Meet Joseph Pillado | Photographer

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

Hi Joseph, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

Starting my own business has been a dream of mine for many years, and I always think of ways to turn ideas into business ventures. When it came to photography, this was no different. However, I had stipulations as I pursued photography academically and professionally. 1. I needed to have a photography business running before graduating college because I wanted to be ready to take on opportunities in the field as soon as possible and hit the ground running. 2. I wanted this business to be service-oriented first. Not in the sense of a service industry business but a genuine love of serving others. Love first, money second had to be the motto.
This is reflected in naming my business Restored Vision Media. It is a nod to my first photography project, Restored Vision Project. It really emphasizes the desire to meet and help people where they are. This began on the streets and serving the homeless community. Applying the same mindset to serving a client affects how I conduct my business. Reminding myself that I am working with people and they have hopes, dreams, emotions, and mistakes just like me. I want that to shine through in my work. The humanity of the person comes first over everything.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I really started getting into photography at the tail-end of high school. Only having my old iPhones, and at one point, my sisters point and shoot, it was more about experimenting and pushing boundaries. I would build new images out of the visual noise and distortion. It was really abstract and pushed me creatively. Then after graduation, I drained my savings and bought my first camera. I remember taking it everywhere that summer and going into college with a new obsession. I loved it. I would stay up all night taking and editing photos, then go out at dawn to take more. Whether it was photos of my friends or how the morning light glistened on a tree, I was crazy about it. I missed a few classes because of this habit. Still, it reinforced that this was important to me, and from now on, I needed to make time for photography. Since then, it’s been five years since I got my first camera and my second year of running a photography business. I don’t leave home without my Rosary and my camera. That is what sets me apart from other photographers. I meet a lot of photographers, but only a few carry a camera daily. I had a habit for a couple of months of taking 100 photos daily. You start to force new compositions and study your surroundings after a couple of days of photographing the same places. It really changed my shooting style and gave me the confidence to go into any situation and take a strong photo. I also realized that when you live, breathe, and eat photography for this long, people notice and remember you as the man who does photography. Business opportunities were not forced but more out of filling an organic need because my identity had become intertwined with the skill. When I started working, I wanted it to be a non-profit and give all the money to help the homeless because I felt terrible charging for something I just wanted to do for fun. But at a certain point, you realize that if you do not pay yourself, you cannot help others much, and certainly not for long. I still make it a point to help people in need, but it has taken on other forms. I am working with Saint Vincent DePaul’s Rising Leaders right now to learn how to develop skills in philanthropic ventures as a business and develop a greater sense of where my work can impact more lives. The Restored Vision Project still needs to be done and really highlights the stories of people’s lives. There is always another person around the corner waiting to be heard, and I can’t wait to share it one photo at a time.

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?
Arizona holds its true beauty in the diverse environments across the state. I enjoy taking long road trips across the many state routes that interconnect the cities. My favorite is Route 88 and 188, more famously known as the Apache Trail. Unfortunately, these roads are disconnected due to fires and flooding now and require more planning to explore. However, this is an excellent choice if you want to see some of what Arizona offers. Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flats are fabulous places to take a Sunday drive. With paved roads up until the road is closed, it features camping areas, scenic views, and the smallest town in Arizona. For the daring and more adventurous, there is the northern approach from Roosevelt Dam. With beautiful views along the way of Roosevelt Lake and the surrounding area, it is a long, bumpy dirt road after getting off Route 188. It is well worth it due to the numerous camping spots along the water. A more secluded place to fish and swim. While Apache Trail is a well-known spot for tourists and locals alike, it must be noted that a significant number of risks are involved with driving through such mountainous terrain, so please prepare and read up before heading out. But do not let that deter you from experience! Finally, there is a beautiful oasis in the desert out in Florence, Arizona, that I highly recommend. It is St. Anthony of the Desert Greek Orthodox Monastery. While I am not Orthodox, I did feel very welcome, and it was amazing to explore the massive gardens and beautiful chapels. Truly a bit of Mount Athos here in the desert.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I could not be where I am today without my old parish priest, Father Daniel Cruz. Father Cruz motivates me through words of affirmation and by serving as a witness of a genuine love of Christ in my life. Serving as one of the most effective forms of marketing I have ever had for my business. Father shared my work with many people through social media and through the use of prayer cards that he made with my work. These were then given to everyone he met across the nation. It truly is humbling to have both my photograph and name share space on thousands of cards with the name of Christ Jesus and that they are used in prayer. I struggle to respond to people when they show me the card on their fridge, bathroom mirror, sink in their wallet & phone case and say they use it consistently in prayer. Through Father Cruz’s efforts, I have grown my business with multiple publications and see a more straightforward path forward as a Catholic photographer.

Website: rvisionmedia.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpillado/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCrJQfXpGZptB8OjavmKdgg

Image Credits
Abdullah Zia Annika Clark