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

Rebecca, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of the most meaningful projects I have ever worked on was the curation of an all femme art exhibit, “Somos Mujeres”, which translates to “We Are Women”.

In October 2021 I organized my first ever solo exhibit but during the process of putting together my own show I began to identify a large gap in the art community for female artists. I was quick to realize that I didn’t have many people, especially photographers, in my city who I could go to for guidance and support, especially when it came to quality printing and framing. I often found myself asking male artists whose mediums were painting so they didn’t require the same type of material and supplies I did.  While I began brainstorming concepts for my exhibit I knew I wanted a meaningful theme everyone could relate to. This led me down a spiral of Frida Khalo’s work which helped me realize how advanced she was for her time period, not only as an artist but as a woman. I began exploring the idea of what a “modern woman” meant to me. But I was quick to recognize that my definition of a modern woman may not be the same for other women, this concept varied for everyone else too. Eventually, this led to the the theme for what would be the first ever, “Somos Mujeres Exhibit” which allowed anyone who identified as a femme artist to submit artwork that showcased their definition of a woman. Any and all mediums were accepted, nearly 30 artists participated in a 2 day event. Accompanying these artists were also five femme djs who each shared their eccentric sound on opening night. I also had a total of 25 women owned businesses vending throughout both nights of the exhibit ranging in handcrafted products and artwork. This specially curated exhibit was one of the first of its kind in our city; for many of the participating artists this was their first time showcasing their work in a public space.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Of course! I’m a local photographer from El Paso, TX. with a background in marketing and a master’s in business management. I have considered myself a “professional photographer” for about 9 years now. I have always enjoyed photographing people since a young age. I have fond memories of my mom buying my disposable cameras to photograph our family. In middle school I was hand selected by my speech teacher to join her yearbook class which consisted of only 10 students. This is where I further developed my passion for documenting people and events. During my freshmen high school orientation I noticed a guy walking around with a DSLR camera and the biggest lens I had ever seen in my life! I gathered up the courage to go up to him and ask how I could get my hands on a camera like that too. To which he responded, “Join yearbook sixth period!” and I did just that by the end of my orientation.

I was the only freshmen photographer in a group of about 8 seniors, which led to me covering a majority of events on and off campus because they were a bit preoccupied with senior responsibilities. By my junior year I was named the new chief photographer and was responsible for my own group of photographers. Photography gave me the opportunity to meet and interact with many of my peers, especially the upperclassmen who began hiring me to photograph their senior milestones such as prom and graduation. Little did I know at that time that this was only the beginning of my freelance career for years to come.

Attending a school where many of my classmates faced economic hardship, like myself, I understood the value behind the photos I was capturing for them. I have made it my lifelong mission to offer quality images without compromising my client’s pocket. I enjoy connecting with people, highlighting their individual personality and their story. I like to believe that my passion and appreciation for my subjects are reflected through the photos I create of them. I pride myself in being genuine and dedicated to all I do, both in my personal and professional life.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I would say being my authentic self has allowed me to build sincere relationships with my clients. I like to go above and beyond for my clients because they are often people who are near and dear to me. I try my best to create a fun and comfortable experience for each and every single one of my clients. Being truly interested and invested in my clients allows me to better capture who they are. Honesty and good communication help set real expectations based on my experience and work style. This also allows me to find the right clients for me as well, those who will trust my creative vision for their session.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish there were more courses and resources surrounding financing literacy for creatives who would like to turn their hobby into a profitable career. Although I am a business major, I still struggle with pricing my work, services and managing my finances in a professional manner.  I’ve had to learn that my pricing and packaging is unique to my skill set and the experience only I can offer my clients. The right clients will find me and will not mind the price I set for my services. I think many creatives often struggle understanding how to manage the business side of what we do and grow into where we want to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rebeccamorenophotography.pic-time.com/client
• Instagram: _rebeccamoreno
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaMorenoPhotography/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-moreno-9654b3205

Image Credits
Headshot by Maribel Silva, all other images were taken by me, Rebecca Moreno.