Meet Emmanuel Isai Lopez Martinez | Photographer, Student, and Jesus Follower.

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

Hi Emmanuel Isai, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
The beginning of my journey began way back, maybe when I was around 8 or 9 years of age. I was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León; a growing city surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Mexico. My life and memories as a child are very much intact, and vivid. My father worked in a tech company, graduated uni with a bachelors degree in engineering. Regardless of his position, a bigger passion of him was the video camera. My father planted a seed of his passion inside my head, inside my heart. That’s where my love for the camera began, and continues for flourish. Times back then were different, and so were the commodities and the energy around the photography and videography world, and in retrospect, I like to think that I am just as my father was when he was younger. But then, we moved, and everything and everyone that I knew was gone.

I started a new life in the States when i was 10, almost 11, and I’ve lived in Douglasville, GA ever since. I lived thru elementary and middle school and went thru a lot of character development, as is normal, I experienced a level of racism that i honestly couldn’t fathom. The kids in middle school were ruthless; vocal about their own feelings towards me as an immigrant, the mean words and slurs, phrases and actions, I never thought much of it, sure I came home crying more than once, or hid in the stalls, but I could never accept that their actions were heartfelt, as if they were just hurt by something or someone, and are just taking it out (wrongly) on someone else. Fast forward to highschool, a much more pleasant experience, I was a member of many clubs and was a very active student, I was not necessarily the best student around, but my parents always taught me to be pro-active, to pay attention, and to do good. My mother would always say a verse before she dropped me off in the morning or when I left for the bus; “Jehova te bendiga y te guarde, y haga resplandecer su rostro sobre ti” Numbers 6:25. I got my Adobe certification in high school after being in AV class for 3 years, and that’s where I really watered my own seed of passion towards where and who I am now. Fast forward to college, I’m currently a sophomore at Georgia Highlands and I’m pursuing a degree in Film and Production.

In conclusion, the struggles I may have faced in my past, have been the ones that have shaped my character the most, and I long to be able to have a big impact in the community around me, to be a light, and most importantly, to resemble Christ in everything that I do, for all the actions and things are in his glory, and all my accomplishments are minuscule if I don’t do them for the right reasons.

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’ve always been drawn to storytelling—whether through film, photography, or the way I piece together moments to create something that feels real and timeless. What sets me apart is my desire to capture those in-between moments, the ones that feel unfiltered and true. From the quiet introspection of a single shot to the poetic flow of a short film, I aim to evoke emotions that feel familiar yet powerful.

Getting to where I am today hasn’t been easy. It’s been a journey of figuring out my own voice and finding the courage to put it out there. I’ve faced challenges, from doubting my creative direction to feeling like I don’t quite fit with certain groups or environments. But that same feeling of not fitting in pushed me to create my own space, to let my work speak for itself.

The most important lesson I’ve learned is to stay true to my vision, even when the world tries to box you in. Authenticity resonates more than perfection. And through everything, I’ve come to realize I’m most fulfilled when I’m creating work that feels genuine to me.

I want the world to know that my work is more than just visuals—it’s a piece of my perspective, an invitation to see the beauty and emotion in the ordinary. Whether it’s through a documentary, a promotional piece, or a personal film, I strive to create experiences that feel authentic and memorable.

I want the world to know that my work is a reflection of my journey, and the stories I tell are shaped by everything I’ve had to overcome to find my own voice.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Okay, this question feels like youre asking me to open up about locations and things that i gatekeep LOL. JK.

I would probably take them to a lake or somewhere flat , where’s theres country land and see the sunrise, maybe like sweet water park or roswell mill creek. then probably go grab food somewhere , there’s some fire spots in Hiram. There is this salvadorean spot that’s fire or the BBQ Hawgs that’s right beside it is fire too. Then probably go bowling and go to the arcades and maybe go thrift at all my local spots in Hiram and Carrollton and Marietta. And finish the night going to grab some late night grub at the Waffle House.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Off the top of my head, I will have to shoutout my parents. They may not have taught me anything about photography or videography, or how to scale a platform, or build clientele; but they did teach me how to be respectful, how to manage and balance life, how to overcome problems that may seem impossible at first, and have supported me thru every step of the way.

I want to thank my best friend Nathan Marquez, who is a goalie for the UPSL Premier team of LSA, he’s always been there for me and has lived up to the definition of the word brother. I want to also thank my brother and sisters who have never failed to put a smile on my face, they are the true light in my life and they’re youth and energy keeps me motivated, and their interest in what I do makes me feel so accomplished as a older brother who is able to be a good influence for his younger siblings.

My uncle is also a big inspiration as he was the one who gifted me my first camera. Back in 2022, my uncle, who is the “family photographer” gifted me his old Canon Rebel XSI, an old 2008 model, but that to me didnt matter, i loved that camera so much and it was everything I needed to quickstart my passion into something real. I also want to thank Radiohead for being the absolute fuel to my creativity when it comes to music.

But I truly do appreciate every single person that has somehow crossed paths with me, every client that booked and recommended me, and every fellow photographer and videographers that have turned into some good friends, I have a grateful heart, and it longs to repay the good deeds that others have done for me.

I truly cannot express how much this journey has meant to me. Lastly, and most importantly, I want to thank God, for giving me the talent, the gift of seeing, the patience and the determination. Without God I am nothing, and everything I do, I do for his glory. All the beauty around the world is just God’s creation , and I find such peace and purity being able to capture it one frame at a time.

Website: https://isamediaa.myportfolio.com/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@isamediaa

Image Credits
all pictures taken and owned by isamediaa.