Meet Stephanie Saldivar | Creative Director & Photographer

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

Hi Stephanie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I discovered my passion for photography when I was fifteen years old, but it wasn’t until almost twenty years later when I decided to finally take the plunge to develop a business that incorporates that passion. I was torn with taking an opportunity to continue my education and apply for a doctorate program in Sociology until someone expressed how I light up when I talk about photography. He had seen my progress over a short period and urged me to consider an alternative. It was clear to everyone around me what my love and interest has always been and always will be, and that treating it like a hobby would never truly fulfill me. So, with a strong support system and an “I can” mentality, I developed a plan to make a living from doing what I love.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I pride myself on my willingness to do just about anything to get “the shot.” No idea is too big or too small. I’ve never had a cushioned budget to create my ideas, and I’m a firm believer that lack of access has assisted me to push the boundaries of limited resources. Starting a professional career is challenging—if isn’t, are we even pushing ourselves to be better at what we do? Working really hard for something I believe in allows me to fully appreciate the end result, and more importantly the journey it took to get there. Finding comfort in the unknown stems from my resilience from failing on my own; however, I got to a point where I didn’t want to go at it alone anymore. So, I rely heavily on my support system to be honest about my work and I seek mentors to provide advice in areas where I lack crucial knowledge to sustain a successful business. My mission as an artist is to reconnect with our space in the ecosystem utilizing aspects of ourselves and nature to represent one cohesive unit. For my clients, I encourage them to express their own story with me so that I may connect with their passion to provide the best end-product and inclusive experiences. It is through my own eclectic and transparent experiences that I believe attracts others to want to work with me and dive into my artistic expression with me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The best way to plan a week in the city is to first see if there are any events in the downtown area. I’d have to show off POST Houston. The architecture is stunning, so naturally I’d want to take a few portraits utilizing the natural light and uniquely stunning staircases. We’d overlook the downtown skyline on the rooftop and grab some food at the court full of local restaurants by some of Houston’s finest chefs. Maybe we could catch a show at the 713 Music Hall that evening. We’d have to experience a day Buffalo Bayou Park to enjoy the trails, the open field for a picnic and games, and art the installations. I’d surprise her with a lock we could place together at the Love Lock bridge over Allen Parkway, gaze at the Wortham Memorial Fountain, and tour the cistern—again, taking the opportunity to snag in some photos. What’s visiting Space City without of course touring NASA?! We’d spend an entire day in the museum district, making the Cockrell Butterfly Center a top priority, and roll down Miller Hill just like when I was a kid. We’d most likely want to spend another day on the trail, so we’d head to Memorial Park for more trailing adventures. For a unique shopping experience, we’d head beneath the streets of downtown to the Downtown Houston Tunnel System while indulging in more local restaurants and historical stories. To top it off, we’d make our way to Minute Maid Park to watch the greatest team in the MLB!

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?
I would like to dedicate a special shoutout to my mom. It was her effort to find a way to connect with me through art that led me to find my passion and talents. She encouraged me to enroll in an Introduction to Photography course as one of my electives. Thinking I could slack off for an easy art credit, I found something that just made sense to me. I would come home excited about a new project and she’d drive me all over the Houston region—she even encouraged me to explore the world in our own backyard. I still call to her to this day elated with new ideas, experiences with clients, and plans for the future, and she still listens, encourages, and gets just as excited for me.

Website: https://www.selisedesign.com

Instagram: @selisedesign.jpg & @selisedesign.wild

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/selisedesign/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/selisedesign

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@selisedesign

Image Credits
My featured image was taken by Richard Hoang and edited by me.