I’m excited to share about another amazing local entrepreneur in my Entrepreneur in the Triad blog series! For this one I interviewed local photographer Roberto Rodriguez from Through My Eyes Photography. Roberto recently took pictures of my interns and me – you can see some of them on my about page. He’s a very talented photographer with a great eye for the perfect shot! Read on to see what he has to say about being an entrepreneur in the Triad. After you read through, be sure to check out some of his work and more about him on his website.
Meet Roberto
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
“When I was a kid, I always wanted to travel the world because I knew there was more out there that I wanted to explore. Especially as a kid the furthest I traveled was to Florida, so I knew I wanted to see more!”
What is your favorite part about being an entrepreneur?
“My favorite part about being an entrepreneur is being able to make my own schedule and be my own boss. I love being able to do what I love to the point that it doesn’t seems like work because I love what I am doing, which is photography. It’s an amazing feeling to wake up every day to that freedom. I wake up saying today is a wedding day shoot and know I am capturing those memories for that couple. Or, to wake up and say today I am going to NY to do what I love (take photos), there is no other feeling like it.”
How is writing important in your business or as an entrepreneur?
“Writing plays a big role in my photography on the business-side, because I have to always make sure when I am communicating with clients that they can understand my standards. This is accomplished often through writing. Every day I am keeping in touch with my clients, often through email. I always want to make sure a client understands my photo shoot packages and what to expect on a shoot with me.”
What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?
“Being an entrepreneur to me means the liberty to express yourself. As a photographer that means a platform where I can create my art the way I want to. This allows me to manifest my vision and share it with the world. It’s a journey. Plus, it doesn’t limit me as it would if I was working for someone else and helping them bring out their vision, not my own.”
How do you overcome obstacles that being an entrepreneur throws at you?
“The biggest obstacle for me is photography is a big industry. Every day someone is buying a camera to become a photographer. Therefore, competition is often a challenge as far as getting your name and work out there. When people see your work, they will want to know what separates you from the rest. Another obstacle is marketing. It is often very tricky if you don’t know how to approach it. Honestly, I am still trying to figure that part out and I learn as I go. I handle these obstacles that I have mentioned by remembering to keep going and keep pushing. I continue researching and networking, such as attending photo meetups meet with new models and new photographers. Another way is by expanding my photo shoot session outside my city and traveling to other cities to get my name out beyond Winston-Salem. Most importantly, I remember to stay positive and stay motivated because at the end of the day the only person that can stop you is you.”
What is one piece of advice you would give future entrepreneurs?
“One piece of advice I would give to future entrepreneurs is don’t give up. There have been times when I felt like giving up and throwing in the towel. Those were times where I felt nothing that I did was making my business grow. While doing something you love is fun, it is in the times of hardship that will learn if you truly are willing to go the distance and make the sacrifice for your business. There is so much competition out there but always tell yourself that there is only one of you! Stay positive, believe in yourself, push hard, and the end results will be amazing when you get there. You will truly be more grateful for your accomplishments!”
How do you manage to wear all the hats an entrepreneur is required to wear? Do you have tips for staying organized?
“I will say do research as there are so many good apps that can help you stay organized. For example, I have an app called TO DO. I always use this app to create my schedule when I have bookings and it reminds me with notifications when I have a photo shoot coming up. There are also other apps that you can use that will help you create invoices and contracts for your clients.”
What educational experiences helped when becoming an entrepreneur?
“To be honest, I learn entrepreneurship by looking at how others doing it. I surround myself with people that already have a successful business. I ask them question to pick their brains. I learn as I go and am still learning. It’s a never-ending learning experience, but again always do your research and use tools like YouTube. It’s a great tool as there are a lot of entrepreneurs on there that are willing to share their knowledge with you for free. It has helped me a lot!”
Book a Shoot with Through My Eyes Photography
Ready to capture some amazing memories with Roberto’s photographs? Check out his work or contact him with the links below.
Website: https://www.tmephotography.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmephotographyphotos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmephotoz/
Phone Number: (336) 671-3595
Email: tmephotography.rr@gmail.com
If you have a recommendation for an entrepreneur that I should consider featuring, please email me at contact@suzyfielders.com.
suzyfielders.com 
Very inspirational, I’ve worked side by side with Roberto, he is very talented and had deep passion for his work 🙏🏽
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