Meet Natalia Perez | Fine Art Photographer

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

Hi Natalia, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have been drawn to the arts for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I often expressed interest in creative outlets and would spend much of my free time drawing, playing the piano, and participating in theatre productions, to name a few. In high school, I always tried to take as many arts-related classes as I could, and during my senior year, I was even invited to be a part of the orchestra for my school’s performance of “Shrek: The Musical,” an experience that I still cherish to this day.

Surprisingly, I did not explore photography much until I was a junior at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). I was studying architecture at the time, and while I was abroad for a quarter, I picked up a disposable camera so that I could photograph my time there. I loved the experience of shooting with film, and when I returned home and had the images developed, I immediately knew that photography was something I wanted to delve into.

Although I eventually graduated from SCAD with a B.F.A. in Architecture in 2021, I felt something pulling me towards pursuing photography professionally. I was still taking photos with a film camera during this time, and it was something I just couldn’t put down. So, in 2023, I made the decision to attend SCAD again, this time as a photography student.

I truly believe that I was meant to be an artist in one way or another, and photography has been my favorite way to express myself and my ideas to the world.

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.
As a photographer who mainly shoots using film, I enjoy exploring themes that are personal to me, but that others are hopefully able to relate to as well. Whether it be through a series that explores identity, movement, or different emotions, my main goal is to create work that shines a light on the things around us that are often missed or not spoken about enough. Themes such as relationships, my heritage, and our ever-changing world are important to my work and are ones I always try to keep in mind when taking photographs.

Getting to where I am now professionally was definitely not a linear path. It took me several years to figure out that I wanted to be a photographer and that this medium was the best way for me to communicate my thoughts and ideas. I learned a lot about myself during this time, but the most important lesson I have taken away from it all is that if you aren’t happy where you are, you have the power to change that. It may be difficult and scary, but it is so worth it when you get there.

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.
Where to start? I feel like there are so many great things to see and do in Atlanta, but if I had to pick a few, I would start by taking them to my favorite local record store, Criminal Records. I get a lot of my inspiration from music, and often spend hours looking through their inventory to see what new records they have. After that, we would probably go to Ponce City Market and maybe walk some of the Beltline. We would also have to check out the newest exhibitions at the High Museum and Jackson Fine Art. I also love trying out new restaurants, so I think that would be something fun to do together.

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?
My parents have been my biggest cheerleaders, and for that, I can’t thank them enough. They’ve been there with me through the ups and downs and have always supported my artistic journey, even when I have doubted myself and my abilities.

Website: www.nataliaperezphoto.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nataliashootsfilm

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nataliaperezphoto

Image Credits
Personal photo: Khushi Patel All other photos: Natalia Perez