Lifestyle from Extremadura – Lupe Rodriguez

Lupe Rodriguez is a lifestyle photographer from Badajoz, Extremadura in Spain. She committed herself to Stock Photography and producing images for clients all around the world. Stock photography enables her to create commercial content by showing people’s lifestyles and businesses in a real and natural way. To get to know her a little better, she answered a few questions for our blog.

royalty-free lifestyle images
© LUPE RODRIGUEZ/Westend61

In your own words: Who is Lupe Rodriguez?

I was born in Vizcaya and spent my childhood there until my family returned to their place of origin, Badajoz. I have lived here ever since. I love the light of Extremadura! I am a family person, a simple person who would like to travel more than I have done so far. I want to get to know and photograph many places and people.

When and why did you start taking photos?

I always liked photography, when I was a little girl I used to look at family photos. I always thought they were not enough photos. When I was only 14 years old, I started dating my now-husband. His grandmother showed me his old photo albums at his house, and I enjoyed looking at each one of them. Looking at those photographs awakened emotions in me. For that reason, I have always wanted to leave a record of those emotions throughout my life. Photography is my way of doing that. When my eldest daughter was born in 2002 and then my second daughter in 2004, I was non-stop taking pictures of them. They all seemed too few to me. I needed to leave a record of their day-to-day life. I discovered that photography was part of me, and that was what I always wanted to do.

royalty-free lifestyle images
© LUPE RODRIGUEZ/Westend61

It was 2012 when I discovered I wanted to dedicate myself to photography. I entered and won a photography contest in Extremadura with a photo that I took years ago and with almost no basic knowledge of photography. In fact, it was the first time I ever used a digital SLR camera. Looking back, I can say it was my starting point.

Do you only do stock photography? Do you any other kind of photography? Projects?

Yes, I’m fully dedicated to stock. I would say that I also photograph for myself, non-stock, but I really feel that everything is united. My personal photos are also my work and my work is also a part of me.

royalty-free lifestyle images
© LUPE RODRIGUEZ/Westend61

How did you discover stock photography and for how long have u been doing it?

I discovered the business of royalty-free images in 2014 when I was continually researching photography. On the internet, I found an interview with an American photographer in which she told how she made a decent living from stock photography. At that time, I worked as a telephone operator, and between calls, I was reading and soaking up everything related to photography until I stumbled upon stock photography. I decided photography was my way to escape from that monotonous and robotic job, the opposite of what I really wanted to do.

royalty-free lifestyle images
© LUPE RODRIGUEZ/Westend61

When I uploaded my first images to some stock agencies’ homepages, I did not have a good constancy. It took me some years to establish that. Jose Manuel Gelpi, a photographer I met in a photography workshop unrelated to stock photography, inspired me to put more effort into this way of working. It was decided, and by 2016 I applied to a macrostock agency for the first time.

royalty-free lifestyle images

See more of Lupes beautiful images.

What is your favorite theme to photograph?

People, without a doubt, are what most transmits and motivates me, but also places. I like to show contemporary happenings and Zeitgeist as well people’s lifestyles.

And the theme you dislike the most?

Still-life/product photography – I admire people who can prepare a product photograph with the necessary perfection. It’s what I like the least, very methodical photography.

What are the highlights in your stock career?

When I try to choose my personal best photos of the year, or something similar. I can’t really tell which images or which session has given me more. For me, in one way or another, all of them have something that makes them unique. Generally, if I had no choice but to name a highlight, it would probably be a portrait.

royalty-free lifestyle images
© LUPE RODRIGUEZ/Westend61

What do you like the most as a stock photographer?

Being the sole owner of my time is the most precious thing for me. You can not weigh that in money. Another thing is being able to work from anywhere in the world, not having real clients or bosses to worry about. For me, it’s all about personal freedom. I like the fact that my images could be posted and published in any media. Being able to say I get paid for the way I want to live is a significant achievement, a priceless one on top of that. I’m not looking for my name to be recognized in the photography world. When I see a photo of mine published and paid for, it is the best possible recognition of my work.

royalty-free lifestyle images
© LUPE RODRIGUEZ/Westend61

What made you start working with W61? What do you like the most?

I admire the quality of their work. In addition to marketing their photographer’s photos, they do care a lot about their community. The workflow and efficiency are outstanding. Photographers get the recognition they deserve, and the communication between the agency and us is perfect. Their keywording differs from other agencies, which makes our work way more comfortable.

royalty-free lifestyle images
© LUPE RODRIGUEZ/Westend61

Let us know about your future plans!

I am continually evolving in my work. I want to further distribute my work to stock agencies to continue to dedicate myself to the things I like in life. Being able to produce with more quality and variety is my goal.

Is there something you want to say to photographers that want to start working in stock photography?

If it’s something you really want to do, don’t postpone it but get started. Don’t wait to make it to a level that you think you need to start. I believe that your path forms you and makes you improve to become the photographer you are supposed to be. It’s a long way, but an exciting one.

Alba Vitta

Alba Vitta is a photographer from Barcelona, Spain. Besides working as a photographer for Westend61 she also contributes as our Spanish community Manager.