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

Arianna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

Well, the first time I had a camera in my hands feel like: Can I take pictures and see after? It was a surprise to me because I had 6 years old and my cousin Maria Elena was the guilty (in the good words) because she let me used her cameras for the long of my life and since the beggining feelt a good vibe.

I thought about dedicating myself to this thanks to the sudden migration that I had in 2016. That year I left my university career, my family and some friends to start from scratch here in Jacksonville, a city from which I have not moved since then. It has been an up and down of emotions, of experiences, arriving at a new place where they do not speak your language, where they do not have your customs, it is a new door that opens if you are willing to take advantage of what it offers you.

Arianna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

It’s funny but I’m still trying to enter “the industry” I think it’s a daily job, of perseverance, of having very well planned goals but with the full certainty that the path can show you different places to look.

If I had to describe to you how it all started, it would be very easy: I worked in a well-known hotel in Dowtown where I had views of the river, then I worked in another where I had views of the city at night, two incredible angles that gave me many opportunities to photograph sunsets and events that took place in the city. Suddenly everything changed in my life and I moved to another flow trying to find out what I liked more, I started taking portraits of some friends (for free) and I was taking into account how I felt when I did them, now i dedicated myself to go out from time to time to fly my drone and take photos of the city, I like it how i feel.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Feel proud, full and satisfied with the work that is presented both on social networks (which are an excellent dissemination platform) and privately with your clients.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Sometimes it is thought that taking a photo is the simplest thing in the world and indeed, it is, now you need to have an intention for that moment to last in an unrepeatable way in your memory and in a tangible way. Not all photographers have the same vision, we do not work in the same way, each one acquires knowledge and experiences from opposite and incredible points that there will never be a way to find similarities in their work beyond certain colors or generic presets that are found in one click to buy I think you have to believe in the photographer, you have to believe in his determination, but above all you have to have fun.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://vsco.co/artedeleon
• Instagram: @artedleon

Image Credits
All pictures by Arianna Leonarte.