Olivia Quantz '12 is capturing the moment.
Photos are one of the few things Olivia Quantz '12 considers priceless. What started out as a hobby has become a full time career. Quantz specializes in fashion-inspired portraiture. It's how she expresses her creativity and connects to the people around her.
Q: What inspired you to get into photography?
A: I have always been drawn to photography and the emotion that photos can capture. I grew up taking photos of the people closest to me, and never really stopped. As I matured, photography stopped being just a hobby that I did for fun, and really became a way for me to express myself creatively and connect with the people around me.
Q: Did your experience at Saint Joseph Academy have a significant influence on your career?
A: I took some of my first art classes at Saint Joseph Academy, and I now see my time at SJA as the beginning stages of my journey as an artist. Having art teachers like Mrs. Lorio and Mrs. Rodriguez, who saw my affinity for art and encouraged me to pursue it, gave me the confidence I needed to experiment freely and believe in my own artistic abilities. I’m a firm believer that having access to the arts at a young age is extremely important for those wanting to pursue a creative career, and I’m grateful to have had the support of teachers who recognized my potential and pushed me to pursue my passion.
Q: What kind of photography do you specialize in?
A: I specialize in fashion-inspired portraiture, and I strive to make fashion style photography accessible to the everyday person through my work. My most popular portrait sessions typically fall into three categories: headshots & lifestyle, glamor & boudoir, and couples & families. What makes my brand unique is that my photoshoots focus on creating a luxurious, transformative experience for the people I photograph, and everything is centered around making you look and feel like a celebrity on the cover of a magazine. I understand that being in front of the camera can feel daunting or awkward, and I take the time to guide my clients through the entire session, helping them to pose in a way that’s flattering and giving them the confidence to celebrate who they are, even if they’ve never had a professional photoshoot before.
Q: What were some of your favorite things about St. Joe?
A: I always enjoyed the sense of community that St. Joe offered. Whether it be through student activities and clubs, or hours of service in the local community, having an attitude of service and compassion toward others was always there. Looking back now I realize just how valuable that connection can be and how far it can take you in life, and I appreciate the opportunity to have had many teachers that I felt genuinely cared about my success.
Q: What was your journey like to get to where you are right now?
A: I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and always knew I eventually wanted to own my own business. I initially majored in photography in college and did everything I could to learn as much as I could - joined photography clubs & forums, took online classes from industry professionals, taught myself Photoshop, and more. My senior year of college I interned with another photographer who ended up hiring me to manage their studio full-time, where I was able to learn other genres of portrait photography like newborn and maternity. Once I had a well-rounded understanding of portraiture I wanted to learn how to turn my expertise into a profitable business, and ended up graduating college with a Multidisciplinary Degree specializing in Art, Marketing, and Management. I found that I was able to seamlessly integrate my creative and business interests through marketing, and was hired as a Brand Manager for a real estate firm where I worked for several years while simultaneously building my photography business. I am now a full-time business owner and entrepreneur, launching my own marketing agency this year in addition to my photography business. When I first took up photography, I was often told that I wouldn’t be able to make a sustainable, full-time income from art and should follow a more secure career path. Looking back now, I’m so glad that I pushed myself to pursue my passion, because I’ve been able to connect with amazing people from all walks of life and build a business that I’m truly proud of and fulfilled by.
-Interview compiled and edited by Kayleigh Sommer, Director of Communications at SJA.