Young Illawarra Photographer Makes An Inspirational Mark

The Illawarra's youngest succeeding wedding photographer has now taken her business to the next level.

From the age of 18 years, Lake Illawarra High School graduate, Pamela Aurino, made a brand new path to a future she never saw coming.
Deferring from her Univertisty Honours degree, Medicinal Chemistry, in mid 2008, Aurino claims she took a "leap of faith".

"Medicine just wasn't for me" she claims. "Something my brother said to me one day hit me like a tonne of bricks. We have only one shot at life." So the 18 year old sought advice and thrived to making a new dream of hers come true, wedding photography.

Despite being an A grade student and one of the high achievers in her year, Pamela claims "I had teachers coming into my work a few months later lecturing me that I had so much potential and that quitting Uni was a waste and encouraged me to go back. At time it was discouraging, but I didn't listen to them."

The young wollongong photographer did everything to grow herself; sent 1000 emails, made numerous calls for work experience and studied small business and endless books on photography & practised. Pamela mentions a time in her career when things were starting to get off the ground that her competition in the wedding industry "bullied" her.

To starting her wollongong portrait photography business, Ela Photography, in September 2008 with $2000 in her bank account, and growing it in 2011 where the young entrepreneur had booked 45 weddings that year alone.

The young Illawarra Wedding Photographer established herself in three years and now looks to the future and how to expand. Since starting her business in 2008, Pamela has been asked to speak at her old high school assembly to inspire young students to choose a passion and go for it.

Pamela also had the opportunity to be featured on the cover of annual publication Illawarra Weddings magazine in 2011, which she claims was "a great honour".

Recently Pamela was interviewed by WIN television on a new service available to women of the Illawarra aimed to empower themselves and to boost self esteem. "Beauty / Glamour Photography services are definately lacking in the Illawarra", says a source.

"Pamela is definately going places" says a source. "I've know her for 5 years now and one thing I'm sure of is that she does everything at 100%". I see Pamela being an icon, she's a real testament to what she does. She's taken her negative life experiences and now is using it to help others, which is the true quality of a successful person."

Last week Pamela's website & brand, Ela Photography, launched and the response was "phenomenal". Pamela claims "I had never been so overwhelmed at the support and kind words about my new vision".

The young photography hopes to use her Beauty Photography services in the Illawarra to change women, one face at a time. "The permission to feel beautiful" Pamela says. "Often, women, do not feel beautiful in their own skin, I'm going to change that".

"I had a lady email in and say, I watched your video on your website and I cried .. I felt a deep connection .. You are truly inspiring" a client emailed Pamela.

The illawarra glamour photographer looks to team up with other business and services for women in hope of helping women feel confident and in doing so will have a happier and empowered life.