Latina Leader Spotlight: Kiara Terrero
Q: Tell us about yourself: what ethnicity are you, where were you born, and where do you currently live?
A: My name is Kiara Terrero. I am a second-generation Cuban-Dominican American from Manhattan, New York. I currently live in Manhattan, and I’m a junior at the School of Visual Arts, majoring in photography.
Q: When did you start your journey with photography?
A: My photography journey started when I was ten. I didn't pick up my first camera at ten, but I was inspired to get into the arts at that age. It was the summer of 2010, and I was living in Florida with my family. My uncle Jessy was in Florida visiting and directing a music video for Rick Ross. My dad and I decided to take a trip to the location of the video shoot. When we got there, they were just about to start to film the next scene. The filming of this scene will forever be a vital aspect of my photography journey because my uncle had given me advice that I would never forget. The scene that was being shot was of two beautiful models dunking their whole body, from head to toe, in the pool water and coming back up. Mind you, it was extremely cold that day and the pool had not been heated at all. There were multiple takes of this exact scene, and in every variation, you saw the girls getting colder and colder. I was sitting with my uncle, watching the monitor as we watched the girls dunk their heads. During the shoot, my uncle had let me sit in his director's chair. Right at that moment, he said to me, Sometimes, it’s better to be behind the camera than in front of it. You see how these models are getting cold doing the same scene more than once? We are on the other side behind the camera, making this magic happen while still staying warm. After hearing his advice, it sparked something inside me that made me want to get into the arts. But I didn't want to film like my uncle, I wanted to do photography and let the photos tell my story.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a Latina creator?
A: Being a Latina photographer, means so much to me because I love what I do. To capture visual storytelling moments through my lens is what is dearest to me. I collaborate with brands that are black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), owned. My goal is to help them achieve brand visibility and awareness by highlighting their pieces on models who have similar diverse backgrounds.
Q: Who is your Latina inspiration?
A: Phraa is my favorite Latino photographer. He holds this number one spot with me because he is always trying new things, and genuinely blows people's minds away! When it comes to photographing his models and shooting portraits, he always seems to make his models feel comfortable. This is how Phraa is able to capture their authentic beauty. Even while some models may have insecurities, he brings out the beauty in them and creates art with his photographs.
Q: What do you want other Latina creators to know?
A: I want other Latinas to know that no matter what color or body type you may be, if you come from a Latin background, own it. There should never be one type of look based on the country of your origin.
Q: What can we look forward to from you in 2021?
A: For 2021, I’m looking forward to learning more about myself as a Latina and as an artist. I definitely want to continue to tell stories through my photographs, as well as making connections with brands and other amazing artists.
Q: How can people support/follow you?
A: They can follow me via my instagram @karalz.lenz. I am also very open to collaborating, and of course booking shoots! Feel free to DM me. I am always available to shine the lens on YOUR story.
Image taken by Kiara
