Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Lara Costa.
Vanessa Lara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am 41 years old, from Brazil and I have always loved photos. When I was little, I used to love looking through fashion magazines and wanted to be a model. Being an only daughter, my father did not approve of modeling classes for me. He was a very protective of me and to deter me from pursuing modeling, he would not buy me magazines, as he felt they would incentivize me to want to model. As a young girl, however, whenever it was possible, I saved the money from my school lunches and bought fashion magazines. I bought my first camera as a teenager and I still have it to this day!
I studied economics in college in Brazil. As a college student, I was engaged to a French fiancé and our plans were to complete our college degrees and move to France. With no job or money to pay for classes, my cousin suggested I join her and relocate to the United States, where she was working and studying in Boston. I accepted the offer with the goal to stay a year, save money for my big European dream, buy a wedding dress and move back to Brazil!
In 2000, I arrived in Boston. Speaking no English at all, I worked at the Boston Globe delivering papers, waiting tables at Outback Steak House, cashiering at a convenience store and babysitting. Soon, the plans changed and I realized in a short time, that I could dream higher. This is a country of opportunity and though my previous plan was to meet my fiancé and go to France, I realized it was a huge undertaking to move to another country, learn another language and start over. I called off the engagement, ended the relationship and decided to stay in Boston.
In 2002, I met my husband and in 2005, we married. Our priority was to get pregnant and to quickly start a family. After five years trying without success, we did invitro-fertilization. This was very difficult and painful experience. With my first pregnancy, I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks and decided I couldn’t continue with the treatments. I thought about adoption because I knew I wanted to be a mom one day. To fill the void, I started to search for something that could fill my soul. I needed something that could make me forget my pain and could make me happy. I bought a Canon semi-professional photographer’s camera and registered for a basic photography class with the photographer Andreia Makkas, at Unique Studio. I fell in love with photography instantly and I found myself again. Photography helped lessen my feeling of loss and brought me new hopes and dreams. I was eager to learn more and immerse myself in photography. I invested in a professional camera and equipment as well as other classes. In 2011, I got pregnant naturally and I studied photography until my daughter arrived. After she was born, I slowed down to enjoy the motherhood experience. I still found the time to practice my photographic techniques with my daughter as my subject along with family and friends in my finished basement and participated in workshops online.
In 2015, my younger brother, ten years younger than myself, was diagnosed with a rare stage four cancer. At age 29, he passed ten months after his diagnosis. I had loved him like a son. It was the worst pain I ever experienced in my life. Without my daughter, I have no idea how I could’ve survived such a traumatic loss. I had to find a way to rebuild myself. My young daughter was only four years old at the time and deserved a normal and happy life. It was at this time that I decided to open a professional photography studio. I rented an office in Plymouth and passed out business cards. Fortunately, I started in the fall season where families wanted beautiful outdoor cards for portraits and photos for holiday cards. I was very busy and worked a lot.
In November of 2016, Duxbury Neighbor Magazine’s editor Andy Wendell, invited me to be part of the group as an official photographer, doing all of the magazine’s photos and the cover photos. One day after I photographed the family of Duxbury Camera Club’s president for the magazine cover, he invited me to be a club member. Once a month we have a workshop at the Duxbury Library.
I’m a member of the Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts (PPAM) and at a 2017 convention, I qualified at a print competition with two images.
Today Sunflower Portraits have a new address. I have a partnership with Lab Goss Photo in Hanover. We share a very comfortable and large place with many background option, sophisticated lightning and equipment for the best professional photos and client satisfaction. I do all kind of photos, families, children, newborn, pregnant, senior, engagement, wedding and commercial!
Photography is not a job; it is a pleasure that I do with lots of love and care.
Photography is my oxygen!
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all!
The people want the professional job, but not to pay the professional price!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I do all kind of photography!
The people are my preference to photograph! In any people age, I love to search through my lens the beauty, managing the lights and the angles!
I am very proud of as a company, that once I’m hired for a photograph, the clients always come back for a second, third, fourth ……… time!
What sets me apart from others, I think is my patience, I like my clients fell comfortable and happy, I usually don’t count time or photo shoot numbers, my goal is the best photo!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Definitely Yes!
In my opinion, the first reason is the 4 distinct year seasons, nature invites us for the whole year to photograph outside, having always the unmatched backgrounds!
Yes, I do recommend to start here!
Contact Info:
- Address: 145 Webster St D – Hanover – Ma 02339
- Website: In Construction
- Phone: 781 696 4473
- Email: mvanessalara@msn.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sunflower_portraits/
- Facebook: facebook@sunflowerportraitsbyvanessalara
Image Credit:
Sunflower Portraits
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.
