Perfect Exposures

Aaliyah Calderon, aGE 18

When I was ten, my mom gave me my first digital camera, and that changed everything. I began capturing my community and telling stories through light and emotion. Over time, I found a deeper connection through film photography. I was drawn to its slowness, its imperfections, and its ability to make each moment feel intentional and real. My work explores the beauty in everyday life, whether in a studio or surrounded by nature. I’m inspired by the way artists like The Impressionists found truth in fleeting moments, as the way we see things is affected by what we know. For me, photography is more than an image: it's a memory, a culture, and personal history. Through both digital and film mediums, I create work that honors the people, places, and feelings that shape who I am. My lens doesn’t just capture what I see, it tells the story of how I see it.

Andrea Curiel, aGE 17

My name is Andrea Curiel, I’m a 17-year-old photographer based in East Los Angeles. In the future, I want to work in journalism specializing in social justice or political science. A few of my interests include listening to music, reading, and showing my creativity in various ways like drawing, painting, and crocheting clothing pieces or fashion statements. I am engaged in meeting new people, especially when they have similar interests to mine. I draw inspiration from my communities and personal experiences, expressing my sentiments, and views.

Bella Gomez, aGE 17

Bella Gomez is a junior at John Marshall High school. Born and raised in Echo Park, she is the daughter of two Guatemalan immigrants. Bella’s experience and culture are a significant part of who she is and influence how she acts. She considers herself a natural leader especially in her artistic endeavors. Bella has a love for photography, which she uses to express and empower different cultures in her community by focusing on documenting underrepresented and misrepresented marginalized groups. Lately, Bella has been capturing the ongoing gentrification in her neighborhood, hoping to make a difference with her work and inspire others to do the same.

Emi Rodriguez, aGE 18

Located in Los Angeles, Emi is an 18-year-old photographer. She is one duck among 7 silly geese. The California sun, style, vibes, and smiles call to her. She follows the lights, cameras, action, and shadows in her photography, reflecting the atmosphere around her. Her growth will continue, capturing her adventures through her lens.

Emma Belen Gonzalez, aGE 18

Emma Gonzalez is a young photographer on a path to finding where she belongs. Gonzalez is making strides to focus on her style of photography while practicing with different lighting, various exposure levels, and portraiture. She started her photography journey her freshman year and is now a senior. Within this time her style of photography has evolved from self portraiture to landscapes to product photography and model photography. As she continues her education journey in college, Gonzalez aspires to study studio photography in the upcoming four years.

Jade Sanchez, aGE 17

Hi, my name is Jade, I’m 17 years old and a first-generation Chicanx. I was born and raised in Northeast Los Angeles in the neighborhood of Highland Park. Some things that I’m interested in right now include John Waters, Dead Calm, and Silence Of the Lambs. I’ve explored an abundance of art such as zine making, advertisements, and shoots involving models. This is my third semester at Las Fotos Project and this semester I’ve learned about issues in my neighborhood as well as how to direct models.

Meredith Flores, aGE 16

Meredith Flores is a girl that likes to capture interesting moments through the lens of a camera. Las Fotos Project has been a part of her life for three different semesters, each one guiding her towards a deeper level of understanding her environment and the skill of self-expression. She looks forward to documenting hers and others’ experiences, as times change.

Miranda Aquino, aGE 18

Miranda Aquino resides in Mid-City, Los Angeles, as a senior in high school. Her explorations in the arts led her to fall in love with photography, journalism, filmmaking, and dance. She learned to rely on elements of different areas of L.A., guided by her wondering persona. With the mediums she uses, along with her understanding of her community, Miranda plans to produce narratives on womanhood and the gift of Hispanic/Latinx culture. As her final year of adolescence comes to a close, she has been able to use photography to capture a theme she holds dear: youth. In her own style, she visually represents the nostalgia of being young, but also the bittersweet emotion of eventually getting older. With this mindset, she hopes to continue exploring through other art forms the multiple themes that shape her character.

Presley Mena, aGE 18

My name is Presley Marie Mena. I have always been passionate about art, particularly film and photography, but what intrigues me the most is directing. For me, directing is a way to express my likes and interests behind the scenes. Film and photography have positively impacted me and have allowed me to express myself. One of my goals is obtain a degree in cinema/film to pursue a career as a director. I also want to get better at concert photography and hopefully one day become a band’s personal photographer.

Samantha Flores Ramirez, aGE 16

My name is Samantha Ramirez. I am a 16 year-old immigrant artist and I have been with Las Fotos Project for three years. I was born and lived in Mexico for 7 years before my family moved to the U.S. to find a better future. Because we moved around a lot, I was always struggling with my identity. Las Fotos Project gave me an outlet to explore my identity. It introduced me to what art can be and how a single moment captured in time can tell any kind of story. Through my participation in LFP, I created work that I used for my application to Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where I currently attend. LFP taught me how to take photos from a creative, imaginative mindset and helped me share that message with the world.

Semmia (Mía Leonor Rovira), age 16

Semmia is a 16-year-old photographer whose work is deeply rooted in the cultural ties of her Zapotec heritage. Beginning her photography at age 11 with AMP Studios in Highland Park, she then pursued her passion with Las Fotos Project.

Semmia’s intention with photography is to highlight her underrepresented communities, capturing the essence of their abundance. She aims to tell a story of resilience, beauty, and pride through each photo.

Starla Mendoza, age 15

My name is Starla Mendoza. I am a 15-year-old photographer born, raised, and based in Los Angeles. With every photo I capture, I aim to express and showcase the creative outburst that happens in my mind. My family has always been very artistic—everyone having an interest in varying art forms. Photography has always felt like the perfect outlet, affording me the opportunity to share my views of the world. I enjoy being able to control all factors in the creative process to create a world of my own.

Uzuri Ray, aGE 17

Uzuri Ray is a 17-year-old Mexican-American photographer based in Boyle Heights. She is currently a senior in high school and is planning to start at Dartmouth College in the fall. She began to explore photography in ninth grade when her mom first enrolled her in Las Fotos Project and she has since taken every class offered. Her photography is rooted in showing the joy in her life through color. By taking photos of the joyous moments she shares with her family and friends, Uzuri aims to capture special memories made unforgettable through her documentation. Uzuri embraces in-the-moment lifestyle photography. She feels that the photojournalistic genre allows her to immerse herself in the action of life in real-time and truly capture the emotions and relationships of each fleeting moment, frozen in time.