We were lucky to catch up with GEORGINA MONTOYA recently and have shared our conversation below.

GEORGINA, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

People often search for new opportunities, for a better life, and growth. That was the case with my parents when they had to make a hard decision that would change our lives. My dad got a job offer in the auto industry in Michigan. Of course, it was an opportunity that my dad could not pass, so we all moved from Chihuahua Mexico (where we are originally from) to Michigan back in 2000.

At the age of 12 my life changed forever. Being a teenager, I remember feeling helpless and confused. I did not want to leave my LIFE in Mexico.
Our lives were composed of new beginnings, new house, new city, new language, new people, new everything. I remember getting out of that plane with my legs shaking with nervousness and excitement aware that my life was about to make a drastic turn.

When I moved to the states, it was not an easy journey. I had a hard time adapting pretty much to a “whole new world”.

Of all the challenges I faced growing up, I think one of the biggest was feeling “left out”. You kind of lose your sense of identity because I was “unique” in both countries. However, my brothers and I were raised to embrace and feel proud our culture, roots, traditions, and language.

My parents frequently would look for experiences and opportunities that reminded us of where we came from, but most importantly that reminded us of our values. They also always let us know that being authentic and different was a good thing and even being bilingual would open a lot of doors in the future.
I grew up watching my parents being successful in everything they did…and still do. And that has been a motivation up until this day for me to overcome those challenges and fears that I may feel when I want to try something “new”, and it has made me realize that you can do anything that you put your mind to.

Thinking about those memories when I moved to the U.S. I created GINATAKESDETROIT. I wanted to connect with people through my photography knowing that there are others that could relate with me so I created this blog with the hope of bringing them some joy into any challenges they might be facing. As a Mexican in Detroit, I am humbled and honored to represent a big community and my purpose if to uplift other minorities groups not only in Michigan but in the U.S and I also want to let them know that they can shape “this new world” and make it their own.

So, what did my parents do right?… They taught me to overcome trials and seek to learn from them. Gracias Mamá y Papá

GEORGINA, 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?

My name is Georgina Montoya but everyone calls me Gina. I am originally from Chihuahua, Mexico.
In 2018, I found myself a new passion in photography and I started snapping and documenting the beauty of the city of Detroit and that is when I came up with the idea to create a Detroit-based photography and video blog called GINATAKESDETROIT on Instagram and Facebook.

I created this blog with the purpose of showing what a great city Detroit and the state of Michigan are to live in. I also wanted to connect with others that might relate with my story moving to a new country.

This blog has given me the opportunity to share my experiences living in Michigan as well as expressing myself and it also provides my audience the opportunity to discover new things about the city with me .
This whole experience has rewarded me with a sponsorship by Facebook and collaborations with Pure Michigan, BCBSMichigan, Rocket Companies, and other local businesses.

Detroit had made a HUGE positive transformation in the last decade, and it is a city full of potential and I wanted to share that with everybody. I am proud of being part of the development and growth of Detroit.

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

To me, one the most biggest rewards of being a photographer is the chance to capture a unique moment or a place. Whether snapping a beautiful landmark, a person, or event, photographers get to experience the pleasure of being part of a meaningful moment. They also create a long-lasting reminder of that moment , which holds personal or historical significance for their audience.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Putting your name out on social media is not easy. You have to be very aware that just like you, there are others creating amazing things as well. One of the best advices I received when I created my blog ,was to be authentic and consistent. I had to learn what was going to define me as an individual and the message I wanted to portray. Getting to know your audience is very important. Define well your target audience and create content that you and them will enjoy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginatakesdetroit/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginatakesdetroit

Image Credits
GinaTakesDetroit
Logo credit: Juan Pablo Vázquez.