Helping fellow photographers learn and grow
When she’s not keeping her toddler busy or editing up a storm, wedding photographer Estefania Romero is dedicating time to helping other photographers grow and learn over the three-week lockdown.
Offering free online photo critique sessions, Romero said she wanted to use her experience, knowledge and creativity to assist fellow photographers during these difficult times.
“I am not sure how much impact I am making, but even if only one person chooses to go ahead and have their images critiqued, I would be happy knowing that I helped someone grow,” said Romero, who has been a professional wedding photographer for nine years.
“I got this idea when I saw international photographers offering free live videos on Facebook sharing their thoughts and experiences from a photography perspective, and allowing others to ask them questions.
“Though I am not on that same level, I wondered in what way I could help others pass some time and distract themselves from the reality we now live in.
“Having experienced, and thoroughly enjoyed, critique sessions with other photographers, I knew this was something I could easily do from home, so I decided to make a post on Facebook offering my help,” she said.
Photographing scores of happy couples on their special day around SA and internationally, Romero obtained a communication sciences degree in Mexico, where she is originally from.
While living in New York 12 years ago she delved into a fashion photography workshop at the School of Visual Arts in the city.
Her creative eye is well sought after and she has racked up an array of photography awards from prestigious platforms, including the Admired in Africa awards over the years.
Virtually meeting and assisting fellow photographers in their creative endeavours, Romero said the sessions could be done using any video call app.
“We just organise a time to meet online. I prefer if the app has the option to share your computer screen.
“This allows both of us to look at the image being critiqued and the ‘client’ can watch me do live tweaks to their image.
“This helps show how different editing styles can create such different results from one single image,” she explained.
Romero ran her first online critique session on Tuesday and said it had gone extremely well.
“It was an awesome session — we spoke for almost three hours!
“It was like a get-together with an awesome friend. We had so much in common.”
She said it was important for creatives to stick together as the wedding industry had been one of the hardest hit. Many vendors will receive no income for a month, and possibly months to come, should the lockdown be extended.
“These are difficult times, and uncertainty about what the future holds gives all of us some sort of anxiety.
“Having a good support platform with other photographers helps — knowing you are not alone, that we are all in the same boat and that we are all trying to figure out what will be the best way forward for our industry over the next few months,” Romero said.
“It has been touching to see so many wedding photographers be so kind and so willing to help their wedding couples with date changes.
“Everyone is working together to help each other. I simply hope I can help impact others in a positive way during these difficult times.”
- To find out more about Romero's online photo critique sessions contact her at hello@estefaniaromero.com
- MadeleineC@dispatch.co.za