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

Lino, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I was born in Mexico and raised in Santa Ana, California. After graduating high school, I made one of the riskiest decisions of my life, I chose to return to Mexico in search of better opportunities. As someone who was undocumented in the United States, going back to “home” I barely remembered was terrifying. I didn’t know if I would ever be able to return to the U.S. leaving my family behind was really hard, and it eventually took me five long years to become a U.S. Resident.

Those five years in Mexico were incredibly tough. I had to adapt to a culture, language, and lifestyle that were foreign to me. I pursued several careers graphic design, journalism, and filmmaking but didn’t complete any formal degree. I worked selling auto parts to pay for my filmmaking studies and volunteered at radio concerts just to get close to the stage, camera in hand, hoping for a shot, literally and figuratively.

Everything changed during one of the lowest moments of my life. I met Juan Rivera, a Mexican-American singer from the legendary Rivera family. He believed in me instantly and hired me as his official photographer. Just months later, I found myself on tour with him and his sister, Jenni Rivera the most iconic voice in Regional Mexican music. One moment, I was sneaking into concerts trying to capture photos; the next day, I was on stage with one of the biggest stars in the industry.

Not long after, I received a letter from U.S. immigration: I had been approved for residency thanks to my father that became a US Citizen.. Juan invited me to live with him in Corona, California, and I returned to the U.S.—only to be met with a heartbreak. On December 9, 2012, Jenni Rivera tragically passed away in a plane crash.

Jenni gave me a chance when few would. In her honor, I carry her spirit with me, always striving to give others the same opportunities I was given. That one risk I took leaving everything behind with no guarantees changed my life in ways I never imagined.

To this day, I continue working in the music industry and remain close friends and collaborating with Juan Rivera on some projects. My journey is proof that even when you’re at your lowest, the right door can open and when it does, you better be willing to take the risk to walk through it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I got my start working for free on a local TV show in Morelia, Michoacán, just to get close to the stages. That was my first real step into the music industry. Back then, YouTube was just starting to blow up, and instead of going out or partying, I immersed myself in tutorials teaching myself everything I could about photography and visual arts. I became obsessed with learning how to bring stories to life through a lens.

Today, I help artists bring their vision to reality. I listen closely to their ideas and work side by side with them to create visuals that truly represent who they are. I especially love working with upcoming artists their raw energy, hunger, and drive to conquer the world inspires me every day and keeps my own passion alive.

More than anything, I want people to know me for my work ethic for being reliable, creative, and fully committed. I want artists to know they can count on me to help them get one step closer to their dreams.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist or creative is witnessing a simple idea something that came from deep within your soul take shape and come to life. Watching that vision evolve into something real, something others can see, feel, or connect with… it’s a feeling beyond words. It’s spiritual. It’s almost godly. Like you’re creating something out of nothing and that’s the kind of magic that keeps me going.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Society can support artists simply by listening, by truly taking the time to hear what the artist is trying to say. Not all of us communicate in conventional ways. Many artists struggle to express themselves through words, so we turn to our art to speak for us. Whether it’s through music, visuals, movement, or storytelling, art becomes our language. What we need most is patience, understanding, and the space to be heard through the creative forms that feel most natural to us.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: linoquintana

Image Credits

Lino Quintana