Today we’d like to introduce you to Louis Arévalo.
Hi Louis, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I studied journalism at the University of Utah. The obvious career path from school would have been to become an entry-level copy editor at one of the local newspapers in town. Daily news had little appeal to me so I chose to keep the job I had through college and try freelance writing.
Because I was working 40-50 hours a week pitching stories outside my personal interests wasn’t an option. I mean if I was going to add more to my plate it needed to be things I was passionate about. I focused my pitches and stories on outdoor recreation, destinations, and profiles of people and places. Anything that had to do with skiing, hiking, backpacking, trail running, climbing, mountain biking, etc.
In school, I had taken several photography classes, but never considered it to be a career, but while on assignment I always brought a camera along to snapshots to be used for reference as I wrote. I carried on doing this for six or seven years writing working up to having 12-13 pieces published in a year, but I was still not making enough money to quit the day job. That shifted when I had pitched an article to a lifestyle magazine with distribution throughout North America and as they preparing to run the piece the editor reached out to ask if I had any photos to go along with the written word. I shared a selection and they immediately agreed to run five or six to accompany the story. This quadrupled my pay for one story. With the increase and evolution of digital media being able to both write and take photos for the articles became an asset.
Eventually, brands began reaching out after seeing my articles and photos run in different magazines to see if I could shoot for them; running, skiing, backpacking, climbing and mountain biking. The portraiture work also came from my editorial profiles and articles. And somewhere in there, the motion also entered the mix. Eventually, I was able to quit my day job in 2013 and have gone all-in since.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road.
From the beginning, I struggled to break even. There have been many projects, stories, and shoots that were done at a loss. Some were on purpose, others were due to not understanding all the details, and trying to all things for all clients. Only through experience have I been able to find work that allows me to shine, adjust rates and create bids and contracts that ensure all bases have been covered.
Then in February 2020 while skiing in the Wasatch Range south of Salt Lake City I had an accident that left me with a scalped head, severe concussion, two fractured ribs, a collapsed lung, seven fractured vertebrae, and a spinal cord injury that left my paralyzed from the chest down.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I consider myself a photographer/videographer who specializes in the outdoor recreation space. Prior to becoming a paraplegic, I was recognized in the sports of skiing, climbing, and trail running as well as environmental portraiture. Now I am still all of those, but I am finding more work in the motion realm as a director/editor/producer along with more and more portraits.
Over the years I have presented many slideshows after which people would remark how much they enjoyed my portraits.
I have always felt most challenged with making portraits. Yes, capturing strong images of the action sports is challenging, but with the right team and a bit of preparation, I felt confident we would make something that stood out. With portraits, it’s not the same. You can surround yourself with the best and still end up with something that falls flat. There’s something about the collaboration, the trust needed, combined with the experience and openness required to make a portrait that rises above the noise that keeps pulling me back to make more and more.
I think what sets me apart is that I enjoy people. My understanding of the differences between an extrovert and an introvert are as follows. An extrovert gets their energy from others while an introvert gives their energy to others. I am an introvert in this sense. I can spend days alone and be as happy as can be, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to be with people. In fact, I deeply enjoy sharing time with others and getting to know and learn from them.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
There has been a lot of effort and work done to pave the way to this place I am currently. Blood, sweat, and tears. And the struggle continues. I don’t feel like I have made it or can relax yet.
I am lucky to have a career that is both challenging and rewarding. I am lucky to be alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.louisarevalophotography.com
- Instagram: @louisarevalo
- Facebook: @louisarevalophotography
Image Credits
Black and White photo credit to Nikki Smith
