Meet Alexa Rivera | Photographer

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

Hi Alexa, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve had an interest in art making from a very young age. I always loved my art classes in early grade school because of how much self-expression was encouraged. Of course over the years, my ideas about art making and what it means to be an artist continue to evolve, but the importance of self-expression still remains a core value. I spent most of high school with little to no involvement with anything extracurricular, and wasn’t too involved in anything creative academically – yet I found myself becoming more and more interested in photography outside of school. What started out as my friends and I just taking photos for fun, quickly turned into a way in which I could express myself and process the world around me with a medium that I loved. After high school, I ended up pursuing an art degree, which eventually turned into an art degree with emphasis in photography, at the University of Georgia. Now a year out of school, I am still learning what it means to be creative professional, and even though it can be difficult at times, I’m beyond grateful to be able to pursue my passion as a career.

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.
My style of work comes from many different influences, but what i’m most passionate about capturing is the essence of my subject in a way that is personal, unique, and honest. I’m proud to say i’ve worked closely with some incredible individuals in helping them bring their vision to life. Along the way, there have been creative, financial, and personal challenges, but i’ve learned that I should never lose sight of my passions and why I do what I do. Being a freelance photographer has not been easy, especially in the midst of Covid-19, but having just moved to Atlanta, i’m looking forward to the new opportunities that this city will present.

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.
Although i’m new to the city, I already have a growing list of favorite spots. My favorite breakfast spot so far has to be Home Grown, but Little’s in Cabbagetown also has great breakfast sandwiches and some incredible murals along Wylie St. Visiting the High Museum of Art is always a great way to spend an afternoon, or stopping by Cat Eye Creative to check out the work of local artists. Other restaurants I’ve really enjoyed recently have been Ammazza, Talat Market in Summerhill, El Tesoro, and Rina. Late night spots I’ll always recommend are 97 Estoria in Cabbagetown and Argosy in East Atlanta Village – try catching a show at 529 if you can!

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’d like to dedicate my shoutout to the local community of Athens, Georgia. Having been based there for the last 6 years, my growth as an artist and creative professional has without a doubt been because of the work i’ve done with local businesses, musicians, artists, open minded individuals, and the friends who have supported me every step of the way.

Website: https://alexarivera.photos

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-rivera-99a7b3157