Today we’d like to introduce you to Julian Aparicio.
Julian, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My photography career began at Harrington: College of Design, where I received my Associate of Applied Science in Digital Photography. During my time at Harrington, I discovered that I enjoyed working with people but liked even more to be able to take portraits of people. I do my best to capture and show their person’s personality in the photos. When I took photojournalism, I was taught that it takes three photos to tell a story, but I believe that it takes only one photo to capture a person’s interest.
After receiving my degree, I sadly learn that the photography industry is a very competitive and difficult industry. I would always get great comments from people saying. “I love the photos you take”, “please do a photo session with me”, but sadly comments like that don’t help improve my photos business, especially when they are not willing to hire me for a session.
Also for some strange reason, there’s a stigma when I use the word professional and present myself as a “Professional Photographer” people automatically think that I am expensive.
After many struggles, I met Therese Manderino at a health fair at a hospital in the Uptown area, where she explained to my mother that she had started a program (what is now known as Artfully Gifted) and the main goal was to help entrepreneurs with disabilities start their own business. Looking at it now, it was truly divine sent moment, I was eager to leave the health fair after finding nothing that guide me towards a job position, my mother insisted on taking a quick look around at the booths before we left. Minutes later she came back and told me the great news of finding Ms. Manderino and her goals with helping disabled entrepreneurs.
After taking all the business class that were offered in the program, I decided to go back to college, I’m currently a student at Harold Washington College. I decided to major in graphic design, because being a business entrepreneur and watching many Shark Tank Episodes, I learned and realized that besides a product, Marketing and advertising the product play a bigger role. My ultimate goal is to be a Social Media Marketer, which would combine my love of photography, and marketing skills that can be learned in graphic design, and the world of free marketing sites like Facebook, Instagram, etc to help upcoming businesses and entrepreneurs.
What better way to use all my skills and knowledge to help Artfully Gifted and the many entrepreneurs that will come to Artfully Gifted.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been an easy journey.
Like I had mentioned in the previous statement, when people only compliment my work but are not interesting in hiring me because they only want volunteer (free) work. Along with this I feel something I truly need to improve is my marketing skills.
Also smart phone camera technology has made it difficult for photographers, people think that taking a good photo is super quick. They don’t value the hard work that goes into taking a good photo, and think the photography career is easy. When taking a photo is easy with a tap and there hundreds of photo editing apps, just makes the photo industry a lot more difficult
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Kiwi Photography – what should we know?
My business is Kiwi Photography, where I specialize in portrait and candid photography. With my subject, I capture their story worth sharing with the world.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My Parents- Lidia Bertha Aparicio, Rodrigo Aparicio
Helen Mayer- For making college an actual opportunity
(For always putting me first and teaching me that education is a precious gift and to always keep going forward no matter what)
Therese Manderino- For the opportunity in creating and opening my business
Aaron Maas- for being a great business advisor
Contact Info:
- Address: 1950 W. Roosevelt Rd
- Website: http://kiwiphotography195.wixsite.com/kiwiphotography
- Phone: 773-807-2951
- Email: julian.aparicio88@gmail.com
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
