MOST Magazine Fitness APR-MAY'15 ISSUE NO.1 | Page 130

FMM: What was the moment when you first
realized you loved photography and could make
a career out of it?
JP: My first gig as a photographer was anything
but planned. I was actually studying and working
as a journalist in college when my editor tossed
a camera in my hands one night and asked if I
could take some photos to go along with an article
I was writing. Granted, the photos looked terrible,
but I loved the new medium of how I could craft
and communicate a story. I spent my time after
that trying to figure out how to actually take better
images.
FMM: Why fitness photography? Have you
always had an interest in fitness, a certain
exercise, or sports?
JP: Fitness photography was something that I
strategically got into. At the time most of my work
was photographing for lifestyle magazines and
the market was suffering. One by one I watched
most of my clients close their doors and go out
of business. So I was forced to forecast work
that I felt could sustain my career that I still loved
doing. I always enjoyed sports and working with
athletes – but at the time the fitness industry was
extremely small. It was a bit of a gamble getting
into something I just believed would grow – but
grow it did.
FMM: Do have a routine before every speech,
or anything you feel is a must for aspiring
public speakers to know in order to give a great
speech?
JP: I think every speaker has their own unique
approach before they get up in front of an
audience. Personally, I spend a lot of time
practicing and rehearsing my presentation before I
ever give it publicly. This way when I present I can
worry less about what words I am delivering, but
more so how I am delivering those words for the
greatest impact.

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FITNESS

M A G A Z I N E || APRIL / MAY 2015

Nadia Lopez

FMM: How did you become a public speaker?
When was the most nervous you ever were
before a big speech?
JP: Much like photography, I somewhat stumbled
into public speaking opportunities. At first I was
being asked to present to fellow classmates in
college on how I was building my photo business
or what my approach was to the projects I took
on. I spent a bit of time working in marketing after
college and through that I was giving a lot of
presentations, or helping my co-workers crea