Meet Alfredo Hernandez | Professional Photographer

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

Hi Alfredo, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Freedom, that was the motivating factor behind starting my own business.I wanted to be able to set my own schedule and start working for myself. Basically what every self employed person wants. I knew that since I had been doing it on weekends and my sparetime, I had built enough clientele to get started full-time and keep rolling. Walking away from a guaranteed paycheck is a very scary thing! So making the decision was something I put a lot of thought into, I had to realize that there would be times when it would be Feast or Famine. And it has been like that, especially since 2020 hit the entire world with such a devastating blow.

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.
I am a portrait photographer who specializes in Boudoir and Fitness photos. I spent years learning the skill to be a photographer, Landscape was my Genre of choice. But, when I made money doing a shoot for a friend who wanted some fitness photos done, I realized that if I wanted to become a paid professional I would have to change my genre and start shooting portraits. That was a huge change for me, I went from shooting stationary subjects and having complete control over it. To learning how to shoot people who are different in so many ways. It was a struggle for me to learn how to work with people and understand and learn how to bring their personalities out so that could transfer over into the finished photos. Did, I ever want to give up and go back to shooting Landscape? Too many times to count! LOL My friend Vera, gave me some very good advice on how to work with people. I learned that my gift of gab was the key to bringing out their best, and it also made the environment more enjoyable when I started to be myself with my clients and started making a relaxed workplace for them to feel more like themselves and together we have created some very beautiful art! If I could tell anyone who is reading this one thing, It would be to not look at the career you have chosen to do on your own as a regular job. It’s a dream to be able to do whatever it is that you are doing and when we remember that, it makes the entire journey more enjoyable and yes, there will be times when it’s frustrating and you want to give up. Just remember that there are millions of people who would die to be in your shoes! So take every day as a blessing and enjoy the ride!

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?
First thing I would take them to one of my favorite spots to shoot in the Valley and that is Tempe town Lake. The evenings during the summer and fall are the best there. After we would go eat at one of the many great restaurants on Mill Ave. There are too many to choose from so I would definitely say that I would leave that decision to them. Second I would take them up north to Sedona, the beautiful red Rocks and the hiking trails are a perfect way to spend the day. Tucson would be another great day trip, Colossal Cave Mountain Park is a great place to spend the day inside the caves where its is a continues 73 degrees F year round. and after I would take them to a Tucson staple for Mexican Food. Guerro Canelo. I would introduce them to the World Famous Sonoran Dogs that no other restaurant can beat! And no trip to Southern Arizona would be complete without enjoying a hike up the Famous Camelback Mountains, A hike to the top of Piesta Peak to get a great view of the Phoenix Metropolitan area is second to none!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I first started my journey into photography I joined the Flickr community and made some close friends who have helped me learn and grow in the photography industry. The interesting part is that we have never met in person. All of our communications have been through the internet and messages. One pf my friends that has always encouraged me loves in Guatemala and the other in Los Angeles. Both are very experienced and strong photographers in their right. Alma Recinto who owns a photography business in L.A. with her brother was a huge help to me when I first started learning about photography. Vera Concinos who lives in Guatemala was very inspirational in my learning portrait photography and transitioning from a Landscape photographer to a Portrait photographer

Instagram: @alfredo_hernandez_photography / @aguila_negra_photography / @eleganttouchboudoir