Nicaragua, earthquake and a whole world waiting for this terrific photographer!

I was born February 21 1973 in Hinotepe, Nicaragua during an earthquake. I had held back a week and decided that this was the time for me to come out. I came to the States in 1979 when the Sandinistas over threw president Somosa, and were looking for and executing the families of Somosa’s army. We were in hiding for a while but managed to get out because of my mother and her family’s money and influence. I lived the majority of my life in Miami and currently live in Hollywood, Florida. I studied at New World School of the Arts and was the first, if not the only, double major for both visual arts and theater. I am extremely passionate about both art fields and could never decide between them. They are both a part of me. I was involved with a theater group for a few years and after a falling out needed another outlet for my creativity. My boyfriend Jorge Freire had always been passionate about photography and had always tried to push me into getting involved.

This seemed like a perfect moment for me to pick up the camera and see what I could do. It was an amazing experience. My first shoot was a big production and my boyfriend worried that I was undertaking more that I could handle, but I am proud to say that it still remains as one of my favorite shoots that I have done. With photography, I found that I could combine all of my passions; art, literature, and theater. I started out on my own as Cruz Photography but then joined with Jorge Freire to create Photo Studio Miami. Photography has given me a voice, a creative outlet, and has allowed me to meet some of the most genuine and incredible people out there. I have been blessed. I am conscience not to fall into any category or style as I want to try them all and add my own special twist. I am inspired by the great Bruce Weber, Richard Avedon, David Vance, David La Chapelle, Pierre et Gilles and Justin Monroe to name a few.

The digital era really helped the photographers?

I have had this conversation with several photographers and I think as photographers we are all spoiled with today’s technology. With all the editing that is done, where is the line between photographer and graphic artist drawn? The digital era allows us to produce more elaborate images. It allows us to manipulate any aspect of the photograph to turn it into something totally different. We can get more creative with the editing. Before the digital era there was more concern for background, makeup, costume, lighting, and other miniscule details that today we take for granted. It is all a matter of preference though, but before all the “magic” happened in the lens and not in a computer.

The World economic crisis and the fashion photography

I am not going to lie and say that we have not been affected by the economic crisis. We had to let go our first studio for something more economical. We were lucky that we did not sacrifice in space and the location was actually closer to our home. I think like everything else, we are slowly starting to climb back up. Everything takes time and if it’s worth it then it’s worth working towards and waiting for. We are very good about working with the model(s) and giving them high quality images and working with them on pricing.

The special moments, the perfect pictures, trusting relationships and funny backstages!

There has to be trust between the photographer and his model or models. That is the most important thing. When you get a model you are comfortable with and you sit down and come up with concepts and shoot it. Both photographer and model working towards the same goal, that’s an incredible feeling and in my case photographer, makeup artist, stylist, and model, I told you I like big productions. LOL

Recently, in the North Carolina shoot, we used 14 Ft Boa Constrictors and one of the male models was extremely “uneasy” about snakes. It was a process to get him to just pet the snake not to mentioned hold all 40lbs of it on his body and let it do its thing. Once he was comfortable we started shooting and the snake peed all over him. I guess it sensed his nervousness or something. We exchanged the snake for another but he was not comfortable with a snake he had not handled but the other was still peeing, so we got yet another snake and told him it was the original and continued with our shoot. It was crazy!

Top 5 cool places for a shooting

1. The Studio: It’s a blank canvas from where you can create anything imaginable. You have complete control over lighting and its usually one on one with your model. Very intimate form of photography

2. The Mountains: Loved the scenery it provides, lighting is challenging but once everything clicks together its magic

3. The Beach: Love the scenery. The sand and the ocean always provides a perfect setting

4. Warehouses: Love the industrial look

5. Underwater: Very challenging but you get some amazing images from that.

IMAGE worth A THOUSAND WORDS?

I strongly believe that your final image is composed of many facets: planning, message, teamwork, mood, alliance, trust, creativity and much more. For every photo there is, there lies several stories of how it came to be. The photo itself has many different interpretations depending on the viewer. So I would agree that one image is worth a thousand words if not more

The Projects and a cool partnership

I just recently came back from North Carolina and worked with couture designer Luis Machicao. I was priveledged to have shot his collection. The models in North Carolina have nothing to envy from the models here in Miami. They were all beautiful, amazing, and more importantly not jaded. Unfortunately, in Miami there are alot of models that have been taken advantage of. I have heard horror stories about this and the other. It is the photographers responsibility to be straight forward with the model, act professionally, treat them with respect, and give them their photos, especially if they are doing this in exchange of said photos. I’m so proud that both my boyfriend and I and Photo Studio Miami are known for treating their models professionally and with respect. All the models that have passed through our lenses have all said that they have had an incredible experience, that they feel spoiled by us by the amount of photos we give them and have remained close friends of ours in one way or another.

I’ve had a few models thank me because through my images they were able to get booked or achieve something major and that always makes my day. I have not had any prima-donnas as models. They have all been amazing and are incredible people inside and out and I am glad to call them friends. If I could help them achieve something important to them, then I’ve done my job and I am happy. I have many projects coming up with other designers such as Tomburst, Azucar, Rockstar Swimwear, and more Luis Machicao. I have been blessed with all these incredible people in my life, my boyfriend and partner Jorge Freire, my family. I am so happy to have them all in my life.

I have only been doing photography for 2 years and already have been interviewed twice; first by David Watters for his NEVER BLEND IN project and now you, World of Models. It means so much to me that my work is getting noticed and inspiring other people. I have been published in Hot Spots, Whats Happening Magazine, Pier Magazine in Italy, Beautiful Magazine, Tequila Magazine, DNA, and coming up ReFresh Magazine. This is amazing! For both myself, my models, and the designers I work with. Hopefully all of our successes will continue to grow.

Motto: "It’s not what you see that matters – but how you see it".

Info contact
Photo Studio Miami

http://photostudiomiami.com