Meet Lorna Lopez | Model and Photographer

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

Hi Lorna, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

The word risk I find to be a bit scary because it means there is a possibility of failure and that provokes fear. So I try to look at it instead as “opportunity”. There are always choices you have to make in life or in business and if you can evaluate those choices to see what the possible opportunities are, instead of the possible failures, then you will work toward them in a more positive way and not with underlying worry or concern.

The biggest risk, (or opportunity), I took was to believe in myself. Once I pushed past the fears I found them to be unfounded and became excited to pursue my goals. I don’t however, burst out the door exuding confidence every day. I still have insecurities and self doubt but I really try to ignore those voices because if you don’t, that is where the true failure lies because they can stop you before you even try.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I am a model and a photographer. With my photography I focus more on shooting people. My favorite style is editorial fashion but I also do headshots, character shots for productions and BTS for film. I also love to take travel photos when I am lucky enough to get away. And with modeling I enjoy being the model because now I am the subject and get to become the creation for someone else’s vision and I enjoy the whole process with that, the clothes, makeup, location and photography.

Professionally things evolved over many years. I’ve always been a creative person and enjoy many art forms, so sometimes I find it hard to settle on one. For me modeling and photography go hand in hand. I modeled in the 90’s and when I did test shoots I would style my wardrobe, do my own hair and makeup, choose the location for the shoot, and my boyfriend, (now husband), was the photographer. We were a great team! I loved seeing the final result in print. It was like creating a work of art! During that time I picked up the camera myself every once in a while and loved the feeling of being able to capture a special moment.

Once we married and had children I left modeling to focus on raising our family. During those years the love of creating never left me and I found myself picking up the camera more and more but I also dreamed of creating fashion shoots again. I took pictures of what was available to me. Lots and lots of my kids, and places we traveled to. I’d play on photoshop a lot and try different things.

As my children got older I felt more and more drawn to photography and also thought about returning to modeling. I had to be patient and wait for the timing to feel right because I wanted to make sure I was still there for my children. The modeling industry started becoming more inclusive of different sizes, skin colors and also of age, so when I was ready to jump back in the timing was a perfect coincidence because I was going to start again in my 50’s!

I wasn’t looking forward to the process of finding an agent and experiencing the rejection that comes with it but I knew that I really wanted to pursue it. I kept working on my portfolio and fine tuning things. I booked a couple of jobs with brands I reached out to myself, and it helped having that in my portfolio when submitting to agencies. Things happened quite quickly actually and the experience was much better than I thought it would be. I am so grateful to all the women who went before me, and were my example of what a woman can look like, and be, in their mature years!

In regard to photography, a few years ago I did a series of still life portraits which really pushed me technically and creatively. I posted my process and results online and got a really positive response. I also posted other photographs I took of people and of my travels. From that people started reaching out to me for work. Also with word of mouth you develop a reputation which is so important and that can help lead to more work.

I think what sets me apart from others is life experiences. We all come from different upbringings and have varying views on life so we all have unique perspectives. There are a lot of amazing photographers and models out there which can feel really intimidating. I try to follow what feels right to me and continue on my path and have found that my voice, my uniqueness, has developed over time and become stronger and more prominent.

I am most proud of that I am trying to set a good example for my children. My husband and I made the choice that I would stay home and raise our family. Now that they are grown I am able to dedicate more time to my career. Hopefully when my children are my age, if they desire or if the need arises, they won’t feel any hesitation to explore new avenues because they have seen me pursue my goals. I believe that no one should ever let their age stop them from pursuing what they want to do. Especially for my daughter because it is not easy for women to make the tough choice of whether to work or not. Many don’t have that choice at all. So when you do choose to stay home you can face a lot of challenges once you’re ready to reenter the workforce.

I have learned so much along the way but the most important thing is to never give up. Work hard toward your goals and know that there will be really hard times and times when you want to quit. But keep going! It won’t always be perfect. And just as important, don’t be too hard on yourself. If you are working your hardest what else can you do? If you have a bad day, or a lazy day, forgive yourself, you probably needed a break! Be patient. Things will happen. And sometimes you’ll be surprised because things can evolve into something completely different to what you originally intended. Be open to the process and enjoy it as much as you can because you’re working toward your dreams! How amazing is that?!

I think I want people to know that we all have a story to tell and as an artist those stories come out in my work. My goal is to provoke some kind of feeling or emotion in you when you look at the photographs I have taken, or the photographs I am in.

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.
If you come to Los Angeles you have to go to the beach. Number 1 on my list. I would recommend renting a little cottage house for a few days and enjoy the relaxed lifestyle. One of our favorite places to eat is Chichen Itza. Their food is authentic Mexican food from Merida, Yucatan where my husbands family is from. I also think it’s fun to do the more touristy things too like walk up and down Hollywood Boulevard and look at the stars on the sidewalk. Visit Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and “try on” all the hand and footprints of the famous actors there. Go to the Griffith Park Observatory for a fantastic view of the city and see the Hollywood sign. There are a few nice rooftop restaurants and bars in downtown that have beautiful views of the city at night! And try to see a show, any show, at Hollywood Bowl. It’s an amazing feeling to be in that outside venue listening to music!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family and my large extended family on my husbands side have been my biggest source of encouragement. The support I receive from each and every one of them is invaluable! Moreover when my children heard me mention my thoughts about modeling again and doing photography, they were nothing but encouraging and supportive. My big beautiful family gives me the biggest boost in confidence and is my joy in life!

Website: https://loloviestudio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorna.me.lopez/

Other: https://www.lizjmodels.com/classic/lorna-lopez

Image Credits
Isabel Sasse Lorna Lopez