Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Céspedes.
Hi Erika, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since I was 5 years old, I would tell everyone I was going to be a photographer. I remember my family always smiling and saying “Of course you will”, but there was always a chuckle after. I carried a small toy cabbage patch camera with me everywhere, taking photos and framing that next big shot! After all, growing up in a Hispanic family in Costa Rica at the time, arts were always encouraged as a hobby but never a career.
After moving from Costa Rica to Florida in 1998, I had my first true photography encounter in High School, a Black and White Darkroom class. I felt I had reached my dream, and it solidified those feelings of being a photographer 100%. I graduated High School and enrolled in Art School, I never looked back.
I started to assist wedding, commercial, food and architecture photographers. Slowly I started to book my own photoshoots and started my own business. Short after I moved to Chicago, where I continued to further education in the field of photography. I continued to photograph weddings as freelancer and work with chefs and restaurants in the city while putting myself through school.
During my time in Chicago I started to teach art, on my free days to small kids through one of the non- profit organizations. This was the moment where I discovered a new passion. I was teaching under-served communities in the South Side of Chicago as well as North Side. I continued to pursue both, teaching and photographing. While working on both areas, I started to explore the area of Fine Art photography, where I was able to express who I was and visually create self-portrait narratives that shaped who I am. I explored, depression, sexuality, grief, motherhood and many more.
Shortly after I became a mother and while pursuing my MFA, teaching and photographing work for clients I started to lean more into the gift of education and giving back.
I moved to Florida once again and started to teach art through the Norton Museum of Art to migrant communities and teens with behavioral matters. Through here I started to treat art as a form of therapy just like I was during my MFA thesis. I continued to teach in other institutions, such as Dreyfoos School of the Arts as a part time photography teacher, inspiring young minds to purse their passion and create what they felt so strong about. I encouraged my students to show their work in local community centers. After all, I was showing my work in galleries and museums, so I knew community exposure was equally important to students as a form of support outside the school environment.
A few years after I had the opportunity to move to Salt Lake City, Utah where I continued to work in the community, this time with homeless shelters bringing photography as a way to discover new avenues of expression. The results were above and beyond my expectations. These students once seen under a not so positive light in the city, where now creating incredible passionate work that led to an exhibition at one of the local cafe in the area. I was also creating my own work and teaching photography at the University of Utah and design at Westminster University in addition to writing a book on photography. In 2021, I was approached by Stanford University and started to teach photography courses via online.
My time was cut short in Utah, after a serious health decline and we had to move back to Florida. Once back in Florida, I started to teach at FAU, Palm Beach State College and DSOA once again, in addition to teaching Stanford online and creating work. My schedule was far from easy, every day I was driving to a different place and always eager to provide students with knowledge in the arts.
In 2024, I was offered a full-time position at Palm Beach State College where I teach Darkroom, Experimental and Digital photography. I am also the lead curator of the Helen M. Salzberg Gallery and serve as the advisor for the Photo-Club. I continue to produce work and show in galleries. What I once dreamed of as a small child in Costa Rica, it is now a reality that I embrace every day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No! it wasn’t buttery smooth…
Coming from a Hispanic background, and being the eldest, the expectations were “extra tough”. I didn’t let that stop me, photography was my passion, and through my accomplishments it showed it was the right career choice for me.
From a photographer’s perspective as a female in a male dominated field, I had to prove myself 10 times harder than others, but I did it without a complaint. I knew I was good and what I could bring to the table was valuable.
During my health decline – I struggled to create a bit. I had to really focus on my health and once I was feeling better, I started to create and be present for my family once again.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I started as a commercial photographer. I photographed weddings, food, fashion, editorial, commercial table top products, events and lifestyle. This was my sole income and the only thing I knew. I never worked in other places; I always stayed the course in the creative industry. I loved having different projects every day, the demand, the fast pace and always keeping myself on top of the newest trend. My main commercial specialty is food photography, this is my passion. I love making food look sexy!
As a fine artist, I love creating self-portrait narratives of events in my life, this allows me to connect with others. Feeling the conceptual come to life. Finding symbolism through visual imagery and connecting with viewers across the world.
I feel I fall in a unique category since I have both backgrounds in commercial and fine art photography. I can walk in the middle of both worlds and never feel stagnant.
My biggest accomplishment to date has been the book I wrote on photography, “Introduction to Digital Photography, Creating Images and Working with Adobe”; my main goal is to make photography accessible to everyone. This book was created with the intention of having someone who is retired learn photography without having to enroll in a class or to be used by a college professor to teach a photography course.
What sets me apart from others: I am an open book. I don’t hold back information that is going to help them be successful. Real life examples in my classes are the key to their success and mine as professor. I provide guidance and mentorship beyond the semester. My students become my creative community, beyond the educational years.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t think there is such thing as good or bad luck in life and business. It’s all about your mindset, goals, things you want to accomplish at a certain age or things you want to be recognized for and work towards it. I am responsible for my success and failures. If I failed at something, I analyze it, see what went wrong and try it again. I never stop just because it didn’t go right.
Being aware of your strengths and what you can bring to the table will allow you to advance and that is what makes you stand out.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.erikacespedes.com/
- Instagram: @erikacespedesphotography
Image Credits
Miami Living Magazine Article – https://digital.miamilivingmagazine.com/i/860854-jennifer-esposito/139?
Christine Anderson for Erika Cespedes Portrait on location 01, Erika Cespedes book 08 and Erika Cespedes resource depot show 04
