Meet Carmelisse Sanga: Los Angeles Based Wedding & Elopement Photographer

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

Hi Carmelisse, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Naturally, I’m a Type B personality. So when I started a business, there were so many times when I would drown in work, miss out on a lot of important life events, have mental breakdowns, and was just overall a big mess. My lifestyle took a toll on my physical and mental health. I remember I got sick 4 times in one month and was desperate for change. I quickly learned that I needed to be more Type A and create systems, routines, and better habits. Doing this gave me more freedom for myself and I was able to spend more time with the people I love. I essentially became a productivity nerd so that I can work smarter, not harder. Overtime, I realized that productivity is an act of self-care. I always make it a point to block out days to map out my time and reflect on my goals. Since implementing these into my life, I have seen drastic improvements in my overall health. I am the happiest I’ve ever been. Don’t get me wrong, I still have those days and a work-life balance is never going to be perfect, but at least there’s progress.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a wedding and elopement photographer. I find great joy in documenting those intimate moments for people who are wildly in love. I think it’s so magical that they have the opportunity to relive one of the happiest days of their lives. I’ve always loved looking through old photographs my dad took of me and my family growing up. It’s one of my most prized possessions. What sets me apart is that I have a strong need to connect with people on a person level. I love learning about what makes them who they are and hearing about their love story. Connection is a strong core value of my brand, so I always make sure that we do so before shooting my couple. People have also told me that I have a gift for making them feel calm and comfortable. I like to think my photos evoke emotion. I always try to capture things honestly and with intention. The thing I’m most proud of today is the person I’ve become because of photography. I’ve honestly learned so many lessons from just following my passion. I’ve always been an introverted person so when I started photography, it forced me to get out of my comfort zone, meet, and hang out with new people. Also, as a recovering perfectionist, I’ve learned to embrace the flaws and capture raw, authentic moments. It’s taught me to seek the beauty in all people and the things around me. Photography has taught me to slow down, be more grateful, and have more compassion for not only those around me, but also for myself. It’s also pushed me to be the best version of myself and maximize my potential. It’s been a long journey getting to this point, I wasn’t always a photographer. I used to be a software engineer – I followed that path for all the wrong reasons (mostly for money). I was depressed and didn’t know who I was as a person. One day, I couldn’t handle all the pressure and decided to quit my job, move to New Zealand, and get aligned and more in touch with myself. The things that has truly helped me overcome my challenges were finding my “why” and figuring out my core values. I took the time to really ask myself why I was doing what I was doing and all decisions made from then revolved around my “why” and core values. Through this whole journey, I’ve learned the importance of self-awareness. I think its crucial to know who you are as a person so that you can fulfill your life’s purpose. One thing I want people to know about my brand is I’m not just someone who points and clicks their camera. I truly care about getting to know my couples, connecting with them, and helping them see their innermost beauty. Every story is unique and needs to be told properly – that’s where I come in.

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.
Unfortunately, during this time we are in a pandemic and wouldn’t be able to take them anywhere haha. But if I were to answer this without the pandemic in mind, I wouldn’t honestly take them to too many places anyway. I used to have the travel bug and would always want to be somewhere else all the time. As I got it out of my system, I’ve learned that all the things I wanted were right in front of me. I’ve learned to appreciate what I had instead of chasing what I didn’t. It’s cliche, but nowadays I find joy just being in the company of good people, it doesn’t matter where we are, what we do, or what we eat. If my friend were visiting me, it would look more like a retreat. I would also just show them around Long Beach since that’s where I’m from and I love my city. We’d start the day doing yoga on the bluff, meditating, and biking along the beach. Then we’d get some acai bowl at Blue Bowl at the Long Beach Exchange. For lunch we’d go to some of my favorite restaurants either in downtown, retro row, or somewhere on 2nd & PCH. We could even check out farmers markets, cook our own lunch and have a picnic by the Colorado Lagoon. We can end the day at a brewery called Ballast point or a small little bar called the Blind Donkey. There’s also the option to watch the sunset on a duffy boat that will glide your through the Alamitos Bay and through the Naples Canals. I guess my idea of a good time would be talking and catching up, doesn’t matter where we are. As long as we’re spending quality time together. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There have been so many influential people, books, podcasts, youtube videos, etc. that has helped me get to where I am today. I’m also incredibly lucky to have such a supportive and loving group of friends and family. I do want to give my husband, Rex, a shoutout because he’s seen it all and has been there for me no matter how ugly things got. He’s the real reason I was able to start my business in the first place – he believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. He’s helped me so much even by just simply listening.

Website: https://carmelissephotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmelissephotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmelissephotography

Image Credits
Carmelisse Photography