Today we’d like to introduce you to Valeri Estrada
Hi Valeri, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Valeri and I developed my first roll of film myself when I was 13. I took photography classes through high school and college and learned to process my own film and print photos. I shot my first wedding… kind of on a whim. I had never shot one before and dove in, head first. Some people would call it a mistake, but I think it was exactly the write choice for my journey.
Now I am a full-time family and wedding photographer based in Pasadena, CA, but I have traveled everywhere from Maine to Hawaii to photograph weddings. As a Los Angeles wedding photographer, I specialize in capturing dreamy, emotional, and authentic moments that will be with you forever. My goal is to provide couples with romantic, dreamy portraits that reflect your wedding day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Can anything be learned from a smooth road? Absolutely not. I was a single parent and this was my side hustle for a long time. It was exhausting, but during the week I had a soul-crushing job in the bio-medical field and on weekends I was shooting whatever I could get my hands on. It was making me happy, but not making ends meet alone. The resources that exist now just didn’t exist 15 years ago! And then there was Covid… I think everyone in the wedding industry collectively shudders when we think back to those early days.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Little Blue World Photography is a natural light wedding and family photographer based in the greater Los Angeles Wedding. I’ve been lucky enough to travel from Hawaii to Maine to shoot weddings. I specialize in dreamy, romantic portraits, golden light, and authentic emotion. I am most proud of the legacy of portraits I have created for families.
How do you think about luck?
I believe it was Samuel Goldwyn that said,”The harder I work, the luckier I get.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the journey of a photographer. When I first started out in wedding photography, I often felt like success was a matter of pure luck—being in the right place at the right time or stumbling across a perfect opportunity. But over time, I realized that true “luck” in this industry comes from putting in the effort, constantly improving my craft, and staying committed to my vision. It’s about refining my skills, experimenting with lighting, and learning to connect with couples in a way that lets their personalities shine through in each shot. The more I worked on perfecting my technique and finding my unique style, the more those “lucky” moments seemed to find me.
Every wedding is a mix of preparation and, honestly, a little bit of magic. Sure, I spend hours planning shots, checking the lighting, and making sure my gear is good to go, but then it’s all about those moments you can’t plan for. Like when the light hits just right, or a couple shares an unexpected glance that speaks volumes. That’s where the “luck” comes in—but it only happens when you’ve done the groundwork. The more I put in, the more those lucky moments seem to find me, and I get to capture memories that feel just as magical as they looked in real life.
Pricing:
- Weddings start at $3,000
- Family portraits start at $280
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.littleblueworldphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleblueworld
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleblueworldphoto
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/little-blue-world-photography-pasadena
Image Credits
Little Blue World Photography
