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Community Highlights: Meet Eli Cruz of A&E Photographs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eli Cruz

Hi Eli, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hiii 🙂 Before beginning my journey as a photographer, I was a law enforcement officer. After 4 years of my career, I decided I wanted to start a family of my own with my significant other. I never planned to start a business nor become a professional photographer. Life was hard trying to adjust after leaving the criminal justice system that made up majority of my 20’s – a 6 year combination of college and a career.

After leaving my job in August 2021, I remember looking into things to do with my life. I started watching YouTube videos and I remember watching a review on DSLR cameras with my boyfriend. I remember one random weekday, I purchased my first Nikon camera online as a pick order. My boyfriend got home from work and I was like, “I bought a camera at Best Buy and have to pick it up before they close in 50 minutes. . . . In Raleigh (it’s a 45 minute drive from us).” I said, “we have to leave like right now.”

He drove me there and the rest is history lol – just kidding it’s not.

A few months after, I registered my photography business in October 2021 and had my first paid photoshoot January 2022.
My boyfriend then became my business partner and he started offering professional video & drone services.
That’s what created A&E Photographs, LLC.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely NOT been a smooth ride. When I started my business, I had to start from scratch. Literally from the ground with negative clients. No one knew who I was. I wasn’t a popular girl with a lot of friends or someone who knew a lot of people in town. I’ve always stayed to myself and never had a lot of friends. All of my close friends I grew up with moved to different towns/states after high school & the few close friends I had were like 5 of them lol. So when I needed models to practice on or wanted to build my portfolio, it was hard because it seemed like no one wanted a FREE session from me lol. So this made business hard to grow – especially in an over saturated market when everyone already has a go-to photographer or under cuts each other.

I didn’t know how to market my business, let alone how to start or even run one.

Another obstacle I faced was finding a mentor or someone who could help coach me in the photography business world. I remember reaching out to different photographers and a lot of them ignored me, some said they would love to help me but turned around and cut me off and no longer wanted to help after seeing my portfolio. I even had a guy wanting to charge me $1,000 per session just to show me the basics of how to use a camera. I remember he said that would be the cost per session to go over lighting, editing, etc. plus charging me to find models to practice on.

So I had to literally learn everything on my own from research, joining private photography groups, investing, and a lot of trial and error. The trail and error was the hardest because it held me back a lot and became discouraging.

That’s why I made a promise to myself that when someone reaches out to me about learning photography, I would help teach and guide them because I remember when no one was there for me.

Thankfully I was able to share this journey with and had so much support from my partner.

As you know, we’re big fans of A&E Photographs . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My partner and I specialize in Wedding Photography and In-studio sessions. We offer professional photo, video, and drone services. We have a studio in Saratoga, NC at 6917 E Main St. Saratoga, NC 27883. We do travel but also have offer studio sessions.

At every session, clients will usually have us both there photographing together or my partner will be capturing a behind the scenes video that he later uploads as a reel on social medias.

We have experience in and offer family portraits, engagement photos, weddings, quinceñeras, real estate, sports photos, headshots, daycare photos, and event photography/videography.

We are FAA pilot licensed and insured to operate our drone for services.

I am bilingual (Spanish & English speaking) and Mexican-American. My partner is African American and speaks English with a little bit of Spanish like Hola.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Jesus Christ deserves all of the credit because of him, I am still able to have a successful businesses. When I say that there were many times that I thought I couldn’t see any success or things coming to an end, God always opened a door for me.

When you honor God, he’ll always make a way for you. Put your trust in him. Even if our plans don’t align with his, always remember that he haves something better.

I do want to thank alllll of my clients that trusted me to capture their once in a life milestones. The ones that keep coming back & have became friends. From those who simply reposts my work, to recommend me through word of mouth, to those that hit the follow/like button, etc. but overall, to my friend Elizabeth who was my first client & trusted me to capture her one year old’s milestone.

I also want to thank Lt. Mitchell with Mitchell’s Creations for always sharing and having us as your second photographers during weddings/events.

But overall, a special thanks to Angelo, my partner who never gives up on me no matter who hard I am to handle, want things done my way, put up with my crazy ideas and risk taking, etc. He literally put his fitness business on pause for 3 years for ME to help build up my business. You have been so selfless, patient, encouraging, and loving through it all.

Pricing:

  • Portrait sessions start at $275 + tax
  • Elopement’s (Up to 2 hours): $650
  • 4 hour wedding/quinceñera (photo only): $1,300
  • 6 hour wedding/quinceñera (photo only): $1950
  • 8 hour wedding/quinceñera (photo/video/print): $3,500

Contact Info:

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