Meet Ariadna Murillo | Photographer and Creative Director

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

Hi Ariadna, what’s the important lesson your business career has taught you?
Throughout my photography career, I’ve learned several valuable lessons that have shaped my approach to work and life. One crucial lesson stands out above the rest: the importance of advocating for yourself and your work. In a competitive business environment, especially in a city like Los Angeles, where there are several different artists, it’s essential to be your own champion, confidently promoting your skills, ideas, and accomplishments. This then was followed by the art of breaking out of my own comfort zone. A place where I never really thought I would be able to break free from. But that went on to change when I realized the importance of breaking out of comfort zone in this field. Growth often occurs outside of familiarity, and pushing boundaries can lead to new opportunities and personal development. Photography has yet to become my full-time career, as I continue to balance a separate job on the side. Time balance and management have been crucial aspects of my career thus far as I continue to learn to prioritize my various roles in life like being a daughter, friend, and a woman in her early twenties. I have and will continue to value everything that my photography career has taught me so early on. It has already become a key component of my life and I am excited to see what it will continue to bring.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
As a first-generation Mexican American woman there are already so many complexities to my identity which hold so much depth and weight. Before starting this career, I was ingrained and brought up with the idea that I needed to stay in school and get a college degree in order to reach success and happiness that comes as a part of the “American dream”. From an early age I knew that going to college was not in my future and was simply not the best fit for my life and goals. I wanted to feel free and be creative and be able to learn through my art and life experiences. Which has led me to be the person I am today, at the beginning of this entire experience not once did I believe that I was going to be having a career out of it. It was simply an idea and hobby that I did during my days off from my regular 9-5 job. I was just simply Ariadna Murillo, and not Ariysusfotos. I continue to believe that taking pictures is just another one of my hobbies but I recognize that it has and will continue to open so many new doors of opportunity. Lastly, the fact that I have been able to pave my way slowly but surely in the male dominated photography space in a city like Los Angeles, astonishes me to this day. I continue to be proud of where I come from, who I am, and who I will become with the art I 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.
It’s challenging to narrow down my favorite places to eat in just one week. Some of my top picks include Rick’s Burgers, Tenno Sushi, the Santa Rita Jalisco Taco truck, and Thai Deli. Los Angeles isn’t just a food hub; it also offers magnificent views that non-LA natives should have the opportunity to experience. While grabbing a bite to eat, we usually drive to places that have watched us grow up and offer a view of the Downtown LA city skyline. Most of these areas are in Echo Park or Silver Lake. Typically, my friends and I never stick to one location but always find ourselves in these areas. Los Angeles is one of those cities that is what you make it. If you want to have a chill day, you can stick to a drive on PCH with no destination, or you could have a jam-packed day and check out places from East Los Angeles to Hollywood. There’s a place for every sort of person here, and you are never bound to get bored of it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt, my friends have been strong pillars of support. They’ve stood by me during the most challenging times in my career, offering help without hesitation. Whether it’s attending my art gallery installations, stepping in as models, or instilling belief in me even when I doubted myself, their unwavering confidence in me has been a constant source of encouragement to do what I love. But most importantly, I am grateful for my boyfriend. He has been my right hand man and my biggest fan. He constantly pushes me to remain consistent and appreciate the process of learning new things as I continue to grow in my career.

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

Image Credits
My personal picture: Andre Aguilar others: Ariadna Murillo