What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
My most recent planned work consisted of birthday photoshoots. It had been a while since I last worked on portraits, and it felt rewarding to return to them. I did one outdoor session and two at home. In one of them, I used several Polaroids and was surprised by the results; I definitely want to repeat the experience soon.
Aside from that, I almost always take photos of the places I visit and want to remember. I share them because I want others to see them through my eyes.
What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on them?
Rather than learning something new, I realized that good communication is essential for helping someone with little experience in front of the camera feel relaxed. I also discovered how useful it is to have references and to share progress along the way. I hadn’t created a moodboard in a long time, and it turned out to be a very enriching process.
What words, ideas or emotions were going through your head?
In the last session, even though it was for a friend, I felt a certain pressure. It was the first time she had ever done a birthday photoshoot, and I wanted to give her a special experience.
Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
Yes. While I was looking for references and putting together the moodboard, I listened to Little Jesus. Their music takes me back to 2020, when I started using a point-and-shoot camera, and remembering that feeling always lifts my spirit.
In another photoshoot, I was asked to put on Tame Impala’s live performance, another one of my favorite artists.
What's been the most difficult thing you've faced recently in your creative process?
I would say insecurity: that feeling of not being good enough, or of consuming more than you create. On platforms like TikTok or YouTube, there are so many creative people that comparison feels inevitable, and sometimes that can be discouraging.
What is your favorite restaurant and what do you recommend we order?
I don’t have a particular favorite, but the last place I visited was Il Diavolo. I tried the lasagna and the pizza with wine, and I loved them. Another spot I go to often is Los Aguachiles del Norte. I’d definitely recommend trying the aguachile there.
If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?
The title would be Nothing like living (like the song by Nek). This month, I decided to take a few risks and live in the moment. Some decisions may not have been the best, but I don’t regret them.
The soundtrack would be by Nek or Little Jesus; their songs always convey joy.
Recommend one or more artists you follow who inspire you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
I consume a lot of content on YouTube, and two creators stand out to me:
Vince Perry Jr. I like the way he plans and shares the process behind a shoot. His videos tend to be long but they’re always worth watching. Sometimes he talks about the tools he’ll use, and other times about the collaborators he’ll work with (the brand, makeup artist, model, and so on).
Jonny Flynn (Radical Eye Magazine). His videos are short and straightforward. From the start, he explains what he plans to do and the gear he’ll use, and then he simply starts shooting. It feels like going out to take photos with him.
Among people I know personally, I’m inspired by Fernanda Ceballos, a friend I met in 2018 or 2019. She is a teacher and also works as an assistant director. During her time in Mexico, I learned a lot from her, and her way of seeing the world and other people has always inspired me. Her work is very pleasant to look at; she even shared a class she taught with me, and I was genuinely surprised. I still keep that video.
