PHOTO CONFESSIONAL: Celia D Luna
IF YOU WEREn’T A PHOTOGRAPHER, WHAT OTHER PROFESSION WOULD YOU PICK?
I would be a healer or a singer in a psychedelic cumbia band. Maybe a Sha(wo)man who puts together beautiful healing experiences by day and a singer with the best outfits by night.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CRUCIAL DECISION YOU HAVE MADE IN YOUR CAREER’s DEVELOPMENT?
To stay true to my creative vision because it often brings positive ripples: sweet surprises, connections, and abundance.
AT WHAT POINT DID YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A PHOTOGRAPHER ? WHAT MADE YOU FEEL THAT WAY?
When a friend wanted to pay me to take photos of her, I felt legit! The photos were not great, but she loved them. That was the beginning of my quest to find my style so I could be happy with my photos, too.
HOW IMPORTANT IS RESEARCH IN YOUR WORK?
Most of my personal projects are inside jobs, meaning that my research requires me to go deep into a feeling and create from that emotion. I had to put to sleep the current project I’ve been working on for about a year because I needed a break from those feelings. So, sometimes, it’s not easy, and it requires time. I’m excited to go back to it and finish it now.
IS THERE A PHOTOGRAPHER/ARTIST WHO IS A CONSTANT REFERENCE FOR YOU?
Tim Walker made me believe I could create magical photos, and I appreciate him for that.
WHAT WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO PHOTOGRAPH?
Whatever is in front of me and is hotter than 95 degrees Fahrenheit. I blame shooting too many times during Miami's brutal summers.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE, AND WHAT IMPORTANCE DO YOU GIVE TO TECHNIQUE?
I use a Canon EOS R5 paired with my two favorite lenses: 50mm & 24mm. Technique alone is boring, but I love it when I mix technique with emotion.
WHAT IS THE STARTING POINT OF YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?
I follow what moves me the most at that moment. I start daydreaming about how I want the images to look and organize a timeline with all the steps I need to take.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A # TAG ?
#createfromtheheart
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH REJECTION?
I usually cry out if it’s a project I really want to work on. I go through different emotions, from asking why to finally remembering that most of those decisions are made by a company’s agenda, and sometimes those decisions have little to do with your talent.
HOW DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SUCH SUCCESS?
By staying true to myself.
HOW DO YOU APPROACH STRANGERS IN YOUR PROJECTS OR TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PROJECTS?
Whenever possible, I try to connect with them ahead of time to establish trust. That could look like a Zoom call or coffee together. If there is no time to do that, I get close and let them know what made me want to take photos of them. Most of them appreciate what I see in them and say yes.
IS IT COMMON FOR YOU TO QUESTION YOURSELF OR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY?
Always. It’s important to me to feel satisfied with what I’m doing. I check in often with myself to see if there’s anything I want to explore or if there’s something new that I’m excited to learn.
HOW DOES BEING A WOMAN SHAPE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND PERSPECTIVE AS A PHOTOGRAPHER? HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOUR PROJECTS? AND YOUR APPROACH TO THE ART WORLD/ PHOTO-BOOK WORLD?.
Being a woman photographer means that I get to create photos from a female perspective. I use that opportunity to change the overly sexualized photos that I saw of women growing up to showcase women’s grace and power because that’s how I see them.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A NEW PHOTOGRAPHER WHO IS JUST STARTING OUT?
Look at your body of work and choose the project that you were the most excited about. I call that a “hell yes!” project. Remember to always work on “hell yes” projects in the future.
CHOLITAS BRAVAS WAS EXHIBITED FOR OUR SCHOOL'S INAUGURAL CELEBRATION IN MIAMI, YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT HERE
ABOUT CELIA D LUNA:
Celia D. Luna is a visual artist who specializes in fashion and portrait photography.
She had a culturally rich childhood immersed in the Andean folklore and traditions of rural Peru. This colorful and magical landscape shaped her approach to photography and fashion. Celia brings diverse cultures and powerful women to life through her narrative approach to photography. She currently resides in Miami, a city’s whose multicultural influence continues to shape her evocative style.
