What was your first introduction to
photography?
When I was very little my mom and
dad used to let my sister and I play with this instant Polaroid camera we had,
like the big chunky ones that printed the big square pictures, and I absolutely
loved that.
Who are some of your biggest
influences?
If I’m being completely honest,
nobody. I know that sounds bad, especially as a creative, but I try to keep
myself away from anything or anyone who could influence or inspire my work
because it’s so easy to copy nowadays with all the resources that us
photographers have, even if it’s not on purpose.
Were you formally educated in
photography or are you self-taught?
I’m self-taught, and I take a lot
of pride in that. It’s so easy to feel ashamed or embarrassed in my field for
not attending a proper class or school to learn photography. I remember the
first thing I taught myself was how to use Photoshop in middle school, and this
was way before I started shooting. I used to love editing images and videos,
and since then I’ve had a hands-on approach to learning. If I’m really confused
about something I’ll turn to YouTube or Google. I will say, it has been
difficult lacking certain technical knowledge, but regardless, my work always
turns out amazing!
My grandfather gave me a book by
Don D. Nibbelik titled Picturing People from the 70s. I’d always admired the
cover from his office shelf, but I never dared to touch any of his belongings
because I knew how long he’d had them for and how much care he took of them.
One day, while I was living in Puerto Rico with him after graduating high
school, he handed it to me and I finished it the same day. It is the first and
last photography book I have ever read.
What has been the proudest moment
of your career so far?
This question made me a bit sad
because I can’t remember. Sometimes I struggle with my memory, which is a part
of why I love capturing things so much. I guess every moment when my images
have been published or when I shoot for brands I’ve admired since before I
stepped in to the world of fashion and beauty!
What photo are you currently most proud of?
My greatest joy and biggest pain in
the ass will be that shot I took of my sister in the infamous red sweater.
Everything about that photo was a mistake, but it was for my first
international client, and that image is what launched my sister’s career.
How would you describe your photographic style?
I honestly don’t know… There’s no
doubt that my work is colorful though! I’d like to think that my work looks
retro and invokes some type of nostalgia without the need of crazy props or
accessories, but maybe that’s just how I see it.
What narratives are you trying to
convey in your photographs?
I shoot most of my personal work
without the intention of creating a narrative or story. When I’m shooting an
editorial there is always a narrative, but the story somehow tells itself in
the images without having to force it during the process of shooting itself.
What motivates you to continue
taking pictures?
I’m not going to lie, there are
times like right now where I don’t want to continue, but that has more to do
with how clients and industry figures make you feel. I have to constantly
remind myself that this is what I signed up for and that this path isn’t always
going to be sunshine and rainbows. With that being said, being able to
translate my visions into real life bodies of work that will live beyond me
beats any negative feeling I could ever experience.
You originally come from a Puerto
Rican background. How do you think that diversity of experience has inspired
your vision?
My response to this question is so
long, so I’ll keep it simple for the sake of the reader, haha... Aside from how
my family raised me and being around their influences, Puerto Rico has such a
colorful culture, and I think that’s where my love for being keen on color
detail came from.
It’s difficult for
creatives residing in places outside of cities like L.A. or New York to attain
as much popularity due to them not being able to take advantage of as many
opportunities. How do you as a creative based in Virginia manage to overcome
these challenges?
The hardest part of being in this
industry is knowing how to play the social media game, but it’s equally as
important to translate those relationships you build online into real life, and
I’ve got both of those techniques down. If there’s anything I’ve learned from
other peoples mistakes it’s that you have to get with the times or get left
behind, especially if you’re not in the middle of the chaos in cities like LA
or NYC, and social media is the most important tool someone like me could use
right now.
