Natasha Cuevas is a photographer from Naples Florida in the USA. She creates images that tell a story. In this interview she discusses her passion for art and photography and what makes a good photograph.
Art and photography are your passions. How did it all start?
I used to love taking photos in high school and wanted to be an art director. I went to school for Art and did photography as a hobby. After having people wanting me to take photos of their kids or events I realized I could be doing this for a living.
You do both portrait and commercial photography. Which one do you like the best?
Doing both keeps it exciting and different. I like lifestyle / portrait photography because that is when I get to interact with my clients and build relationships. I have some clients who have been coming to me to have their photos taken for over ten years. I love my clients. Commercial photography is different as I get to work with models or props, there are agents etc. You can think outside the box with commercial photography. Being a Fort Myers photographer has really been a great way of being able to photograph beaches and families who are on vacation.
What is your philosophy as an artist and who influenced you the most?
I love taking photos of the happiness of families, of them interacting with each other and having fun. I approach my photography in a spontaneous way. I do not like posed photos, as this is fake and doesn’t really portray the families as who they really are. What influenced me the most is all those photos out there that are posed and sterile because I do not want to be like that.
Who are some of your clients and how have you helped them?
I have a lot of clients who are moms to be; I love photographing maternities and then when their bundle of joy comes we get to meet again and photograph the new addition to the family. I love photographing those little ones ~ they are precious. Especially the clients who are looking for Naples photographers, I like to offer photography for those who are wanting great photographs of their new family.
What makes a good photograph? What are some of its most important features?
I believe a good photograph is one that can tell a story. For me since I take photos of families, I believe a good photo is one that when you look at it makes you smile.
The world is becoming more and more digitalized and there are even those who believe in a paper-free world. Do you think printing pictures on paper will still be something people would want to do in the near / far future?
I hope people will still print their photos ~ computers stop working, DVDs get lost or scratched etc. You never know when you might lose those pictures. It’s a good thing to have photos digitally because you can do with them endless things, enlarge them, photoshop, etc. but it’s important to always get your photos printed. There is just something about holding a photograph in your hands, the feeling will never get replaced for something that is paperless
These days, there are so many opportunities for photographers to have a good presence online. What are some of the tools small businesses can use to achieve a greater brand exposure online?
There are many photographers out there who think having a good camera and a website is all you need to be a photographer. It goes farther than that ~ photography is knowing how to sell yourself, it’s about business. If you don’t know much about business you will not be successful. You might be a great photographer however if you want it to be a business learn the business side of it or your photography will just be a hobby. There a lot of tools out there with social media however none of that will work if you don’t have common sense when it comes to the business side of it.
