Meet Val Perez | Creative Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Val Perez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Val, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have always loved the art world and the creative process it takes to create work. So growing up I was always back and forth between pursuing medicine or photography, but eventually I came to the conclusion that I wanted to be happy and excited about my future career. So in college I began to full invest into art and focused most of my course on photography. Which began my love and passion for photography.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My photography is mostly portrait and concert based. I try to do some creative portraiture with most of my work, and empower all the clients I work with. I like to use a lot of non conventional and innovative props and supplies while making my art, using cool effect pre-production. I am always open to trying new things in my art and being able to grow in my craft with any and all recommendations that they might have. My proudest and most excited projects that I have worked, are probably any of the EP/Album covers I have done with local Miami artists, that include but not limited to, like Gaby Alegro, Luna Scar, laCami, Jessica Morale and many more. I have loved creating with them and being able to produce cool artwork. Getting to where I am has not been easy and it’s been a little bit more difficult since March, but I’ve just been pushing keeping myself organized to try and keep producing and creating long lasting connections. A lot of the obstacles I feel like have come from myself; and I have been trying my best not to be the person that hinders myself. It has been a lot of self. reflection and making sure that all the moves are what I mean without second guessing myself. One of my dreams and something I am working really hard on is making sure that my brand is an inclusive and safe space for everyone, no matter what color, shape, or size. I also hope that I can inspire other girls and especially other girls of color to decide to pick up a camera and start making their own content. The idea of helping someone realize that they can do anything they want and there is no limitation to what they can do it something I am very passionate about.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spot in Miami would probably have to be Little Havana, which funny enough is the current area that I live in. There is so much culture and music and excitement happening here, but all the houses here are very cozy. Often when my friends come to visit me in my house they always say that my house reminds them of their old houses from their old countries, which fills me with excitement cause they always say they love that feeling. Greeting my best friend, I would bring them in for some good old fashion cafecito cubano. Hospitality is very big as an hispanic. Homemade arroz con frijoles (rice and beans) with some queso frito (fried cheese), and ensalada (salad) is always a stable in my house. Throughout the week, I would attempt o calle ocho, and just being able to enjoy the city. Taking them to best restaurants in little havana like La Leonesa and Pinolandia, my favorite Nica restaurants in the city. Perhaps take them to downtown and show them around Bayside.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Honestly I have been inspired by amazing and other very talented friends in the scene some include Gaby Alegro (@gabyalegro), who is a local singer/songwriter in Miami, Carianne Older (@peggyshootsfilm), who is this incredible portrait film photographer based out of LA, Steph Estrada (@stephhestrada), Valerie Chaparro (@veechaps), and Kat De Barros (@kat.deba). Those are just a few people that have always inspired me and have pushed me to do my best work.

Website: www.pictureswithval.com
Instagram: Pictureswithval