Meet DTLA Photographer: Christiana Lucratif

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christiana Lucratif.

Christiana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Originally from Tucson, Arizona I had to escape the dramatic heat and dry (ahem) opportunity well. Los Angeles took me in and for the past 10 years, I’ve worked on doing what I love. Creating. It definitely wasn’t always easy. It has taken a lot of perseverance, hard work, sleepless nights, and motivation. Inspired to keep going by an inner hunger to create art that will last and also to create a change in the world. Art and humanitarian efforts are my passions. Photography always being my choice form of expression, I started a photo studio/event space in the growing area of downtown LA. Fast forward five years and the studio is still here and we are working on bringing another location into the world. Creating photos and art nearly daily. And working as a board director of local LA charity serving the hungry and homeless, Lunch On Me. Today I am passionate and still just as hungry as my first year here in this city, maybe even more so. Not because of what I have accomplished so far but because as each year has passed I continue to see more opportunities, dream bigger, and believe even more that I am headed in the direction I should be.

Has it been a smooth road?
No journey is ever as planned. That would be boring and predictable. Life, especially in Los Angeles, has a way of throwing curve balls at you – often several at once. In my first year here was no exception. Went through a couple jobs, had two jobs working 80+ hours a week, and even had a bout of being homeless and sleeping in my car. But I refused to give up and go back home to Arizona. I didn’t care if I only slept 3-4 hours and spent every waking hour working. I knew it was temporary and I pushed through. There have been times I wasn’t sure how rent would be paid and sweated over eviction notices. Every time I somehow would find a way to get everything handled and I can proudly say I have no evictions to date! HA! I believe in working hard and staying positive and that has helped a great deal during those stressful situations.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In 5-10 years photography has the potential to completely evolve as we know it. In the last 10 years, we’ve jumped leaps and bounds in this industry. Being an art form highly influenced by technology I see a shift happening there. With drones, 100-megapixel raw images, cell phone cameras, and mobile editing/sharing, a lot is changing for photography. It will be really interesting to see what new art forms, new (and I would expect younger and younger) talent bring to the table. For those who started on film I believe will need an eager willingness to adapt and expand with image expression, that will be a key to getting or staying on top of this industry.

What would you say has been the biggest challenge for you over the course of your career?
One of if not the biggest challenges for me, especially as an artist, is being true to what you want to do and who you are. So much in this world tries to push you to conform. Get a 9-5, get married, buy a house, have kids. Womp womp womp is how that sounded to me. For a while, I went back and forth with simultaneously working and pursuing creative and business ventures. Juggling both does not allow you to truly excel at one. Making a commitment to your art and committing to the struggles that it brings is a difficult decision to make. But once I fully let go of what I was “suppose to do” and really dove into what I wanted to manifest in my life there hasn’t been a day of regret. It takes a lot of time and effort to get to the point where you can make that decision and not end up homeless, particularly with LA rent prices… So it’s the combination of the two. 1. Being able to work your behind off 7 days a week for some years, and 2. Committing to a 24/7/365 push for your creativity, art, and goals.

What advice do you wish to give to those thinking about pursuing a path similar to yours?
This will sound overly simple. But it is much more difficult to implement than it is for me to tell you.

1. Keep learning. Every single day. Learn, practice and grow your skills. It takes time. A LOT OF IT.
2. Get social. Online is crucial, in person is priceless. Network your behind off. A lot of gigs come from who you know, who they know, etc.
3. Stay motivated and don’t ever give up. Never, ever, ever. “Motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing. That’s why I recommend doing both daily.” -Zig Ziglar, one of my favorite reminder quotes.
4. Don’t be afraid to fail and fall. There will be people who don’t like your work, aren’t wow’d by it, say bad things, don’t really support you, etc. Ignore them. Take criticism constructively and use it to get better. “I have failed over and over again in my life… And that is why I succeed.” -Michael Jordan

In addition to the list, I would say reading daily, waking up early, staying fit and healthy helps anyone accomplish more than those that don’t do those things.

Pricing:

• Studio Rental – Shoots $40/hr
• Photography Sessions – Start at $350

Contact Info:

• Website: www.opulenstudios.com
• Phone: 310-867-5023
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/lucratif1
• Facebook: facebook.com/opulenstudios
• Other: instagram.com/opulenstudios

Image Credit:
Models: Dot Smalls, Larayia Gaston, Bambi, Karen Bystedt, Madzilla.