Meet Josh Almonte | Wedding Photographer

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

Hi Josh, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up with a huge family— with 9 siblings and too many cousins to keep track of. Family has always been a significant part of my life and I couldn’t have asked for anything else. I’m so grateful to have so many people around me to support my dreams, endeavors, or photography. Growing up like this has taught me so much about collaboration, the value of relationships, and how to support others. This became especially apparent when my mom passed away in high school and everyone in my family supported each other, even stepping up to take care of me since I was still young at the time. However, after this experience and as the 9th sibling out of 10, I often had to fend for myself throughout hardship and make the most out of every situation—I was forced to be independent, resourceful, and adaptable. However, as I grew older this came in handy. Being forced to grow up faster than I should have prepared me for life ahead. I found a sense of self-resilience at a younger age and carried it with me through my adult life. I’ve gained unique perspectives and learned to realize what truly matters in life. Even though my journey has been shaped by grief, it’s also been enriched by love and community, and together, these experiences have given me the strength and perspective to become the person I am today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
To be honest, it wasn’t really my life’s dream to be a photographer. My journey started in high school when I was 17 years old—I picked up a hand-me-down Nikon D5200 and started taking photos of my friends for fun because I wanted to be the “photographer friend” of my group (also to hopefully get good photos of myself too…). I started posting on my instagram, did a bunch of free/unpaid gigs to build my portfolio, but mostly because I was too scared to charge, and a couple months later I realized I actually really enjoyed it and felt a calling for it. Throughout college, alongside my studies and extra curricular activities, I still made time to pursue this passion. I gained more clients doing photo sessions for families, couples, and graduates, while also doing creative photo shoots with friends or collaborating with models. Photography resonated with me because it allows me to capture people’s most cherished moments and help tell their unique stories and journeys.

Throughout my journey always have, and have, moments where I feel I’m not good enough to be a good photographer. I find myself comparing my work to other photographers I look up to, and even being scared to make friends with other creatives in fear they’ll judge my work. I would always tell myself, “I’ll never be them—I’ll never be that good at what I do.” However, I have to remind myself that I will never be these photographers because each creative has their own skill set that sets them apart from others. It sounds cliche, but comparison really is the thief of joy. I’ve learned that focusing on myself and how I can become better holds significant value as a creative. Also, after working with other photographers in collaborative environments or even as a second shooter for weddings, I’ve realized that the photography community is so supportive.

While I have grown my skills in the basic principles of photography—lighting, composition, balance, etc.—I find more value in being able to grow my skills in helping people feel comfortable in front of the camera and capturing them in their best moments. This has become especially important as of recent in my work beginning to specialize in weddings and couples. When I first started, I thought that all you need to be a photographer is a camera and the ability to push buttons, but it goes so much further than that. The ability to connect with clients or models just minutes after meeting them is a difficult skill that I’m still working on myself, but I feel like that sets me apart from others. Even just the effort to go beyond small talk and make a genuine connection with others makes all the difference in helping someone feel comfortable. I always make the effort to share a laugh with my clients, find shared experiences we can talk about and be able to relate to each other, or even have a short venting session where they feel like they can tell me anything. I also aim to tailor each client’s session to who they are as people. Whether I’m planning a short, 30 minute session, or a full wedding day, I always try to meet my clients well before the photoshoot. This really helps to get comfortable with each other before my camera is brought out and also see how they would like to be portrayed in their photos. There is something so special about looking back on photos taken with a purpose—not just remembering the moments, but reliving the emotions they hold.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my work has been hearing from clients who tell me how much they treasure the photos I take for them or how happy they looked in the photos because the experience felt genuine. What began as a fun way to connect with friends turned into a purpose-driven freelance ventures, and I feel so grateful to share this passion with others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, I would try to take them to the Rose Bowl flea market to look at clothes and some of the small business vendors, maybe take them to the Getty Museum if they’re into art, drive around LA and show them my favorite cafes like verve or Maru coffee. We could get food at Great White, or you could never go wrong with some Korean barbecue in K-town. I’d also take a trip down to OC for Laguna Beach, go to some amazing Asian food spots, and maybe even Disneyland!

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’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my partner, Vince, who has always supported my dreams and helped me through some of the hardest moments of my life. I’d also like to thank my sister, Frances, who became my second mom when we lost ours, and always let me take photos of her to practice my craft.

Website: https://joshalmonte.com

Instagram: @joshvlmonte

Other: photo@joshalmonte.com

Image Credits
Josh Almonte Photography