Elisa Lopez
Q What do you do?
“As a photographer, I specialize in visual storytelling with a focus on fashion and beauty. I love working on personal narratives and using photography as a medium to share documentary-style photographs. This includes environmental portraits, editorials, and more.”
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
My journey as a photographer began with a deep passion for visual storytelling and fashion, influenced by the vibrant culture and diverse stories of my upbringing. I pursued this passion academically at NYU, where I gained a solid technical foundation and an understanding of visual arts. During my studies, I honed my skills in visual storytelling and fashion photography through personal projects, internships, and freelance work, building a strong portfolio and gaining real-world experience.
Networking with other photographers, models, and industry professionals opened doors to valuable collaborations and job opportunities. Finding my niche in fashion photography and documentary-style images allowed me to attract clients and stand out in the industry. Continuous learning and staying updated with the latest trends and techniques have been key to my growth. By actively sharing my work on social media and other platforms, I have built a personal brand and reached a wider audience, shaping my career and allowing me to do what I love today.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I stand out in my field as a Latina woman with a unique perspective and a deep connection to my heritage, which influences my work and storytelling. My warm and calming personality helps put clients and subjects at ease, creating a comfortable environment that fosters authentic and captivating images. Professionalism is a cornerstone of my practice; I pride myself on delivering high-quality work with a quick turnaround, ensuring client satisfaction and building strong, lasting relationships.
In addition to these qualities, my background in visual storytelling and fashion photography allows me to blend creativity with technical expertise, producing compelling and stylish images. My ability to capture personal narratives and documentary-style photographs adds depth and authenticity to my portfolio, setting me apart in the competitive world of photography. By consistently learning and adapting to new trends and techniques, I continue to evolve and innovate, maintaining a fresh and distinctive approach in my field.
Q What are you working on right now?
Right now, I am working on two different personal projects, one based in Miami, the other in New York. Aside from that, I am working closely with my good friend and collaborator Yasmine, the owner of Daisy Lane World, which is a Brooklyn based clothing line focusing on crochet one of one pieces.
Q What’s your style?
I think I definitely gravitate towards images that are beautifully composed, have great image quality, are of interesting subjects and angles, a little seductive to the eye. I love playing around with colors and color theory is really important in my work.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I wish I could focus more on travel photography.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
It is so hard to get noticed as a photographer. There are so many talented individuals out there that it can be hard to keep yourself motivated and disciplined enough to keep putting work out there in the hopes that people will start hiring you for jobs.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Definitely help me organize my hard drives and film negatives!
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I wish I had started my career as a photographer while I was at college rather than after. I think it took me a while to understand or realize that just because I was a student didn't mean that I wasn't able to start my professional life as a photographer.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I would definitely ask how to reach out to different producers, magazines or publications, and the in's and out's of networking as a photographer. I would also ask how to stay inspired as a photographer and avoid burnout.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Editorial photography projects, Fashion photography projects, Interior Design photography, Architecture photography and travel photography.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
An ideal client would be to shoot for RollingStone, Interview Magazine, Vogue, GQ, Architectural Digest, among others.
Q: What is your rate?
A typical rate for my services would be around $500 for a half day of shooting and $1000 for a full day of shooting. Of course this also depends on the deliverables, nature of the shoot, who the client is and their budget.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
You can reach out to me via email at: elisalopezz@icloud.com
Q Who is a creative you admire?
My bestie Doanya Gholami! She is a designer based in Vancouver, Canada. She is one of the most hard working women I have ever met and has a big heart and passion for what she does. She just launched the first collection of her brand and I know she is going to be wildly successful.
IG: @_doanya @bydoanya Website: www.doanya.ca
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Finding stories everywhere, camera in hand.
This member profile was originally published in July 2024.