Meet Taimy Alvarez | Photojournalist, Documentarian & Editor

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

Hi Taimy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
in 2019, I had been a staff photographer at the South Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper in South Florida for 21 years. Over the past several years there had been a downsizing of the newsroom despite accelerated digital transformation. In spite of my adaptability to the ever-changing media landscape, the Sun Sentinel was being driven to yet another reduction of staffing through voluntary separation. I believe it was the perfect opportunity and time to redefine my professional goals. I took the buyout and started Taimy Alvarez Media LLC with the goal of growing my video and photography footprint into television, travel, and corporate clients.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m a Cuban-American independent photojournalist based in South Florida. For the past 26 years my passion to tell stories through my photography and videography has taken me to unique and mesmerizing places throughout Florida, the United States, the Caribbean, South America and Europe. It has allowed me to give a voice to the voiceless, capture and document key moments in history, evoke emotions through my camera lens, entertain and inspire wanderlust. Taimy Alvarez Media is a doc-style media company specializing in travel, editorial and commercial projects.
My superpower is the ability to blend in, disarm people, and gain my subject’s trust quickly in order for me to capture moments that are authentic, creative and storytelling. I consider these skills key to the quality and impact of my work.
I’m most proud of being recognized by The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with an Emmy in 2017 for an investigative documentary about the Gulf Coast’s raw oyster industry. Additionally, I’m very proud of having been a member of the Sun Sentinel team that sadly covered the school shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Fl., which won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
I began my company in January of 2020 then COVID hit. This completely changed my business plan and required me to pivot quickly to pitching stories to potential clients specifically COVID centered stories to clients such as INSIDER. I learned I had to be aggressive. My don’t-take-no-for-an-answer attitude, a generous buyout package, and support from my family and friends were instrumental in my business surviving.
There are many challenges faced by all of us in the media industry. The two challenges that stand out for me are 1-standing out among a saturated field of creatives and 2- an increase in production costs as production budgets decrease.
My years of experience traveling around the world, telling a wide scope of stories and my ability to work efficiently with a team of talented individuals keeping within budget helps Taimy Alvarez Media standout. I try to accommodate a wide range of budgets, but it hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to pass on several projects because they haven’t had the budget to pay for the quality of work provided by my team.
I’ve overcome these challenges through networking and building strong relationships with executive producers, fellow photographers and reporters, and clients. I’ve cut costs wherever possible and teamed up with others to share production costs on projects. I’m always reading about new equipment and software, watching lots of film, television and social media reels keeping an eye out for new trends. And I’m constantly researching and pitching story ideas and television projects to prospective clients.
I’ve learned:
1- Be persistent and never take no for an answer;
2- Teamwork makes the dream work. Surround yourself with the best in your field;
3- Never stop learning – look for mentors, read about new trends, software, shooting techniques, equipment extra; and
4- Don’t be scared to fail because it essential for growth.

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.
South Florida is an amazing place to visit because of its diversity of people, natural wonders cuisine and fun activities. Here is a five-day itinerary:
Day 1: Check in to the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa where my bestie and I would soak up the sunshine on a quarter-mile of private beach sipping mojitos. The hotel is perfectly located in between West Palm Beach and Miami. Dinner on our first night would be at Boatyard for an amazing seafood dinner in the epicenter of the Yachting Capital of the world. The menu has a wonderful selection of the freshest daily catches from local fishermen with the highest-quality raw bar and shellfish selections.
Day 2: Breakfast at O-B House in downtown Fort Lauderdale to have their juicy mini-meatloaf with a perfectly cooked egg on top and their fluffy pancakes. Afterwords, we would stroll to the NSU Art Museum down the street to walk off our breakfast among the museum’s extensive collection of Latin American and Cuban modern and contemporary art. Then back to the hotel to lounge pool side or take a dip in the ocean. Dinner would be at Regina’s Farm for an outdoor community dinner with an authentic Brazilian food made personally by Regina on open flames with chickens running around.
Day 3: Pick up breakfast to go and drive to Shark Valley in the Everglades to rent bikes to ride the 15-mile paved, bicycle/tram road to see alligators sunning themselves along the road, watch birds flying among the sawgrass and take in the sights and sounds of the River of Grass. Afterwords, we would drive down to Florida City for lunch at Casita Tejas Mexican Restaurant. Afterwords, head back to Fort Lauderdale to watch the sun sent on the beach. Dinner would be casual at Southport Raw Bar & Restaurant for fresh oysters, shrimp and scallops.
Day 4: Breakfast at the Floridian on Las Olas Blvd. Since 1937, eating at The Floridian has been a tradition among generations of Fort Lauderdale faithful and the photo packed walls document it’s history. After breakfast, my bestie and I would take a Hop-on hop-off Fort Lauderdale water taxi to view the many mansions and yachts lining the intercoastal of Fort Lauderdale. We’d get off at the 1920s oceanfront Bonnet House Museum and Gardens taking a tour of the art filled mansion and luscious gardens. Afterwords, hop back onto the water taxi and head to Las Olas Blvd to window shop and eat Cuban food at Cuba Libre Restaurant. Drinking mojitos and listening to their DJ. Hopping back onto the water taxi to take it to Fort Lauderdale Beach to head back to the hotel to relax poolside. Dinner would be at Shooters Waterfront along the intercoastal to listen to music, eat, talk and watch the boats going up and down the waterway.
Day 5 (the last day): Welcome to the 305 with breakfast and cafecito at Versaille on Calle Ocho or Eight Street. From there we check out the Wynwood mural walls taking selfies along the way to grab lunch from 11 food vendors all in one spot at Mia Market in the Design District. After lunch more shopping or take a scenic drive to the south end of Key Biscayne to visit the Cape Florida Lighthouse built in 1825. The views from the top are amazing. Ending the day watching the sunset over the Miami skyline with cocktails and appetizers at Rusty Pelican. Head to the hotel to crash or freshen up before a night cap at Fort Lauderdale speakeasy Apothecary 330.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are many people who have given me support, mentorship and encouragement me on my journey. I want to give a BIG Shoutout to my mother, Isabel Rodriguez. Obviously without her I wouldn’t be here. As a refugee fleeing communism with her mother and younger brother from Cuba in the late 60s, she made many sacrifices to raise me in the United States with all the freedom and opportunity this country gives its’ citizens. When interning at the Miami Herald in high school, she supported me in being the first in my immediate family to go away to the University of Florida to study photojournalism. Throughout my career, my mother was my biggest cheerleader. And when I decided to leave the Sun Sentinel after 21-years, she believed in me and has encouraged me through the highs and lows.

Website: https://www.taimyalvarez.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taimyalvarezmedia/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaimyAlvarezMedia/

Image Credits
Taimy Alvarez, Taimy Alvarez Media