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

Hi Vanessa, how do you think about risk?
I took the risk of quitting my part time retail job to pursue photography full time. It was very scary, I thought about it many times and backed out many times. I didn’t think it was possible for me to make a living from taking photos, I was scared of not having my steady income, I was scared of the unknown. I wasn’t happy working somewhere I didn’t like, and doing something I wasn’t passionate about. One day I said “I’m done” I couldn’t take it anymore, and took the risk without a plan, but the universe aligned everything for me. I started getting booked constantly and now it’s been two years since I’ve building my business slowly but surely!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m passionate about capturing family life and love in general. Growing up I loved going through family photo albums, seeing family members I never got to meet, seeing how life was then, etc. Those emotions I felt looking through those pictures is what I want my clients to experience when they look back at their pictures! I put a lot of love into my sessions to capture authentic moments. I’m extremely proud to say I am a business owner and I’m proud to make a living doing something I’m passionate about. It’s been a challenging road because there’s a lot of unknowns financially, it’s especially hard when you have kids because everything I do, I do it for my family. But at the same time it’s been a rewarding journey, I’ve made great friends along the way, I’ve learned a lot creative and business wise, and I’ve gained a lot more confidence. I want the world to know that I’m here to capture authentic moments for you and your family, to have a good time, and give you long lasting memories!

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?
I’ve done this too many times already, and my first stop is always Hollywood! It’s iconic, if someone is here for the first time most of the time is the one thing they want to experience. I would take them to the Chinese theater, Griffith observatory and rodeo drive. Malibu is also a must! I lived in Newport for a couple of years and I also love to drive down the PCH. LA is a melting pot! Food wise it’s hard to choose because there’s so much to choose! King taco is one of my favorite spots for tacos. Andre’s which used to be across the grove is my favorite place ever for spaghetti, been going there since I was like 7 and any time I get the chance I stop by! For sushi I would take them to I luv Sushi in Long Beach, it’s my go to stop and I always get the Sunrise on 2nd Roll ! I’m also a big fan of Gyu Kaku and GEN when I feel like cooking myself!! I can go on and on! Ask me anything about food and I probably have the answer !

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?
This might sound like an Oscar speech but without the support of my clients, friends and family, I wouldn’t have made it this far. They believe in my talent, they support my business, they refer people and they are the reason my business keeps growing and I’m able to do what I love!

Website: www.vdukphotography.com
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