Today we’d like to introduce you to Virginia Hernandez.
Hi Virginia, 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’ve been drawn to photography since childhood. My interest started as a hobby when I got my first camera as an 8-year-old, but definitely became a lifelong obsession. Even while pursuing other careers through college and my early working years, I never stopped shooting for fun, occasionally daydreaming about making it a full-time gig, but not knowing how. I kept shooting and learning, and especially loved experimenting with editing.
In my early 30s, I went back to graduate school, focusing on gender studies with the intention of moving into nonprofit work. But, after graduating, I was completely burned out and decided to take a three-month sabbatical before job hunting. During that break, a friend invited me to photograph an event he was hosting, a soccer game, and a gala. I accepted, and that ended up being my turning point. I had so much fun, produced work I was proud of, and there was really no looking back.
From there, I started seeking out gigs, first to build my portfolio, then gradually turning them into paid opportunities while taking photography classes to improve my skills. After 2 years of hustling, my path eventually led to a full-time role as a photo and video producer at a large nonprofit, where I worked for eight years.
When I left that role, I decided to invest fully in myself. I dedicated my time to building my business and leveling up both the quality and range of my work. Since then, I’ve had incredible opportunities, like joining the official SXSW photo team, becoming the official photographer of the Austin Coffee Festival, shooting concerts at Moody Center and ACL Live, and expanding my conference work to some of the largest gatherings in the country.
Today, in addition to my photography business, I run Streamline Creative ATX, a full-service production house I co-founded with my partner, where we provide a full range of creative solutions for businesses, private events, and musicians throughout Central Texas.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Entrepreneurship is never a smooth road. Along the way, life happens. Early on in my professional photography journey, I went through separation and divorce while raising a toddler, which meant quickly adapting to being a single working parent. I was fortunate that my nonprofit job at the time offered on-site daycare and a culture that valued work-life balance, which made all the difference.
When the executive leadership at that job turned over, everything changed. The upheaval brought years of challenges and stress, but it also became a crash course in leadership and independence. I found myself running a department solo, hiring and training an entirely new team, and taking on responsibilities I couldn’t have anticipated. It tested me physically and emotionally; it was like a trial by fire.
Eventually, I recognized I had reached my limits in that environment. But the skills I gained there – resilience, management, and problem-solving – have been invaluable in building and running my own businesses. As an entrepreneur, challenges come in all forms: slow seasons, unclear client expectations, the need to be available at a moment’s notice. No two days look the same, and I’ve learned that flexibility isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Expecting the unexpected is what it takes to be truly prepared.
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?
I specialize in corporate, branding, portraits, and music photography. Corporate events, like conferences, networking gatherings, and executive meetings, are truly my niche. I’ve photographed hundreds of them, and over time I’ve developed an innate ability to read the flow of an event and anticipate the moments that matter most, while capturing them in my personal style, which leans toward the artistic side.
Beyond corporate work, I also love collaborating with businesses and individuals on branding and portrait sessions. There’s something powerful about helping someone present their best self or tell their story visually. It’s often the first impression their clients or audience will see, and I take that responsibility seriously, getting to the bottom of what really makes a brand or a person tick.
On the music side, I’ve had the privilege of shooting everything from intimate shows to arena concerts, which constantly pushes me creatively and keeps me connected to the artistry that first drew me to photography. I am drawn to music and the expression of performing, and I approach every music gig with the intention of capturing the uniqueness of the band or artist as accurately as I can.
I am currently working on a documentary photo project called Long COVID: The Full Picture. It’s a visual series that affirms, validates, and advocates for those living with the post-viral illness long COVID. I was inspired to start the project after witnessing my best friend’s life change dramatically due to long COVID symptoms, and I decided to expand the project to a full advocacy endeavour. The images explore how chronic illness reshapes identity, loss, care, and work in women’s lives – at a time when support for long COVID is nearly nonexistent.
I am currently planning a showing for this project in the spring at a gallery in the Austin area. Updates can be found on Instagram @longcovid_photodoc.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As a kid, I was pretty introverted and happiest when I was creating. I loved art, music, and writing. From second grade through senior year, I took art classes every year and even entered a few contests along the way. Music was another obsession – I didn’t learn an instrument until adulthood, but as a kid I documented every song I heard on the radio, obsessively memorized lyrics from album liners, and devoured stories about musicians’ lives and backgrounds. Writing was just as important; I spent hours typing out fictional stories on my parents’ typewriter and branched into poetry in high school.
I’ve always been a people-watcher and a deep thinker, which, I suspect, sometimes made me seem “delightfully different” growing up. But one of the best parts of adulthood is finding your people where idiosyncrasies are celebrated – where it’s normal to debate color temperatures of lighting or geek out over music. It’s these connections that keep me grounded in my creativity and draws my attention toward the local community, where I find purpose and meaning in my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://virginiahernandez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginia.hernandezphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virginiahernandezphoto
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-hernandez-223411345
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StreamlineCreative
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/longcovid_photodoc/
Image Credits
All images: Virginia Hernandez
