Meet Luana Maria Seu | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luana Maria Seu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luana Maria, why did you pursue a creative career?
Since I was really small, my parents encouraged my artistic interests so they introduced me to music and I started playing piano and flute. After that singing followed and when I turned 10 I got the courage to start dancing as well and that’s when my journey as a competitive ballroom dancer started. Art was always my way of speaking, living, breathing. Photography was my next step as a teenager because I was really shy and didn’t know how to communicate my feelings. I also couldn’t find enough reasons to go out wand meet people. The camera showed me ways to communicate, to look clearly, to observe life without being forced to intervene. I also realized quite quickly that people like to be seen, appreciated. I felt that I could show my appreciation and curiosity towards people, in my way – through a lens. So if you are young and need to express – just pick up a camera and start showing others how beautiful they are!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Romanian fine-art & portrait photographer based in Brooklyn, New York City. With a background in the performing arts, my work focuses on creating “worlds” based upon allegorical themes that include a diversity of subjects, stories, and cultural backgrounds.

I work with people who have distinct stories to tell, establishing a basis for a deeply interpersonal and collaborative process of dynamic and cinematically-inspired stories. My main inspiration is cinema and contemporary art and being raised in a very religious environment that became one of the main themes of creating personal and fine-art projects.

I had many challenges along the way and one of the main one was moving away from my family and come to New York City when I was nineteen. One of my fears was that I will loose myself in the crowd. I was overwhelmed by how much the city had to give and it took me a while to understand what exactly I need from “her”- lady Liberty. After that my realization was that I will be on my way to the career I want when I will truly understand my roots and then integrate them in everything I create. Self portraiture was a way of research, especially when I was homesick the most.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
At the moment I’m gladly enjoying everything around me. I believe that there is no better way to recharge and take a moment to observe life from anywhere else than home. I’m currently spending time with my family and people I love most. After months of working without a break almost – I realised how important it is to step back, take a breath and acknowledge what I’ve accomplished so far and have more gratitude.

New York City is the place that pushes everyone, full of challenges and I – like everyone else – have been pushed far above the limits I thought I had. I learnt, worked, created and worked again. Now is my time to sit, observe, create, write, create again and just exist.

I never thought I’d say this – but there is art in just existing, more than the “city rush” ( at times, at times not )

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 want to thank Nancy Burson for becoming my mentor and good friend after graduating. She gave me such a beautiful space to discover, make mistakes and grow while assisting her for current projects. I am in a continuous need of learning and having someone like Nancy in my life, not only helped but “fed” my curiosities and kept me up-to-date on what art is at the moment and how can always look for more ways to express and create. All the teachers I had the blessing to learn from while I was studying photography are the people I will always be grateful. To this day, every time I pick up the camera and photograph – I hear some of their advices in my head and I try to push myself and find different ways to “talk” my way.

Website: https://www.luanaseu.com/

Instagram: @thelu.mag