225: DARING to Find Your Own Aesthetic Niche with MARY COSTA PHOTOGRAPHY

July 6, 2022

EPISODE SUMMARY WITH MARY COSTA

We’re really excited to have Mary Costa with us today. Mary is a photographer based in Southern California and is well known for her colorful style. Today we are chatting with her about finding your own style and not going with the crowd. Mary has so many great tips on how to do that yourself as well as has a special surprise for you all at the end of the episode.

MARY COSTA DARES YOU

I dare you to bring some color into your life. Whether that’s with clothing or a picture around you. Whatever it is, just get some color in your life.

FAST FACTS ABOUT MARY COSTA

What do you shoot with? 

I recently switched to a mirrorless system. So I’m on the Canon R6 right now.

What’s your favorite post-wedding snack?

When I get home, it’s definitely wine.I don’t really eat after a wedding.

What’s your favorite pump-up jam?

Music is actually a huge part of my life and definitely one of my hobbies. I love going to concerts with my husband. I regularly make new Spotify playlists and that varies depending on what’s on it, but I would say recently the new Arcade Fire record.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of your business? 

definitely going to concerts. And then eating. There’s so much good food out here, so definitely going to new restaurants and trying a new cocktail bar that is just so fun.

What’s the best education you’ve learned from?  

I would say working with other photographers. Anytime I second shoot for somebody else, which doesn’t happen too often, but when it does, I learn so much. 

Or the other big thing is, I’ll make my poor husband do a couple session snytime we travel somewhere new just to document it.

And I find that working with other people in that way and being the model teaches me so much about how somebody else works and how they direct somebody. 

What is one daring leap you’ve taken in your business?

I would say anybody who has their own business and goes freelance. Like you are leaping in a way that is huge. Coming out to California was really big. I still have all of my family on the east coast. They’re all in New England and coming out here was really scary, but, if you feel like your heart is calling you to do something, just follow it. In the worst case, you can always turn back around or best case you fall in love with it and it changes your life.

What is one thing you feel like you’re really great at in your business? 

I feel like I’m good with color and finding combos within that. Like just putting things together and forming like an Instagram feed. But also just retouching in general, like Photoshopping out power lines or things like that. Like taking it one step further, that’s something I excel at.

Where can our listeners find you?

Dare to Develop Podcast Sponsor – Photovision

Don’t forget to head on over to photovisionprints.com to claim your free roll of their Signature Process + Scan service using the code DARETODEVELOP . Looking to continue your photography education further? Be sure to check out their full library of photography tips! 

OTHER D2D EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Interested in more episodes about finding your unique style? Listen to Christina McNeil’s Episode on Developing Your True Style & Artistic Voice here.

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