Meet Giovanni Moran | Photographer / Creative Direction

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

Hi Giovanni, why did you pursue a creative career?
I chose to pursue an artistic and creative career from a very young age. As a child, I was incredibly imaginative and constantly curious about the many layers of the world around me, both real and imagined. I had a naturally introspective personality, and art quickly became a refuge, a playground, and a voice when words sometimes fell short. Characters, themes, and storytelling were not just interests — they were tools for self-expression, self-discovery and emotional release.

In the early stages, my creativity was unfiltered, a beautiful chaos of experimentation, trial, and error. There was no clear path or formula, just a deep pull toward creating, shaping, and sharing my perspective. By the time I was 18, something shifted: people began to notice. They started reaching out, valuing not just the outcome of my work but the experience of it. The way I saw them, the way I captured them, the way I made them feel became rewarding. Getting paid for portraits was one thing, but being trusted to translate someone’s essence into an image was the true turning point. That’s when I realized that what I do is not just art — it’s storytelling, connection, and a deeply personal experience for both my subject and me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In a world overflowing with photographers and visual storytellers, I believe what sets my work apart is the emotional and imaginative lens I bring to each image. My photography is an extension of my inner world, a mirror of dreams, moods, and surrealism, layered with fashion, editorial edge, color theory, and a touch of whimsy. I’m not just documenting moments; I’m translating feelings, stories, and visions into visual language.

Professionally, I’m proud of exhibiting my work in galleries. Those moments where my imagination lived outside of my mind and into a space others could physically walk through. Personally, what brings me the most pride is hearing someone say, “Your work inspired me!” no matter how big or small the impact. That kind of resonance goes beyond aesthetics — it’s connection, and to me, that’s everything.

I got to where I am today by not quitting. When inspiration didn’t flow, I stepped back, never forced it. I took breaks, I adapted, and I kept showing up. Challenges? Absolutely. One of the most recurring is navigating people: dealing with clashing perspectives, last-minute cancellations, or differing creative visions. You learn quickly that having a plan B, C, D, maybe even a plan Z is essential.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is this: no one will care about your dream more than you do. You have to be the one who believes, your own plan, your own best friend and your biggest fan of your work — especially when the unexpected happens, whether it’s a gear malfunction, a last-minute location shift, or a rained-out shoot. Adaptability is not optional; it’s the foundation of longevity and knowing how to manage your finance, without that, your work cannot survive!

What I want the world to know about my story is that it’s still being written. My work is my legacy in motion — a series of footprints left behind for others to follow, question, or be moved by. Each image is a chapter. Each collaboration, a dialogue. And every person who sees, shares, or feels something through my work becomes part of that story, too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people have left a mark on my creative journey, and I believe that any success is rarely achieved alone. From a distance, I’ve been inspired by visionaries like Guy Bourdin and Tim Walker, their fearless and extravagant imagination and visual language shaped how I see the surreal and the stylized.

But beyond the icons, the real credit belongs to the community I’ve been fortunate to build and grow with. I’ve collaborated with brilliant designers, wardrobe stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, nail technicians, creative and art directors, editors, models, and fellow photographers — each one adding their energy, skill, and point of view to the work we co-create. Friends, family, colleagues, even strangers I’ve met along the way, each encounter, each collaboration, each unexpected moment has been part of the vision that supports and inspires my dream turned reality. Creativity is not a solitary act; it’s a shared language, and I’m grateful to those who’ve spoken it with me.

Website: https://giovannimoran.com

Instagram: @gio.vanni.moran

Image Credits
Copyright Credits: Giovanni Moran