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

Hi Cynthia, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Taking risks is key when it comes to understanding and unlocking your true potential in every aspect of life. It’s allowing yourself to be vulnerable, regardless of the outcome. One of the biggest risks I’ve taken in life is moving to Miami on my own at the age of 18, leaving the comfort of having my family and friends close by. That move unknowingly paved the path for my future, especially when it came to making tough decisions later on in life. So much has happened in these 9 years, but taking that risk showed me how capable I am of throwing myself into the unknown and always landing on my feet. I’ve been blessed with many amazing opportunities by putting myself out there, stepping outside of my comfort zone.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art has always been geared toward the local talent that thrives in Miami. I love the passion and talent of local musicians and artists and being able to capture that can be seen in my work. I like to think that I capture people in their purest forms, their most vulnerable- seeing them in their zone. I like to portray emotion and hope that the viewer feels something too. I picked up a camera not really knowing what I wanted to shoot. Eventually, once I started taking pictures of local bands, drag shows, and eventually people that I’ve met at these events, I realized how much I love capturing humans. With the world we are living in now, I’ve definitely felt a little bit of a creative block. But it’s the people who support my work that have kept me motivated to keep creating and to never stop coming up with new ideas.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely take my friend to Las Rosas to check out some awesome local bands play, see a drag show, and shop for some handmade jewelry. I love when they throw the Black Market events! It’s easy to have conversation, the staff is great, and it’s basically home. Most of my work has been shot there too. Also- I’d definitely show them Upper Buena Vista. That place is literally a diamond in the rough and I fell in love when I went there the first time. My favorite place to grab some pizza is from Pizza Tropical, located at Gramps. They’ve been doing a lot of cool giveaways during this quarantine and also make it a point to take care of their staff during these uncertain times, which is so important. For a good karaoke spot, Lincoln’s Beard has one of the best karaoke events every Wednesday. I cannot wait for the day we can all go again. For a little bit more of an intimate night, I’d definitely go to the Broken Shaker. I love their concept of different bars and a ever evolving cocktail menu. It’s a great place and makes me feel like I’m not on the beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to thank my parents, of course, for always encouraging me and pushing me to do my best in everything I do. My friends, who believe in my potential, my growth, and support the work I put out there. Another person I’d like to give a shout out to is a fellow photographer and friend, Javier Soler. He and I met through Instagram and have been huge supporters of one another’s work. Thank you so much for believing in my work, for creating with me, but for also sharing your perspective of the world around us. Your eye and your talent is truly admiring and it deserves to be seen by the rest of the world!

Website: https://cynthialorrena.myportfolio.com/
Instagram: cynthialorrena.jpg
Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/cynthialorrena

Image Credits
1st photo: Saavik (local band) 2nd photo: Jessica Day 3rd photo: Karma Sutra (drag artist) 4th photo: Carlo Barbacci (local musician) 5th photo: Jaidi Marrero 6th photo: Javier Soler (Miami photographer) 7th photo: Oona Dahl @ Rakastella 2019 8th photo: Rakastella 2019