Today we’d like to introduce you to Jelena Ardila V..
Hi Jelena, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story has never followed a perfectly straight line, but creativity has always been at the center of it.
I began my career in Venezuela working in advertising and communications, but photography became a very personal part of my life through music. My husband is a musician, and I started taking photos of bands, concerts, and artists within the Venezuelan rock-and-roll scene. At first, I was simply trying to capture the energy of those nights: the movement, the emotion, the lights, and the people behind the music. Over time, photography became much more than a hobby. It became a way for me to connect with people, observe the details others might miss, and tell stories without needing many words.
When I moved to Miami, I had to rediscover myself professionally. Starting over in a new country can be humbling. You bring your experience, your ideas, and everything you have built before, but you also have to create new relationships and learn how to find your place again. Advertising and photography remained an important part of my identity during that transition, even as my career began to evolve in new and unexpected directions.
Today, I am the Executive Manager of the Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce of the United States. My work involves events, communications, partnerships, sponsorships, and supporting a growing community of Venezuelan entrepreneurs and business leaders. It is a very different environment from photographing a rock concert, but I often think the skills are more connected than they appear. In both worlds, I am paying attention to people, emotions, timing, and the small details that make an experience meaningful.
Photography taught me how to see. My work at the Chamber has taught me how to connect. Together, they have shaped the way I move through the world, as a creative person, an immigrant, a storyteller, and someone who deeply values community.
I am still evolving, and I think that is one of the most beautiful parts of my story. I no longer feel that I have to choose only one version of myself. I can be a photographer, a communicator, an organizer, and a community builder, all at the same time.
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?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Moving to the United States meant learning how everything worked again, both professionally and personally. I arrived with experience, but with a very limited network, and for a while I felt isolated and unsure of where I fit.
As a mother, the adjustment also went far beyond work. I had to learn how to navigate schools, healthcare, insurance, and many of the systems that are part of everyday life here. Even simple decisions could feel overwhelming because everything was new.
As an introverted person, putting myself out there and building relationships was another big challenge. Over time, I learned that networking does not have to mean being the loudest person in the room. It can also come from listening, being consistent, and creating genuine connections.
I have also had to learn how to make space for creativity while balancing motherhood and a demanding professional role. Photography remains an important part of who I am, and I now understand that creative space has to be protected rather than postponed.
The experience has taught me that starting over does not mean starting from nothing. You carry your skills, your perspective, and your story with you, even while you are still learning how to build a new life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is really about helping people feel seen, understood, and connected.
Through both photography and my role at the Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce, I have had the opportunity to meet wonderful people and become part of a community that has helped me find my own place in Miami.
One of the moments I am most proud of was being selected to exhibit my work in HEALING GODDESSES III, Resilient. Even though I had been in the city for a relatively short time, the image and the story behind it connected with the right people and opened the door to my first exhibition. The piece was deeply connected to themes of change, reinvention, and the exploration of identity, which have also been part of my own journey.
What makes me unique is probably my ability to understand what people are trying to express, even when they do not always have the words for it. I try to photograph people with honesty and sensitivity, and I bring that same intention to my operational work. In every image, every event, and every project, I feel that I am helping create community while continuing to find my place within it.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as leaving a positive mark on the people around you.
Sometimes that impact is very visible, but often it is found in small, meaningful moments. Success can be preparing a Sunday lunch that brings your family together and gives everyone a moment of joy. It can be receiving an email from someone who feels grateful for the way you captured an important event in their life. It can also be seeing members of the Chamber feel proud to represent Venezuela and to be part of initiatives that have a positive impact on the community.
For me, success is not only about recognition, titles, or major accomplishments. It is about creating experiences that make people feel seen, connected, proud, or simply a little happier. If something I created, organized, or photographed leaves someone with a good memory or a stronger sense of belonging, then I consider that a success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jelenaardila.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jelenaardilav/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelenaardila/
- Other: https://www.venezuelanchamber.org
