Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Tieuli.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Matt. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m a late bloomer- I found photography in my late 20’s (I’m 30 now) after using music as my main creative outlet for years. I was dating a photographer at the time and was intrigued by the whole art form, so I started walking around after work with my phone trying to frame up photos to post on my Instagram. I was so bad at first! In time I learned the basic “rules” of photography and decided to buy an entry level DSLR. That’s when I became a sponge- I picked up as much as I could from friends, photographers I met on the street, and relative strangers on Instagram. I taught myself Lightroom and Photoshop, mostly with a lot of patience and YouTube videos. I’d check out feature accounts on IG to see if I could find new styles to emulate and picked my favorite photographers. Mostly, I learned by doing; I’d go out every single day with my camera to practice and spent the nights editing. In time, I got better and developed my own following by engaging with people and going to photo meets. Only recently has it become something that has started paying me back, and I find completely mind-boggling that I could get paid for doing something I love so much. However, that’s not why I’m in this- the real fulfillment comes from meeting great people, creating lasting memories, capturing emotion, and giving people something tangible that they can (hopefully) keep for generations!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like anything, photography take A LOT of practice, being able to accept criticism, and a willingness to make mistakes. I spend 30 or so hours outside of my normal 40 hour/week job working on photography.
The toughest one early on is getting over the beginners hump- realizing that your early work isn’t that great and be patient enough to learn and improve instead of putting the camera down. I think that’s healthy- if you can’t look back at your prior work and find flaws, then it means you’re not improving.
Another challenge is battling that little voice of self-doubt in your own head. I still know I can get a lot better and am extremely self-critical of my own work. I think that’s true of a lot of creatives; our biggest enemy is in our own mind!
A huge one is trying not to fall into the trap of pumping out content on Instagram just to gain followers and get likes. I try to remember quality over quantity, and to do it for the love, not the likes 🙂
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Mattydelsol Photography – what should we know?
I currently consider all opportunities- portraits, concerts, events, engagements, and nightlife. If you’re a fun client that wants to create a fresh perspective, I’m always game! I don’t have a niche per se, I really enjoy shooting all types of situations. I learned with street photography, so walking around the city with my camera will always be #1 in my heart. My first paid gigs were concerts, which was an amazing transition from life on the stage as a musician.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Oh lord, I have so many. The Boston photo community is amazing because everyone is so willing to lend a hand and teach you their skills. Sometimes you don’t realize how little you know as a beginner- everything from holding the camera to proper composition. I have an amazing group of photo friends that I bounce ideas off of and ask for criticism on my work. I also want to give a huge shout out to the folks that shot with me when I was first learning portraits, your patience was much appreciated! I have so much thanks for anyone that has ever passed a bit of knowledge, enjoyed my work, and helped me on my journey.
Special thanks to these folks:
Rob Blanchflower (@blanchpower), Pradit Sakkara (@9dituttdit9), Sydnie Merlino (@sydnie.m), Angela Messmer-Blust (@wanderblustphotos), Roberto Valdivieso (@pocketboston), Willie and Jo Mann (@wakeupwithwillie and @mannsonamission), Chorale Miles (@choralemiles), Mike Pelosi (@mikeypiswonderful), Ross MacDonald (@rossm1983), Jeremiah Juso (@jeremiahjuso), John Apicella (@enjoiyourflip), Katie Poutsiaka (@katiewarriorprincess), Michael Kalish and the whole Following Boston group (@followingboston), Sudarsna Mukund, (@sudarsnak), Brittany Chang (@breeetany), Timo Andrews (@Timo.Andrews), Jon Gebarowski @jgebarowski), and Ann Jiang (@ann.jpeg)
Contact Info:
- Website: mattydelsol.com
- Phone: 774-232-4992
- Email: mattydelsolphoto@gmail.com
Image Credit:
All by me: Matt Tieuli @mattydelsol
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
