Meet Rudy Salgado | Photographer

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

Hi Rudy, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
A quote that has stuck with me for years now is, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” Many of us, including myself, have lived life with a safety net on and choose to stay in a place that’s familiar and safe. This can lead us to feel stuck and ultimately lead to feelings of depression. I know, because I have been there. Choosing to take risks, seek help, seek opportunities despite obstacles and rejections is what helps your story move forward. Can you imagine what your life would look like if turned into a movie but in the plot, you stay in one place or give up the moment there’s a conflict? Life builds character, but only when you choose to step outside of your comfort zone and face your fears. I try to remind myself of this when I’m feeling stuck, when my skills have plateaued, and when I feel like I could do more.

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.
As with most people, I started photographing anything and everything I could: friends, landscapes, flowers, and animals etc. That took quite a turn after attending photography meetup groups such as @streetmeetla and @lm.meets. Photographers, models, and entertainers all gather together at least once a month to create content. It’s a great way to practice your craft and network with other amazing creative people. Since then, my focus in photography has shifted to portraiture. I do photography work, photo retouching, video editing and have worked with video companies. I have had the pleasure of photographing and recording at red carpet events, press conferences, and fashion shows among other things. No, it hasn’t always been easy and yes there have been setbacks. Especially at first, not feeling like enough or dealing with imposter syndrome. The key is to keep going despite any doubts or obstacles that come your way.

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?
There is always something going on LA, that’s what’s great about it. There is so much to do! For someone that has never been to LA, I’m sure they would like to check out the Hollywood Sign, Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier, and the Downtown views. Other cool spots worth the visit are OUE Skyspace LA, Venice Beach Boardwalk, Paradise Cove in Malibu, LACMA, Huntington Library, Rodeo Drive, comedy clubs and theme parks. As far as food, there are endless choices but definitely don’t want to miss out on the authentic street tacos.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a big shout out to Inner City Arts and their amazing staff. I attended their programs after school and on the weekends while I was in high school. I had the opportunity to explore my creativity, learn about art, graphic design, and photography among other things. My interests for photography grew much more after attending their photography workshops. Inner City Arts aims to give students a safe, creative space where they can explore. I believe they accomplished that for me, and for that I am forever grateful.

Website: www.rudysalgado.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/rudysalgadophoto

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rudy-salgado-photography-los-angeles

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChDD2yFYLltVtt0HeypTZ2A

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rudysalgadophoto

Image Credits
Kris Goman, Emily S, Carl Lariviere, Yasmine Mercier, Farrah Finn, Amanda Chou, Vivian B, Maeve Kelley