Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Fernandez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Photography has always been something that fascinated me, the way a camera could capture a moment in time, and how those images could become memories that families would hold onto forever.
When
I was finishing my Master’s degree in Miami, I needed to find a small side job that I could do on weekends without interfering with my studies and internships during the week. Because photography had always stayed close to my heart, I started taking photos for families. At first, it was small: maternity sessions, family portraits, children’s birthdays, and special milestones. Little by little, as more people began to see my work, I started receiving more opportunities and eventually expanded into wedding photography.
After completing my degree, I began working as a Mental Health Therapist and Counselor for teens and young adults. It was meaningful work, and I loved being able to help people through important stages of their lives. But even then, the camera kept calling me back. Photography gave me another way to connect with people; not through therapy, but through emotion, memories, and storytelling.
In 2012, my husband Daniel and I made the decision to give photography our full focus, and that is when Studiobylala was officially established. What began as a weekend side job slowly grew into something much bigger than we imagined. Today, Studiobylala is a full photography studio in Miami, managed and directed by Daniel and me, along with an amazing team of five employees.
Looking back, I feel incredibly grateful that something that started as a childhood fascination became the business and purpose I get to live every day. For us, photography has never just been about taking beautiful pictures. It has always been about preserving memories, celebrating families, and creating images that people will cherish for generations.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to building a business is never completely smooth. There are always challenges along the way, but I truly believe each one teaches you something important and helps you grow, both personally and professionally.
One of the biggest challenges we experienced came around 2016, when Studiobylala really started to grow. It was an exciting time because the business was gaining momentum, but it also became overwhelming very quickly. At that point, I was still handling most of the photography, client communication, editing, and day-to-day responsibilities myself. Daniel was still working full-time as a manager with the U.S. Department of State, and we had not yet built the team structure we have today.
Looking back, it was a case of growing too much, too fast. The demand was there, but we had to learn how to manage that growth in a healthy and sustainable way. That season forced Daniel and me to sit down, really analyze the business, and make important decisions about the future of Studiobylala. We realized that if we wanted to continue growing while still giving our clients the quality, care, and experience they deserved, we could not continue doing everything alone.
That was a major turning point for us. Daniel eventually joined the business full-time, and we brought in our first full-time photographer besides myself, as well as an editor. It taught us the importance of delegation, systems, and trusting the right people to help carry the vision forward.
That experience shaped the way we run Studiobylala today. We learned that growth is a blessing, but it also requires structure, leadership, and a strong team. Most importantly, it taught us that building a business is not just about doing more — it is about creating a better experience for the families who trust us with their most important memories.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Studiobylala is a full-service photography studio in Miami specializing in maternity, newborn, birthday, family, and quinceañera photography. Our work is centered around capturing meaningful milestones in a beautiful, timeless, and emotional way.
Over the years, we have become known for creating images that feel soft, elegant, and full of connection. Whether we are photographing a mother during her maternity session, a newborn during their first days of life, a child celebrating a birthday, or a young girl preparing for her quinceañera, our goal is always the same: to create images that families will cherish for many years.
One of the things we are most proud of is the trust our clients place in us during so many different stages of their lives. Many families first come to us for maternity photos, then return for newborn sessions, birthdays, family portraits, and other important milestones. Being able to grow with our clients and document their families over time is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
What sets us apart is that we are not just focused on taking beautiful pictures. We focus on the entire experience. We help guide our clients through the planning process, from choosing the right session style to wardrobe, hair and makeup, dresses, accessories, albums, wall art, and printed products. We want every client to feel prepared, comfortable, and cared for from beginning to end.
Another important part of our studio is our team. We have an amazing team of photographers and staff who understand how personal these sessions can be, especially for mothers, children, newborns, and young girls. We take pride in creating an environment where our clients feel comfortable, confident, and supported.
At the heart of Studiobylala, we are most proud of the memories we help preserve. Photography is more than a service to us. It is a way of celebrating family, documenting love, and creating something that becomes part of a family’s legacy.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
One of the things we love most about Miami is the diversity and culture. Miami has such a unique energy. It is vibrant, colorful, family-oriented, and full of people from so many different backgrounds. As photographers, that makes our work very special because every family brings their own story, traditions, and personality into their sessions.
We also love how much people in Miami value celebrating important milestones. Whether it is a maternity session, a newborn, a child’s birthday, a family portrait, or a quinceañera, families here really understand the importance of documenting those moments. There is a strong sense of family, tradition, and celebration in this city, and that is something we feel very connected to through our work.
What we like least is probably what many people would say: Miami can be very fast-paced, expensive, and traffic can definitely be challenging. Sometimes the city moves so quickly that it can feel hard to slow down and be present.
But in a way, that also reminds us why photography matters. Life moves fast, especially in a city like Miami, and our work gives families a chance to pause, celebrate where they are, and preserve that season of their lives before it changes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studiobylala.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiobylala/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudioByLalaPage/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@studiobylala6972?si=iEautVLhui63s1WD
