Meet Roshan Spottsville | Photographer for Arizona families & small businesses since 2010.

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

Hi Roshan, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned being a business owner is that you have be ready to adapt. Learning how to stand strong and to continue believing in yourself when times get tough is important. Even when it seems that everything is going well, you should still be thinking of what you’re going to do next. Times are changing quickly so you can’t become stagnant. Learning new things and sharpening your skills is something that you should always prioritize so that you can easily navigate as the world around you changes.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m a Phoenix based photographer and I’ve been photographing Arizona families and businesses since 2010. I specialize in Senior Portraits & Photography for businesses such as headshots, brand photography, and social media content. My sessions are both on-location through-out Arizona or in studio set-ups. My work has been published in several publications, has been displayed in two museums, and put on billboards.

I strive to tell my clients’ stories the way they want it to be told. Being able to shoot in various styles and lighting situations helps me do that creatively. It’s also important to me to get to know my client and to provide a fun & relaxed atmosphere which helps my clients feel their best.

Being a Navajo/Native American owned business as well as a woman owned business, I am excited that I have started providing my brand sessions to my entrepreneur and professional clients. I am passionate about supporting small businesses so being able to provide my clients with headshots, photo content for their online presence, as well as product photos to help them grow their business means a lot to me.

My journey to where I am today has not been an easy one. Since, I am mostly self-taught, the way I shoot and run my business may be a little unorthodox. I’ve built my skill set by asking other photographers a lot of questions, watching YouTube videos, and practicing on whoever would let me. I started off with an entry level DSLR until I understood how to control exposure and worked my way up to adding lighting equipment.

I ran my business part-time and worked a 9-5 until November 2022 when I left my job to pursue photography full-time. In the past 2 years, I’ve learned a lot about running a business. There is so much about being self-employed that you don’t understand until you’re actually doing it. Along with whatever product or service you provide, you also have to learn about finances, marketing, contracts, and your business protocols.

I believe that being passionate about what I do has helped me to remain focused, to work hard and to want to continue to improve. There were many long nights and a lot of sacrifices made so that I could continue being a photographer.

I am currently booking for sessions in 2023. February to May is my typical senior portrait season that gets really busy. September – December is usually busy with Family portraits. I am always booking headshots & brand sessions to get businesses the photo content that they need all year long. I look forward to talking to anyone who needs photos.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I spend most of my time hanging out at home with my family & friends so I don’t frequent a lot of places but here of a few suggestions:

• Any of the outdoor Markets you can find throughout the year supporting small businesses

• Hope’s Frybread (Native American Cuisine)
144 S Mesa Dr # E, Mesa, AZ 85210

• Cahokia (Events, Small Business Markets, Art Exhibitions & More)
707 N 3rd St Suite 130, Phoenix, AZ 85004

• Phoenix Indian Center (events & resources for the community)
4520 N Central Ave # 250, Phoenix, AZ 85012

• Inspired by Diné Bizaad, LLC (Native American art & products)
2665 E Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ 85204

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My first shoutout goes to my husband Adrian, my daughter Kiarra, and my son Makhi. Since 2010, they have been my biggest support system. From making sure I had the equipment I needed, lugging around my gear, helping me at events and being my models, They’ve always been there when I needed them and I’m so grateful for them.

My next shout-out goes to my clients, because honestly, if there is no you, there’s no me. There are so many talented photographers and I am so thankful that you chose me to be your photographer and support me by referring me to your network and continuing to let me photograph you.

Also, my friends & family who continue to cheer me on and support me by sharing my information and referring me. I appreciate you!

Website: photographybyroshan.com

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

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/photogroshan

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

Image Credits
all photos: © Roshan Spottsville