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

Ariana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. So, we’d appreciate if you could open up about your growth story and the nitty, gritty details that went into scaling up.

If someone told me 5 years ago I’d be where I am today with my photography work, I would absolutely not have believed them. After I moved back to the United States from living abroad for several years, I grabbed my camera as a hobby. My first ‘real’ project was a wedding. I look back now and think of the many different ways I could have done that project better because I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my work. But I also acknowledge that this realization is a demonstration of how far I’ve come. And so where I was once capturing a wedding, not really knowing what I was doing, I can proudly say that the growth over the last couple of years has landed me opportunities where my photography – capturing the President and First Lady of the United States – has been used in major network channels like CNN and CBS News.

What once was my hobby has now turned into a passion that besides bringing me big projects, it has opened doors and connected me with other photographers I greatly admire. I went from capturing images of sunrises to hanging from a helicopter with no doors over NYC. It’s been the beginning of the coolest ride I have yet done.

Ariana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a photographer working on creative projects to capture the stories I often am unable to tell with words. I started as a video journalist in London, writing about local stories and capturing the vibrant life in the streets of the city. Slowly, without intentionally planning it, I switched from video to photography. I loved video – and still do – but there is something about photography that is deeper. It’s a different type of connection with the people I capture, the stories I tell and the creative projects I take on.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is having an outlet for expression and doing so the way I want to, without anyone telling me what to do, what to say or how to do something. It’s liberating, it’s grounding and it’s overwhelming at times – all at once. I’ve taken so many shots that I want to share with the world. Sometimes I’m so excited I can’t wait to share it because a specific image brings me so much happiness or I feel really good about it. Other times, doubt kicks in and I go back and tweak an image over and over until it feels right. But I make the decision of how, when and where I share this, if I end up sharing it. It certainly can be a juxtaposition of emotions, but ultimately it’s having the autonomy of expressing the way that feels right to me.

It’s also incredibly rewarding when others connect with my work or I connect with theirs. I’ve developed great friendships with other artists who work in a similar space and these connections have turned into learning opportunities and inspiration.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

We all have different hobbies, different passions that bring us joy. Mine just happens to be photography and creating. When I’m out and about with my camera, I feel inspired and excited. It’s an opportunity for me to look at something or someone through a new perspective, even if I might have seen this element on many other occasions, and transmit a feeling. What drives me is my genuine love for this craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.perezariana.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perezarianapix/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perezariana/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/arianajourn

Image Credits
Photo of Ariana by Dave Lebow.