Darrel Hernandez

I started being a Photographer 3 years back in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. When I was young, it’s just a dream and that is what i wanted to do. I really love taking pictures of people, landscape, animals and even things or objects. But at that time I didn’t have any camera of my own. My Dad used to have a lot of film cameras and he takes pictures of us. I didn’t get a chance to learn photography that time. I used to borrow my friends’ point-and-shoot camera and tried shooting with it. It all started when my wife gave me a GoPro Camera as a gift. I used it for a year and decided to sell it in order to buy a second hand DSLR from the store. So, my first owned camera was a second hand Nikon D90 with 18-140mm lens. Luckily, the guy that I have sold the GoPro is a member of “Cameraderie Photography International Group” headed by the CEO/Founder Mr. Gerico Canlapan. and they conducted the “29th Batch of Photography Seminar”. I have enrolled and attended the seminar. from that day onwards, I have fully understood the basic fundamentals of photography which every photographer must know and how to use my camera in full auto and manual, forgetting the automatic function of it. After that, I have decided to upgrade for a new camera and so I put my D90 as a prize in a lottery (easiest way to sell a gadget). I bought a Brand new Nikon D7100 and a Sigma 17-50mm lens separately from e-bay. I then have started to get paid on shoots. My first ever paid shoot was a Filipino Wedding with a former partner. I was a little bit nervous but the shoot came out well and the client was satisfied. In the middle of doing photography, I was having trouble with my wife, especially when we’re shooting female models most of the time. We argued a lot when I was asking permission to go for a photo shoot. Yet, I still go whenever we had a fight. My wife then decided to come and stay with me in Saudi Arabia. She took a job and by God’s will she is now living with me. She also decided to learn photography just to support my hobby. I took a loan to buy a car and I used the half of it to upgrade my camera again into a more professional level Nikon D750 Full Frame camera with a Tamron 24-70mm G2 lens. I separately bought those online in Dubai but of course with my wife’s consent and permission. Now, I have already recovered all my camera expenses on my paid shoots and still earning on it. I am really blessed to have a wife like mine. She is really supportive when it comes to my photography. She gave me an expensive lens on my birthday (Tamron 70-200 G2 worth 4,995 SAR) and a lot more. While attending some of the funshoots in Saudi Arabia. I got the chance to meet Nhorms Cunanan, President of RCA (Riyadh Creative Artists) and decided to joined them. Now, I am one of the Officers (VP Technical) on this group. I am still learning and gaining more experience by being a Paid /Hobbyist Photographer. I am hoping to be successful someday, by GOD’s Grace.