Meet Mariana Otalora Chavez

We recently connected with Mariana Otalora Chavez and have shared our conversation below.

Mariana, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

Staying creative isn’t always easy. There are moments when new ideas just don’t flow. When that happens, I look to my surroundings for motivation. I try to stay curious, slowing down and paying close attention to the small details around me until something captures my interest. Once it does, I give myself little assignments to photograph that subject. It might not feel exciting at first, but it’s a starting point.
From there I experiment—different techniques, different editing tools, anything that sparks a new direction. Eventually, once I’ve tried enough ideas, creativity starts to come back. It doesn’t always happen right away, so I remind myself to be patient, allow space for mistakes, and trust that inspiration will return.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Mariana Otalora. I’m a photographer and educator currently focused on personal photographic projects built around creative concepts that I can share with others.
Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I used to borrow my dad’s camera and photograph anything around me. Over time, he taught me how to better understand the camera, and it became a passion we shared. When I moved to New York, I decided it was the perfect moment to pursue photography professionally. I began taking classes at PhotoUno Photography School and later completed a Master’s in Digital Photography at the School of Visual Arts (SVA).
Throughout my journey, I’ve discovered that my inspiration often comes from magical realism, culture, and traditions. I’m drawn to bright, saturated colors, which frequently appear in my work. With my projects, I aim to connect with viewers through memories and personal reflections—inviting them to interact with my images, to play, and perhaps to revisit memories of their own. I also love highlighting the quiet beauty of everyday life, the moments we often overlook while rushing through our routines. By reflecting on these daily experiences, I find new ideas and creative ways to express them.
Photographing cultural projects and teaching photography have also been incredibly meaningful influences in my career.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Resilience, facing impostor syndrome, and learning from every experience have all been crucial in my journey—and they’re skills I continue to practice every day. In the arts, you’re constantly putting both your work and yourself out into the world, which means criticism is inevitable. Progress requires being open to that feedback and using it to strengthen your work. The fear of others not liking what you create may never fully disappear, but believing in yourself and creating work you’re proud of is essential.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I believe that following your passion is what keeps you engaged, motivated, and willing to grow—regardless of where your initial skill level is. Mastery comes from consistency: showing up, practicing, and continuing even when things don’t go well. Failures and obstacles are part of the journey, but they’re also what push you to improve. When you’re passionate about something, you’re more likely to persist, and persistence is what truly leads to becoming outstanding in your craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marianaotaloraphoto.com
• Instagram: marianaotalora_photo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariana-otalora-9a9187318/
• Other: https://marianaotaloraphotography.pixieset.com/

Image Credits

Photos by Mariana Otalora Chavez