This is a sponsored interview in partnership with Tecovas.
Lucero Valle has been photographing Austinites for 13 years, and was recently selected to be the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Businesswoman of the Year. We caught up with Valle to hear more about her work.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Off the top, who are you?
“I am a photographer. My father was a photographer as well. So it was something that was a gift to me since I was a child. I'm also a designer. I'm a mom. I'm a Latina. I also was a jeweler one time. I just love all things creative.”
What’s your job?
“I help people look great. I help people to look their best. Because, especially in the Latino community, we're hiding, right? We're just like, ‘Oh no, I need to lose weight.’ Or like, ‘I'm just too busy in my business.’ And we just don't celebrate our wins. You know, some people have just been doing the same professional work for many years. And, you know, their photos or their website or things in their branding, they just, they don't represent that. So I feel like my work is to pair the amazing things people are doing with their photos.”
Why does your work matter to Austin?
“When I came to Austin, I came to learn English. And I love Austin because it allows me to play, and to be an artist. My close friends here in Austin are jewelers and I started photographing for them and doing kind of, like, more fashion editorial work. And then I started connecting with nonprofits and I started photographing the events and getting more involved in the community and all the amazing things that are being done here.
I think why it matters, I’m making my community look great. And then I have a mission. I have a mission to make women look stronger and beautiful. And I want to keep doing what I'm doing.”
