Capturing the Essence

Photography By Presencia

Both artist manager and photographer, Presencia is documenting the creative lifestyle in Miami, Florida. She discusses the spontaneity of her process and how the artists she is surrounded by give the greatest inspiration.

Miami, Florida, USA

What is your history as a photographer?

It’s something I actually didn’t expect or even plan for. I’ve always had a passion for the creative arts, singing (for myself only lol) since I was little & slowly entering the world of modeling when I was about 15 or 16. By the time I was in my senior year of high school, I was rushing to figure out what exactly I wanted to do with my life - I had originally planned to study social media marketing & management but even then, I didn’t really feel passionate about it. Over time, without even realizing it, I started doing more & more with photography - January of 2020 was when it really started off. I never seriously considered being a photographer in the beginning - I just loved capturing the moments I was in, or would have spontaneous creative ideas in the moment & would force whoever I was with to be my subject to capture whatever vision I had in the moment! In late January I met the artist whom I am now managing, and originally started working with him to be his personal photographer - I never signed up to be an artist manager either, but that’s a different story! Once I met Pablo, I connected with more creative places & people which allowed more opportunities to work as a photographer - since then, I’ve changed majors to study photography and marketing, and am now slowly building my own brand and business. Everything seemed to line up at the right moment, and that’s how I took it as confirmation that I’ve been headed on the right path.

How would you describe your style and process?

I’ve definitely always had an eye for darker concepts - grungey, moody, whatever you want to call it. I try to incorporate darker colors however I can, using my surroundings to my advantage as most of the work I’ve done was envisioned in the moment out of pure inspiration. I’ve been told my art tends to give off a sort of lonely, or even depressive vibe at times - now, I’m actually a very positive and encouraging person by nature, and an essential part of what I do on my personal account is to help spread positivity and help people overcome their struggles - so, the irony is quite funny.

I tend to use lower angles and place an emphasis on capturing candids more than posed bodies. How I edit depends on the exact mood I’m trying to go for - but I always tend to lean towards either vintage or bold looks.

Who are your subjects? Why are they important and how do they inspire you?

As I’ve mentioned, the majority of my subjects are people that I’m with in the moment of forming an idea - a lot of times, I’ll even grab random strangers or people I just met and ask them if they want to model for me. I’m very grateful most have said yes!

The spontaneity of most of my work is actually one of the keys to continuing my vision - you see, most of these people aren’t actual models. I love capturing people’s essence, hence my photographer name Presencia (which translates to presence in English). The fact that these are regular people (while still creative and artistic in their own way) makes it easier to focus on capturing their presence, since they’re not really trying too hard - most of them weren’t expecting to even be in front of the camera when they got dressed that day!

In short, being able to use the environment and the people around me as inspiration is one of my favorite things about working as a photographer. I’m consistently inspired to capture the beauty of life going on all around us.

Tell the story behind one of your photographs.

This is actually a funny one! I was with my artist and some of our friends at one of their airbnb’s. I noticed the bathroom was beautifully painted with glow in the dark stars and planets along the walls - I instantly grabbed our friend AzlRock & proceeded to have an entire photo shoot session in this tiny bathroom! Mind you, that may have also been only my second time meeting him! The shots came out amazing and most importantly, I was able to bring out a side of himself that he didn’t see - “I’m an ugly dude, but you made me look good!” he told me.

How has photography changed your life?

It’s definitely provided more opportunities for me to grow within a career space, while also giving me more access to the industry and the people within it. I’ve always been able to see the greatness and the beauty in people, regardless of whether they saw it or not. Now as a photographer, I’m able to help support other local artists and models while also opening doors for myself to achieve other dream projects and goals I’ve set for my life.

What’s next for you as an artist ?

With the arrival of my new film camera, I’m looking to improve the kind of content I’m producing and create more stylized work by collabing with more models, stylists, and makeup artists to bring my art to the next level.

I’m also continuing school for photography, so I’m excited to improve my techniques with what I’m able to learn and create my own unique brand and style.