Meet Lee Febres | photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lee Febres and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lee, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I think most of the people are unaware of how much money photographers have to spend on equipment and how delicate they are, for example we have to pay for programs to edit the pictures that could cost 150$, the camera body could be 800-4000 for a full frame camera, lenses are at least 150$ and most photographers have 2 lenses or more, computers can cost between 600-2000$ and that is one of the reasons why photography can be expensive.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always loved taking pictures since I was a kid, but always avoided calling photography a career for myself just because I was to afraid of failing. I tried doing some other creative things like design but it just didn’t make sense to me, I was average and I didn’t feel the magic I get when I am shooting. I got used toI have always loved taking pictures since I was a kid, but always avoided calling photography a career for myself just because I was to afraid of failing. I try doing some other creative things like design but it just didn’t make sense to me, I was average and I didn’t feel the magic I get when I am shooting. I got used to people saying that i was annoying because I was always taking pictures, my family asking for a ¨real¨ career, people questioning if photography could pay the bills, and truth is I heard to all of them and give up photography for a few years, but I was not happy at all. Photography is what makes me who I am, so I tried again with it as a hobby on my days off because I am a full time student with a full time job, but last year i realized that if I wanted my photography business to be my full time job I have to put time in it and since I started doing that it has been better, it is not my full time job yet but that is my dream, and I am working for it to become my reality. When we are young we don’t really know what to do with our lives, so we ask for advice and opinions, but opinions are the reflection of someone’s experiences and what may work for your friend may not work for you, so my advise is always go with your passions because it doesn’t matter what you do, if you do it with love you are going to be extraordinary in it. I am not the typical photographer who shoots babies or families in a studio for a postal, that is not my style, I am a creative portrait photographer who loves natural light and movement, I work with the world we live, the places that may seem just like grass or an empty street I make them my studio, where you park your car could be my best scenario, I want people to feel something when they see my pictures and I want to be able to transmit the models personality and feelings with those pictures. I like to make my costumers confident because that gets reflected on the pictures, I want them to think of me as a friend that is there to get their best angle and have a fun time because I also love taking pictures of myself and it is very frustrating when you feel like you do not look good in any picture, so I am going to try my best to make you feel like you were born to be a model.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
there are 2 questions I ask myself every time i go out is the place photogenic? is the food also good? if the answer is yes to both of them then that is my place. so we would start doing brunch at the Dunlavy which is super pretty and elegant and would look amazing on your pictures, then we would go to Disscovery Green which is in the middle of the city so it mix nature and buildings and that way you can get the best of both worlds in your pictures, you can do a picnic or skate while you are in there or just go for a walk with your dog, then we would go to midtown to have some drinks at Holman Draft hall (they have the best frozen drinks and nachos ever and they look super cute) we would sit in the patio to chat for a little bit and to end the day we would go to the heights to take a walk and some final pictures while we enjoy the golden hour.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Definitely my mom, she enrolled me in several photography courses when I was young, she gave me my sister who made me realize I loved taking pictures, she always has support me and of course that every chance she has to give me some publicity she uses it

Instagram: @leeloshots