Rising Stars: Meet Melanie Moreno of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Moreno.

Hi Melanie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I knew something photography was something that had always caught my eye, more so the feelings it invokes and I knew I wanted to capture that feeling in whatever setting that it may have been presented. The first time I ever picked up a camera was in middle school my mother had cancer but used whatever she had to make sure her children always had everything they needed and wanted and my father was work 10 to 12 hr days while in landscaping but with some saving they helped me buy my first camera from the pawn show near our home. It was natural for me I loved the colors and the moment in time you could stop for a keepsake and a etching in your perspective as a viewer and artist that’s what solidified it for me. Since then I never stopped exploring my craft working with different media such as vhs,film,digital, and even graphic design is implemented in my work. It is truly a never ending experience from working to different musicians,artists,publications, and new places everything has implemented my work and vision because at the end of the day they are truly just people in the grand scheme of doing what they love.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Pursuing a career in the arts is never a smooth road especially when you come from a town that can closed minded to to the things outside of the boundary that needs to be broken, even more as a queer latin woman of color. Knowing the counter parts of it all is what truly can be frightening but i´ve always thought of it as closed mouths don’t get fed. Simply because every experience shaped you in cognitive way weather that be negative or positive. And in my decade of picking up a lens and connecting with the bigger picture I feel as though that is the sweetest part of it all. Knowing through it all you were still able to break all boundaries big or small.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in editorial and concert photography but I feel as though what sets me apart from it all is the fact that I started with graphic design and editorial many people have to know that fundamentals are applied in every setting, so when you take the fundamentals of editorial photography and apply them to your setting in that same medium so much beauty can be applied to your creative vision. I´m truly so proud to have a been a queer latin woman of color from a small state with complete polar opposite views and cater to them to where people look like me and carry my vision in that same light from spotify, tidal, billboard, latin grammys, and even to my local community where I can inspire that same drive for being outside the box and not fitting into one that is exactly where I belong.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was always so shy the only times I had my personality translated was through my art and or in sports. I had to make the most of what I had since my parents were also learning to live outside their home. But as a grew to be more like me I grew to also love it all the accidents that crafted me to be the woman I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melaniemmorenoo.format.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaniemmorenoo/?hl=en