Award-winning wedding and destination photographer David Medina is passionate about love and storytelling, making him not only a great photographer, but one who is enthusiastic and committed to making each shoot count. He’s been married to his wife, Marelly, for 19 years and they manage Hidden Kiss Studio as a husband and wife team, specializing in wedding and destination photography. Read about why he loves taking photos and what drives his continued success.
How did you get started in photography?
Since I was a little kid I was taken by the power of photography to tell stories that allow us to explore distant places, other cultures and people. Living in a small island, magazines like National Geographic and Life were the gates that allowed me to travel and experience the world. Unfortunately, I didn’t have someone to guide and encourage me into the world of photography and I had to wait until college.
When I entered college I bought my first SLR camera, a Nikon F with a fixed Vivitar 135mm f2.8 and a handheld meter, all for the grand cost of $175. I flunked my first year in college because instead of going to class I would spend my days shooting and in the darkroom. You could say photography was my life.
In 1990 after attending photography school, I became an editorial and photojournalist in Puerto Rico. The digital revolution created new opportunities for creativity and documentary photography. When I saw the work that photographers like Yervant, Jerry Ghionis, Marcus Bell, Joe Buissink, Jim Garner, and others were doing I knew I wanted to be a wedding photographer. In 2005 I opened my first wedding studio under David Medina Photography. As my wife became part of the team, we rebranded our studio to Hidden Kiss Studio in 2013.
What has contributed to your success?
Several things have enabled me to succeed. First and foremost, the support and trust of my wife and family. They are my inspiration and the reason I am a storyteller. I could not be who I am without them. In second place, education. I have an incredible appetite for learning. I am a webinar and tutorial junkie. I am constantly reading or watching something. Attending WPPI has been life changing for me. Thirdly, having great business partners like Graphistudio and ProDPI that support and enable us to provide incredible products and quality. And fourthly, having the right tools for business, tools like Fundy Designer, Tave Studio Manager, ShootProof and my Nikon cameras.
What is the most important thing for your continued success?
We are in a very creative and competitive industry. In order to have continued success you have to be consistent and passionate about what you do. You have to provide superb services and product all the time. You have to stay inspired, bold, moving forward.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
I treasure two pieces of advice that I received throughout the years. First, from Mike Colon, to shoot from my heart, and from Jerry Ghionis, that you do not have to be the best, just better than yesterday. They have become our mantra that guides and liberate us to be our best for our clients.
Is there anything else you’d like to add, workshops or products to recommend?
Like I said earlier, education and having the right partnership and tools are critical to be successful. They liberate you to be your best and support your efforts to provide the very best for your clients. I am fortunate to have partnered with Graphistudio since the very beginning of our studio. They provide for us amazing and unique books that make our stories shine. Tools like Fundy Designer allow us to concentrate in the story we are telling and allow us to design beautiful books. Tave Studio Manager takes the stress of managing our studio. You need to be learning constantly to stay sharp. Resources like WPPI, PPA, CreativeLive and KelbyOne are great places to get great education.
Find more information about David Medina and Hidden Kiss Studio, please visit the studio’s website, Facebook or Pinterest pages.
