Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Perez.
Hi Jessica , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. I had every intention of doing everything in a proper timeline… college, marriage, career, kids. In that order with very little thought of what I was passionate about. I was fumbling into adulthood, trying to carve out what that should look like in order to be successful. I didn’t have much to go on, so I overcorrected by revolting against everything that had made me historically feel alive and creative. I was under the misconception that in order to find success, I somehow had to trade in my youthful passion for stability and a consistent income. What it actually cost was my light. A creative person must create and I was in what felt like a machine, cold and unfulfilling. I became a mother and that meant I was also an example. I woke up and realized all my joy derived from watching my children feel joy. Ironically, I had been teaching in the public school system but I wasn’t teaching my very own children what a happy adult looked like. I used to paint, draw, listen to music, write, dance and as I grew into a person that did none of those things, I realized my timeline was bullshit and ill-fated.
I started to see so many women start to fall away from understanding who they were, and what they liked or loved about themselves and unfortunately I was exactly like them. I decided I wasn’t going to live and die not creating something. I didn’t want to be an eventual email announcing my teacher retirement or worse an email about my passing, So I began leading myself back to my creative light with the intent of hopefully, helping other women see themselves in a light, that could help lead them back to their true selves also. So with the help of my children and Troy, the most supportive partner I could of ever dreamt of, LUX Viera Photography was born.
Lux is Latin for light and I remembered my father, before he passed away, saying about my first born that she’d bring the light. He was right she did bring the light and it grew even brighter with my son and Troy but it wasn’t as bright as it is now until it turned on in me again. That is what photography has given me and it’s what I hope to grow with every client who trusts me to capture their special moments.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Start up is always challenging. I missed the era of small businesses thriving on social media when the algorithms weren’t as difficult to navigate. I didn’t get a thousand likes and follows just by happy clients gushing about my work and it’s difficult when you’re starting to have a big marketing budget for social media and beyond but word of mouth helped get me started and immersing myself into crafting a unique editing style.
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’m a photographer but I’m mostly an artist. I transform images into beautiful pieces of art that bring out people’s personalities, emotions and light . I’m known for providing high quality images that pause a moment in time that is cherished. I help grooms keep the image of their beautiful brides forever and mom’s pause the clock on their child’s rapid race to adulthood and I help children remember a loving parent holding them close.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I left a dark place in pursuit of warmth in the arms of friends, I didn’t always find it. I didn’t understand authority very well and I was very much ok doing things in a fiercely independent manner. I always had a job and I spent all my money on watching live music. I loved art and was always drawing, even when I was supposed to be doing math, which was ironically the subject I ended up teaching.
Contact Info:
- Email: luxvieraphotography@gmail.com
- Website: www.luxvieraphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxvieraphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luxvieraphoto
Image Credits
Lux Viera Photography
