get to share it with, my wonderful clients.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Everglow Photo is a wedding and life moment photographer. Telling you what to do with your hands since 2018, lover of genuine moments, real stories and you as you are. Based out of the Gilbert, Arizona, specializing in using the beautiful desert landscape to capture your life moments.

I got my first camera in 1998, It was a film SLR, I developed in a darkroom. I realize as I say this, some have no idea what I am talking about. Anyways… it was the process I fell in love with, the time and effort you had to put into each photo, and the gratification you got when it came to life just perfect in photo. That is still the process and approach I take today when photographing. p.s. I still shoot with film from time to time.

Today it’s become so much more about the people & the clients. Capturing genuine moments that let you feel exactly what you felt in that moment in that picture the second you see the photo. That’s the goal, and that is what we built our photography business for.

It’s been quite the journey to bring us to this point in our business. It has not been easy, there have been long nights editing. There is always the constant conversations with myself of ‘Am I good enough?’ I often find myself in the trap of comparing my work with other photographers. It’s a struggle, and I don’t know if I will ever get to a point where those struggles will go away. Honestly, it’s those same struggles that I use as my fuel to keep learning and getting better at what I do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take a trip an hour and half north to Prescott, AZ. Make sure to start you day early and head strait to Watson Lake. Spend the morning enjoying the beautiful scenic views and make sure to bring or rent paddle board or kayaks. If you have the energy, the hiking trail around the perimeter of the lake is also an adventure.

From there I’d head into the historic town square where you can enjoy a great lunch at any of the restaurants. After lunch you can visit the cool shops and antique stores, even visit a few museums like, Sharlot Hall, all within walking distance of the square.

You can then check-in to one of the many historic hotels in the square, and prepare for a nice dinner. I’d turn in early cause I am getting up early to catch the sunrise at Thumb Butte recreation area. You’ll have to hike up the ancient volcano, but it’ll sure be worth it.

Before heading home I’d make sure to hit up Outlaw Donuts for some awesome roadie donuts for the drive back.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Hands down my shoutout goes to my wife, Jen. I cannot be any luckier to have a partner that is as invested in our small business as I am. Especially when it comes to running a photography business, or any business that has a strong creative process. The creativeness usually lands on the shoulders of one, but my wife has been completely involved in the creative process. She may not be behind the camera, but it’s defiantly part of her vision that I am trying to produce.

Last but not least, shoutout to our clients, that put the trust in our business to capture their special life moments.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everglow__photo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everglowphotography