Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Padilla.

Isabel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Cameras were somehow always in the picture for me, back in Spain, my grandfather was always a fan of taking all the family and non-family pictures, he loved talking about lenses and glass. I didn’t know much about it but the words Zeiss and Leica weren’t unfamiliar to me.

As I grew up, I always observed, everyone would tell me how open my big eyes were to my surroundings.

I decided to consciously take this into my own hands when I first had a phone with an OK camera. I mostly would take architectural and symmetrical photos, just training my eyes without really knowing. Thanks to social media, I started receiving validation, and through that validation I realized that I could take this more seriously.

I always grew up being a bit introverted, but I loved being outside – and photography was the tool to take me out and observe everything around me behind the comfort of my camera. Little by little, it also took me out of my shell, I started taking portraits and learned how to talk and direct strangers.

After that, the rest was history, photography took me very naturally to cinematography. Contests would work and I would start having exhibitions. I decided to extend my education and due to that I lived in Seoul and now in NYC. Now I work full-time as a cinematographer and photographer, meet new people every week, and continue to grow day by day.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Yes and no!

When starting out you’re always so excited and for everything there seems to be some type of solution! There are also steps that help guide you and that gives you a lot of clarity.

Once you’re older, as I am now, the steps are blurry and discipline comes in. The instability of this job is a con but also managing your own time can be wonderful. As long as you learn discipline and have your goals somehow clear, life will go on.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

My career is as a cinematographer and photographer! However, I started off writing, which then developed into visual writing. I love imagining non-stop and making these little visions into images. I have a special love for dream-like dark scenery, that being streets or nature. I love to see little subjects in overwhelming landscapes and challenge the eye to look into small pockets of light. I also love mixed media and the infinite opportunities technology can give you, both in a computer and in real life.

I’d say I’m known for my nocturnal settings, but if we are talking about a specific piece, my most famous piece to date would be the music video for the song Tancevat by Molchat Doma, which is now over 2M views. It blew up in the pandemic due to TikTok and it was really helpful for my career – which is crazy considering I was still a student when I made it! I not only shot it but directed, edited, produced…

I’m most proud of my exhibited work, nothing is more fulfilling than an exhibition with your work, both with friends and strangers appreciating your work in person instead of through a screen. It’s a very wholesome experience.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’d say being forward about what I want and going for it has always been key. Not much will happen if you’re waiting for it to happen.

I also consider it extremely important to preserve work ethics and general life values all throughout your career, even if it slows you down. Many times I see gates that could be open in exchange of lowering my standards, my political views, and my self-respect at the end. If you do that, your quality of work will be lowered as well, because you no longer have your identity, your voice. If you feel tempted to do what you truly disagree with, then maybe you’re not there for the right reasons and you have to take a moment to think.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.isabel-padilla.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_isabelpadilla_/

Image Credits
Headshot: Jorge Igual 1: Cyrus Gainer photographed by me – for Ink Archives exhibition 2: Isabel Padilla. 3: Still from Little One – directed by Lindsey Carpenter. 4: Still from MV Apex-Duana 5&6: Isabel Padilla