Meet Reyna Torres | Artist Photographer & Creator

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

Hi Reyna, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
The first thing that comes to mind is my family. I knew following my dream my instincts to open up my own business and be creative and express my talent was not easy. That would mean I would leave my professional job that is secure and there’s always money coming in, compare to having your business and some days there’s no money & it must be spend wisely. If it were just me and I had no children then taking the leap is easy and I know the only person I have to worry is me myself and I. But knowing that my four kids need me, and I’m literally the sole provider it was a hard transition. I would sometime postpone my exit to my 9-5 job, I would convince myself to wait for another week so i can have more money and then it turn out two weeks and then a month and then maybe in half a year, and that was not the right mind set you want to start your entrepreneurship. So I dare myself and said FUDGE IT! Lets GO! Then it happen, I was nervous, scared, had anxiety up to 100, but i was also happier, excited, driven, and positive for what I continue to do now. Taking the leap was fun.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is my art. It’s a simple sentence but it’s true. Everyone’s art is different no one is better then the other. My daughters drawing is beautiful and enchanting to me, I would have her drawing on the wall instead of the great Picasso. Because in the end art is a spectrum, there’s no right or wrong. So my art is an extension of me, with the five W’s. Who, What, Why, When, and Where. Who will be on my photos and why am I doing it, what am I using to creative this photo shoot, and when and where is usually location and time lol. I knew I was always creative but having a Hispanic background your not encourage to pursue that life style. But I’m understanding why I’m so good at it. It’s because I’ve been teaching myself since a kid to watch for things that are unique and beautiful, pay attention to your environment and don’t question what’s in front of you but absorb it. This is what I want the world to know is that ART in any shape or form is a Spectrum and no one is greater or lesser when they create.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Take the train to Santa Barbara and rent a bike and go around the city eating, laughing, drinking wine, checking new bookstores and live theater and just riding the bike down a hill and going down that hill goes to a pier and you eat the best seafood ever. Taking a day to just have fun and forget about everything else is good for the soul. I needed to step out and just have a fun active day with my love. We find ourselves in unique stores and meeting great people. Plus as a couple we connect more. So I would suggest to check out where you’ll like to bike and take the day off and do it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
At first it’s sad but I promise there’s going to be a happy ending. So I fell in love at a time that I had stop believing in ”LOVE”. When I met him he was amazing and very talented and something about him was so mature and fun at the same time. I remember telling him I gave up love, and it wasn’t for me and he replied with “What!!??”. At the time I was 32 year old with four kids and trying to run a business that sells glasses, & I was not looking to fall in love. But he was persistent and I had fallen in love hard for him. He was a director and writer. He loved cinema and story telling. I loved that he was creative and it was okay to be a creator. Lets cut to were it went bad, we stop seeing each other due to a miscarriage. It broke both of us of part and we needed to be apart. So I was pretty lost and it’s 2020 so I lost my business and I had to go back to work, to a 9-5. I was miserable, i would cry almost everyday made sure no one saw me but I cried. If you know, you know. So half a year goes by and I’m healing and feel better and I decided to buy a camera I wanted to tamper with something creative. I remember how creative he was and how it was okay to go that direction so I started being creative and think outside the lines. Usually you say box but for me it’s lines. Your told to color withing the lines but we don’t need too, we can color outside form them and create something amazing. So that guy we end up reconnecting and now were together and opening a new production studio called MAY FILMS. Thank you so much my love, Thank you Anthony Ortiz.

Website: https://www.lareynastudio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_reyna_studio/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-ZnXBy9-gsIzbGojT6T4g

Image Credits
Drawing by Zoey Palacios Photos by Reyna Torres LaReynaStudio