We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julissa Benitez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Julissa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

I have always believed in the idea that how we are remembered in this life is the light that we shared with others. So being a light to others is something I have always tried to do whether it be through my sense of humor, kindness, or service. In 2022, I was going through a lot of adversity in both my personal life and my career so I was not sure what the next steps would be. I was facing a darkness that pushed me to lean towards an art form such as photography. With leaning towards that art form I realized photography became my light that gave me strength through tough times. Photography has helped me see things clearer even in dark spaces. So my hope is that Light Strong Media can provide light to others as well no matter the darkness they may face.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up always being fascinated by the impact we make in this world when we release art that is authentic and vulnerable. Ever since I had published “The Art of Becoming” poetry book in 2018 I knew I wanted to continue making art that is meaningful and could possibly relate to others. What I find humorous about my journey into photography is that on my honeymoon in 2021 I had a disposable camera and I was taking a photo of a bird and suddenly the camera stopped working and I was unable to photograph that bird flying away. After that trip I purchased a professional camera because I knew I never wanted to miss a moment like that again. For a while, I was just taking photos of nature not thinking of the impact my photography can make one day. In November 2022, I created Light Strong Media and registered my photography business in the State of Florida shortly after. Light Strong Media offers different photoshoot packages and specific details/pricing can be found on lightstrongmedia.myportfolio.com.
I enjoy having fun during photoshoots with clients so I love saying that it’s just me and the client hanging out while I press a button. Although, I know I do much more than that I tend to lead with a humble sense of humor to make the client feel comfortable. What makes me most proud of the work I am doing with Light Strong Media is that I will continue to improve my photography every single day and I am excited for what the future holds.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I have two business partners- my wife Erica and my bestfriend Karla. I met my wife in a theater class in college and she has been my biggest supporter ever since. She comes to mostly every photoshoot of mine and creates reels for me to be able to post of social media. I met Karla in my junior year of High School in a TV Production fieldtrip because her dream was to be a journalist and my dream was to be a film editor. Although, Karla & I’s dreams and paths have changed we still have continued to support eachother. It may seem simple but Karla designed a Camera strap that says Light Strong Media for me to have something that represents my brand whenever I am working with clients. This present meant alot to me because it’s a tangible object that shows her ongoing support for the art I create.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to make art I am proud of and my mission is to make a positive impact on others through the art I create.

Contact Info:

• Website: lightstrongmedia.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/lightstrongmedia
• Facebook: Light Strong Media

Image Credits
©Light Strong Media