Meet Ary Hernandez | Photographer

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

Hi Ary, how do you think about risk?
Risk is truly what births an entrepreneur. Consequently, there is no room to allow yourself to fail when making a risky decision or business venture & that’s the magic of it. But it is really not a ‘risk’ when you know that only entails a lot of hard work & more importantly to believe in yourself. Failure is inevitable — why choose to be fearful of it? I’d say risk is just a matter of embracing it. Risk is not about luck, its calculated and intentional decision-making. I took a risk when I tried to attend university & made the decision to drop out. I took a risk when I moved from Texas to Arizona. And I most certainly took the biggest risk a person can take by getting married. But all of those things were worth the risk & all of those things leave me happier as the years go by. The result of risk is pure joy when your risks are your passions.


Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art has allowed me to be exposed to so many walks of life, so many places I thought I would never get to go to, and more importantly has let me serve others with my talent. Everyone has talents & I believe if its one message I want to put out to the world, is to use your talent to serve those around you. I meet strangers in random places for a living and they trust me to document their greatest moments.

What sets me apart I think is that I am here to prompt an experience as a photographer. Not just to pose, or be your standard shoot. I want to enhance the chemistry, the emotions, the happiness at whatever stage in your life. I want you to remember that you could be in a natural state but also have fun on the adventure we go on. I’m also a freelance model with my husband & am going to school for my real estate license, currently. I guess that makes me relatable to a lot of different audiences and its by far my favorite part of being an entrepreneur.

I’m most excited about shooting weddings and elopements this year. Lots of traveling already happening, but it is so fulfilling to reach that milestone that seemed unattainable only a little over a year ago.

I got where I am today because of determination. I have quit a law firm, worked as a baker, worked at a holistic doctors office, worked fast food, worked selling solar, worked at a car wash, worked as an administrator for a gun distributor – and MANY many more in between. In between those jobs I also owned a professional residential cleaning company. And NOW, I have way too many different business ideas I am always working on to launch while doing photography full-time. What got me here is understanding that failure and success go hand in hand, be prepared for both and keep moving. It was anything but easy, but that’s part of the job. Challenges are what keep it interesting and keep the momentum. Because you always know there’s something more to be done to be better.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, depends on the season. I love where I live, it is my new home. But it is not where I would take people for a whole week. Normally it would include a Sedona Trip, Flagstaff & PHX for things to do. I’m so happy our small town of Prescott Valley is growing fast. That lets us interact more with all kinds of people. Locally, it would have to be a market, downtown + we have some pretty good breakfast places. Anything with water I will happily explore with visitors during the summer.

Instagram: @photosbyary @gabrielandary

Facebook: Ary Hernandez (Estrella Prieto)

Image Credits
Photos By Ary Grace A.