Today we’d like to introduce you to Minerva Villa.
Hi Minerva, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always loved photography, but it was always just a hobby for me. I am actually an actor and have been performing since I was ten years old, but I’ve always had a camera attached to my hand. I have boxes full of film photos I’ve taken over the course of my life. My dad, uncle, and brother are also photographers so I guess I was genetically predisposed to love it.
I always had friends ask me to bring my camera along to big events and I would do it just for fun, but then two years ago I decided to try to actually do it part-time after being drawn to my camera again thanks to a friend of mine who is also a photographer. Little did I know that people would end up loving my work! Two months ago I quit my corporate job at one of the biggest publishing companies in the world and decided to take the risk and work for myself. I now own a small business and it still hasn’t sunk in that this is all real. As an actor, I have always had a day job (teacher, instructional designer), so being able to just focus on my craft has been such a beautiful privilege.
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?
Honestly, I’m a little surprised at how smooth the journey has been so far, and I think that really speaks to the incredible community I’ve built around me in the theatre scene. There are so many talented photographers out there, but sometimes the hardest part isn’t the work itself, it’s finding the people who believe in you enough to keep you going. I’ve been really fortunate in that sense. The people in my life have been my biggest cheerleaders, even during the times when I couldn’t cheer for myself.
There was actually a period when I didn’t pick up a camera for about three years because of a bad personal experience. I thought I was done. But my friends and community kept encouraging me, gently pushing me back toward what I loved. That support is what got me back behind the lens and what’s kept me there.
I also have an incredible fiancé who believed in me long before I believed in myself. His support gave me the courage to quit my day job and fully pursue photography, and that’s something I’ll never take for granted.
Right now the biggest challenge I’m facing is growth and figuring out how to expand my clientele beyond my immediate community. Someone once asked me, “What are you going to do when you run out of people you know to photograph?” My answer is simple: I don’t think that’s ever going to happen. I’ll just keep spreading my wings and growing one connection at a time.
As a woman (specifically a Latina woman) in this field it can feel overwhelming at times to be one of the few women in the room…it also makes me really proud. I take up that space with gratitude and confidence, knowing that representation matters and that my perspective belongs here.
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?
When I first started my photography journey I was drawn to photographing people and fleeting moments through street photography. There was something about capturing a slice of life that fascinated me. After a while I realized I didn’t just want to observe people from a distance. I wanted to connect with them, to work with them more intentionally. That’s when I fell in love with portrait photography.
My first big opportunity came when I started helping my fellow actors with their headshots. It felt natural, almost like an extension of everything I already loved about storytelling and human connection. Over the years I’ve done a lot of work learning to love myself and I think that’s shaped the way I see others. Even if someone doesn’t see their own beauty yet I can always find it and I feel honored to help them see it too.
One thing I hear again and again is that I make people feel safe and beautiful in front of the camera. That’s probably what I’m most proud of: my ability to create a space where someone, whether I’ve known them for years or just met them, feels comfortable enough to be vulnerable. For a long time I assumed every photographer could do that, but I’ve come to realize it’s actually something pretty special.
People often tell me that one of their favorite things about my portfolio is that no two people look the same. That’s very intentional. I photograph everyone and I approach each session with the belief that every person carries their own kind of beauty both inside and out.
I also have a deep love for photographing live theatre. It’s a world I’ve been a part of for most of my life and I think that perspective gives me something unique behind the camera. I understand the intricacies of a production…the purpose behind every lighting cue, blocking choice, scenic element, and costume. I respect all of it deeply and I do my best to capture that intention through my lens. Because I come from that world, I also have that actor-director intuition. Even if I’m photographing a show I’ve never seen or read before, I instinctively know where the emotional beats will land and I’m ready for them.
How do you think about luck?
I’m not sure I’d call it luck, but I do think every road I’ve walked has played a part in where I am today. I’m almost 40 now and as an actor I’ve had just about every kind of day job you can imagine. Looking back, each one taught me something that I use as a photographer. I know how to direct people, how adults learn (I actually have a master’s degree in adult education), how to communicate clearly, and when it’s best to take a step back and let someone just be. All those experiences built the foundation for how I work now. The hustle really did pay off, just not in the way I thought it would. The universe is funny that way.
Pricing:
- Headshots: $400/hr
- Portraits: $500/hr
- Theatre Photography: Sliding scale $200-$600
- Live Event Photography: $500/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lensofathena.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lensofathenaphotography/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minerva-villa/
Image Credits
All images were taken by me
