Meet Felicidad De Lucas | Photographer and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Felicidad De Lucas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Felicidad, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

Ever since I was very young I’ve been looking for autonomy. I’ve always disliked being told what to do and how to do it, even at school. Plus, I was influenced by watching my mum who has always been her own boss.

As an adult, I knew that starting my own business/es could be risky. But deciding what I work on and how I work, is important to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I’ve always been interested in photography and creativity, but I started to shoot more when I moved from Madrid to California in 2009. The cultural and lifestyle change inspired me a lot and I used photography as a story-telling tool for my day-to-day and my travels.

As I got more comfortable behind the lens, I began to shoot portraits, essays, and editorials, which eventually led to working with magazines, campaign shoots, model agencies, and private commissions. I began traveling for work to places like Paris, NY, Italy, and more.

I was going to take all opportunities that life sent me to keep growing as a person and as an artist. I learned so much about myself.

Over the years, I’ve grown more and more interested in the elements of Nature, mundane objects and installation in my photos because it helps me communicate the message better. I like a sense of surrealness. And I like the many possibilities that come from juxtaposing elements.

I never wanted to be a “Specialist”. Working on diverse projects helps me start many different conversations, and I love that.

I think it is dangerous to over-specialize in art because you lose important creative energy and the chance to tell stories that might never be told. During a photography workshop in LA at the beginning of my career, the host said to me that I had great work but I needed to focus on shooting one area only so that I create consistency in my portfolio. This was the worst advice I ever received. It confused me a lot because I’ve always been interested in many areas. I learned that the key is not to be consistent in one area of photography (Landscape, Portrait, etc) but to be consistent in creating confidently, believing in your ideas and your execution of them, carefully curate your best work, and finding your style across all fields so that the elements from different areas can meet.

Over the years, I’ve grown interested in shooting more thought-through and constructed images, but still, I love interconnectedness in art. I like to be spontaneous and leave a space for improvisation, letting myself dive into the many possibilities of the dialogue in front of me and modify my progress accordingly. I’m interested in exploring ways in which photography helps understand our mind and spirit in response to a particular experience.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Here is a little list of possible fun plans:

Daytime:

– Laying out in the Beach in Newport peninsula, Corona Del Mar or Thousand Steps Beach in Laguna.
– Hiking around Corona del Mar tide pools, Crystal Cove (Newport) or Top of the World in Laguna.
– Riding bikes or skating in the boardwalk (Newport Peninsula).
– Sailing or taking the ferry to Catalina Island!
– Shopping for treasures in the Melrose Market (LA) or Vintage market (Long Beach). Boutique shopping in Balboa Island.
– Lunch or happy hour at Fly N Fish Oyster Bar by the Balboa Pier, Gracias Madre (vegan) or Bear Flag for a fresh catch.
– Live music at the Black Marlin Restaurant (Tustin)

Evening/Night:

– Gong Sound Bath at Ekam Yoga.
– Sunset drinks at The Deck (Laguna) or The Rooftop at LIDO (Newport Peninsula).
– Dinner at Habana Restaurant (Costa Mesa), Tres Muchachos (Costa Mesa), Buddha’s Favorite (Newport) or ARC Restaurant (Newport).
– Live latin music and Salsa dancing at Sevilla (Costa Mesa) or Legacy (Newport)!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am beyond grateful for the support I have. Being a small business owner and a creative takes a lot of determination. The road is not always smooth and having a reliable support system is very valuable as it makes you feel less alone when you are facing a challenge or making moves.

Equally important is an inspiration. As creatives we are forever grateful to those who walked the road before us; I constantly draw motivation and learn from other artists’ films, music, books, paintings, and anything that speak to my soul. But even more important is cultivating strong and honest relationships that inspire you to grow daily… I am fortunate for my family and amazing and talented friends who keep me always wanting to do better!

Website: www.felicidaddelucas.com, www.felicidadfineart.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/felicidad

Facebook: www.facebook.com/felicidadphotoart

Image Credits
First portrait of mine shot by Matt Doheny