Today we’d like to introduce you to Omar Castanon
Hi Omar, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started taking photos as a way to preserve memories of my life. I took a beginner photography class in my last semester of my bachelor’s degree. I fell in love with the medium immediately. Soon afterwards, I bought a digital camera and began to teach myself photography through YouTube videos, books, lectures, and a lot of trial and error. I always enjoyed bringing the best version of somebody out in a photo and helping them see themselves in a new light that they may not have before. Getting to meet interesting people and learning about their life is what motivates me to continue shooting portraits.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being that I’m almost entirely self-taught, it has definitely been a challenge to learn certain techniques to craft the images that match the vision in my head. I like to constantly push myself to learn a new lighting technique or utilize a tool in a new way in order to create unique images that teleport the audience into a different world that only exists in my photography. That challenge is what drives me, however, as I find joy in being able to find the solution to a problem that nobody else can solve.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a cinematic portrait photographer. I specialize in utilizing light and color to create drama and depth in my images. My style is very unique as it requires a lot of scientific & technical knowledge to achieve the desired look. I’m most proud of being self-taught and being able to pass that knowlesdge on to others. My work stands out amongst other Utah photographers and so I get a lot of inquiries to teach others how to utilize light, color, etc. It is definitely a humbling experience whenever that happens.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles. Just jump into something if you find it interesting. You don’t need to be an expert to try something new. Knowledge will come with time, but you’ll never get to that point if you never start in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Omarcastanon.com
- Instagram: @omargottheshot
