Idaly Bustamante, Idaly Bustamante Photography

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

So nice to meet you too! My name is Idaly Bustamante. I'm originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, but I've called Cancún home for the past 16 years. I'm a destination photographer with 10 years of experience, specializing in beach sessions, weddings, and proposals here in the Riviera Maya. Photography found me somewhat unexpectedly — I actually have a background in business administration, and later trained at the Institut d'Estudis Fotogràfics de Catalunya in Barcelona before building my own business here on the coast.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

One thing I absolutely love about living here is the beach. I honestly couldn't imagine living somewhere without it — the beach is where I work, where I rest, where I exercise, where I unwind. It's everything to me, all in one place.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

My company is a destination photography business here in the Riviera Maya, where I specialize in beach sessions, weddings, and proposals — mostly for travelers who want their memories captured somewhere as beautiful as the moment itself, right on the sand with the ocean as the backdrop.

It started in a pretty unexpected way. I spent nine years building a career in business administration, but it wasn't making me happy — I'd drive home crying more often than not. Almost by accident, I bought a camera and started learning through YouTube tutorials, and something in me just clicked. I took my savings, moved to Barcelona to study photography properly, and spent a couple of years there shooting for travelers before eventually making my way back home — to Playa del Carmen, where I've been working professionally since 2020.

For my clients, that journey is exactly why I do what I do — I know what it's like to want something real, not just a "perfect" life on paper. I try to give them that same authenticity: genuine moments, not stiff, posed photos.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

Believe in yourself, and believe you're capable — even if you start out afraid. Fear is normal; it doesn't mean you're not ready. Learn as much as you can along the way, because that knowledge builds the confidence to do things better as you go. And remember, the worst that can happen is you end up right back where you started.

I'd also say: go to therapy, and work on your relationship with money. Those two things shape so much of whether you can actually sustain a business long-term.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

Out of the thousands of happy clients I've had, there's one story that stays with me the most. I had a client come in for a beach session with her mother, during what turned out to be their last trip together — her mother was battling terminal cancer. We created memories that are truly invaluable: her mother, beautifully dressed and made up, posing together on the sand, the two of them simply enjoying each other's company. It was an incredibly moving session, and a powerful reminder of why I love what I do — capturing moments that matter most, especially when time is precious.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I want to dream big. My goal is to become the go-to photographer for anyone looking to capture their moments here in Cancún — more weddings, more families, a larger team to support the growth. But no matter how big it gets, I want to keep shooting myself, because it's what gives me life. I truly love it.

I'll admit, I'm a romantic at heart — so who knows, maybe one day that means capturing weddings around the world too.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

I think there are two big misconceptions in this industry. The first is that people assume hiring a big photography company automatically means more professionalism than hiring an independent photographer. In my experience, it's often the opposite — as someone who built my own business, I'm deeply invested in the connection I build with each client, which is exactly what creates those candid, authentic moments people remember.

The second misconception is that price should be the deciding factor. Some people search for the cheapest option without considering the experience, the connection, or the quality behind it — and that's usually where the real value gets lost.

What has been one of your biggest struggle building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of the biggest struggles has been the sheer amount of competition in the area — so many photographers, many of whom already have established deals within the industry, like resort referrals and wedding preferred-vendor lists. Breaking into those circles is something I'm still actively working on.

On a more personal level, there was a period where I doubted whether this profession could actually give me the financial stability I wanted — that uncertainty that comes with being a freelancer. To deal with it, I focus on staying positive, trusting the process, and keeping myself grounded. I lean on exercise, podcasts, and being proactive about the actions I can actually control to keep my energy up.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

Growing up, my favorite athlete was Serena Williams — her story and everything she's achieved as a woman of color in a sport that hasn't always made space for that is truly inspiring.

As for music, if we're talking about being a little girl, it was all about Britney Spears and Destiny's Child, and a bit of Blink-182 too — that was the generation I grew up watching on MTV.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

If I can give a shoutout to anyone, it's my mom. She became a single mother at 17, and despite everything that must have been incredibly hard, she gave me all the love and support in the world. Everything I am today, I owe so much of it to her courage.