Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomy Quiñones.
Naomy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It all started with art school — as most things do. We had to choose a specialty, and I chose photography. Back in the film days, photography wasn’t as ubiquitous or accessible as it is now. It felt mysterious, overtly complicated, even a little intimidating. That’s probably why I was so drawn to it. I wanted to get my hands dirty, understand the mechanics, and immerse myself in the technical side of image-making.
Early on, I gravitated toward fashion and beauty photography. I didn’t have the resources, but I had instinct — and I knew I needed collaborators. So I started working with modeling agencies around 2006, doing test shoots. Little by little, I built out my creative crew. Eventually, that grew into a production company with a business associate.
Photography opened the door to television and film. From there, I pivoted into the marketing world, ultimately enrolling in a career accelerator at Mastered London — honestly, one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It completely shifted how I approach creativity. They helped me see not just what I do, but why I do it — and what I uniquely bring to the table in any collaborative process.
As anyone from Orlando knows, Hurricane Maria was a turning point for many Puerto Ricans. While I wasn’t displaced that year, the long-term aftermath made it hard to sustain creative work on the island. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to leave.
Like a tragicomedy, I relocated to Orlando in early 2020, just weeks before the pandemic hit. But we continue doing the work. I’ve come to accept that creative paths are rarely linear. Mine has been shaped by disruption, curiosity, and a refusal to settle. I’m still evolving — but these days, I feel much more aligned with the kind of work I want to put into the world, and the kind of community I want to build through it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not smooth — but I don’t think I ever expected it to be. I’ve always felt a bit out of place in traditional systems, especially across industries that tend to undervalue both art and nuance. I’ve had to advocate for my legitimacy in spaces that weren’t built for someone like me.
Then there’s the personal cost of reinvention: leaving Puerto Rico, starting over in a new city right before the world shut down. These weren’t just logistical hurdles — they struck at identity, belonging, and creative continuity.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work across photography, creative direction, and brand strategy — primarily in fashion, personal branding, and campaigns that demand a clear point of view. My images are stylized and deliberate. I’m not interested in chasing spontaneity for its own sake. I’m drawn to precision — to constructing visuals that carry weight, nuance, and a sense of aesthetic authority.
At its core, my work is about transformation. I help people inhabit a more distilled version of themselves — not by masking who they are, but by framing them through a lens that reveals power, clarity, and intention. Whether I’m photographing an individual or developing a brand narrative, I treat the process as both portrait and proposition: This is who I am. This is what I mean.
What sets my practice apart is the fusion of emotional acuity and formal discipline. I think deeply about how images work — not just how they look, but how they function in context, and how they shape perception. I’m interested in the intersection of beauty and meaning — and in building work that lives there, unapologetically.
Because at the end of the day, aesthetics is never neutral. It’s political. It tells a story about who gets seen, how, and why. And I care deeply about that story.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Mentorship, for me, has come through co-conspirators and unexpected encounters — not formal titles. Some of the people I’ve learned the most from make work I’d never create myself. Our aesthetics were worlds apart, but their process revealed something I needed to see — about discipline, presence, or how they carried their intent.
Mentorship isn’t about imitation. It’s about shared momentum. And often, it starts simply by being in the room.
Also: join your professional associations. PPA, FPPA, WPPI… those rooms have taught me more than I ever expected. Show up, stay curious!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://naomyquinones.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qnaomy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quinaomy/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomyquinones
Image Credits
All photography © Naomy Quiñones
