I was sixteen years old when I picked up my first camera. I did what most high schoolers would do; I grabbed my bestie and we did our best at making images for Tumblr that ended up being a total cringe-fest. I loved every moment of it.

Photography has a way of bringing you back to a moment in time and reminding you of how it felt to be there. I think every kid has that experience of seeing old photos of their parents and feeling like they’re peering into another world. My parents came from a whole other country so it was a particular poignant experience to see where we come from.

Through photography I’m able to look back and remember those moments; road tripping up and down the California coast to visit my older sister in Berkeley. Summers flying down to Mexico to visit mis abuelos and all of my tios y primos. Swimming in the gorgeous turquoise waters off the coast of Nayarit. Exploring the metropolitan marketplaces con mi madre. Riding horses con mi padre through the Mexican cerros.

I’ve always been a dreamer, a lover, and a hopeless romantic. I believe in love, above all things it is the most raw and beautiful to me. My aspiration as a photographer and storyteller is to capture all of the crazy emotions that run wild and help you relive them for years to come. More than anything, I love a good story. I would love it if you shared yours so we could create some beautiful imagery together.

So here I am. I’m Marcela and I would love to take your photo.