Meet Valeria Torres-Zamarripa | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Valeria Torres-Zamarripa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Valeria, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I grew up loving art in all its forms and mediums but I was always told that an artistic or creative career would never make enough money. Although it is true that many artists don’t make as much as other occupations, I decided to pursue an artistic career because it’s what makes me happy. Above all art has always been a constant in my life and it has always allowed me to express myself through all stages of my life. I knew that if I were to pursue anything other than photography I would not be fully satisfied. Although money is great the most important thing to me is living a full life and I believe that pursuing an artistic career allows me to do so.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work is about the exploration of nature and studio photography to capture moments and emotions through the lens of my camera. As a photographer I am inspired by the world around me and I utilize it to develop conceptual ideas that allow me to create impactful and emotional photographs. The contrast between full control in the studio and lack of control of nature allow me to explore and experiment different ways to create visually compelling stories in my art.

Although I have always loved art, I did not always want to be a photographer. I grew up doing some photography on the side but for the majority of my life I actually wanted to be a Veterinarian. I took Vet Med classes throughout all of high school and slowly realized it was not something I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. As I put more time into photography I fell in love with it more and more and eventually decided I wanted to make it my career. I learned that things don’t always go the way that you plan and sometimes you just have to flow with it and see where life leads you. I am most excited to see how far my career takes me and what places I will be able to explore through photography.

I want people to know that its okay to change your mind. It is never too late to try something new or go in a different direction. Changing my mind about my career allowed me to fall in love with school again and it allows me to express myself in a more creative and liberating way. Things do not always have to stay the same as how they started.

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?
There is always so much to do in the DFW area and there is always something for everyone to enjoy. It is definitely worth the drive to see what the area has to offer!

Starting with Denton we would spend a day on the Denton Square. Starting the morning off at Jupiter House coffee shop for a coffee and bagel! Then head over to Recycled Books, its a great place to walk around and chat about music and give each other book recommendations. Assuming the weather is nice we could sit on the courthouse lawn and read a book or just chat. Theres so many great places to eat and drink on the square including LSA Burger, Graffiti Pasta, Thai Square, Cartwrights, and so many more.
In Fort Worth we would have a day or two of visiting different museums. The Kimbell Art Museum has some really amazing artworks by many famous artists and they have such a cute gift shop! We would also visit the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, some of our professors have had work in the museum and it would be nice to check out the special exhibitions. I haven’t personally been but I have heard that the Rodeo Goat is a great place to have dinner so we would get to try something new together! Grapevine has Meow Wolf which is a really cool interactive and immersive art museum. Although it is a little on the pricier side it is so worth the money and makes for some really cool photos!
In Dallas the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is one of the coolest places I know. It’s a great opportunity to learn things about the world that you may not already know. And of course the Dallas Museum of art because we are both art nerds!
We would finish the last few days of the trip back in denton where we would eat at one (or more) of the various places listed above and talk about what we would do on her next visit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a big shout out to my mom and dad. My parents have always believed that I would do great things no matter what I do. From the very moment I decided I wanted to be a photographer they have supported me every step of the way. They bought me my first camera and they have put me through college in order to get the most out my career. They sacrificed everything to be here and give me a better life and better opportunities. Their support and hard work is the reason I am where I am today and I hope one day I will be able to return the favor. I love you mom and dad!

Website: https://valeriatorreszam.myportfolio.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valeria_torres.photography/

Image Credits
Valeria Torres-Zamarripa