My name is Lisa Marie Figueroa. I’m a portrait and wedding photographer in Orange County, California. As long as I can remember photography has always been a part of who I am. As a child I forced (likely tortured) my little sister to pose for me and my kodak 110 camera. She was my model and I was the cool photographer. In High School, I took photography but unlike some of my peers, I hated the darkroom. All I really wanted to do was take pretty pictures, capture moments and document life. As photography evolved to digital, I found myself falling in love once again.
What truly inspired me to pursue photography was my wedding photographer Marlin Munoz. After our wedding in 2005, he became my mentor and willingly took me under his wing. He was always pushing but I was never quite ready to invest. Rather, I spent the next three years growing our family and learning the fundamentals of Photoshop. In 2008, after losing my job in the banking industry, my husband told me it was, “time”. With his support, I invested my entire severance in photography gear, took a leap of faith and never looked back. I truly never imagined that my passion for photography would turn into a career.
What or who has inspired you?
I am inspired by romance novels, fairy tales, magical moments, beautiful lyrics in music, light and Love. Always. Love is dreamy…
How many weddings do you shoot on average each year?
I photograph between 15-20 weddings a year. I’m hoping to do the same for 2013.
How would you describe your photography style?
I see my style as real life romance. I’m a story teller, a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. Ultimately, my goal is just to tell my couples’ story through documentary styled shots and effortless posing. I personally love simple and un-complicated.
What is your favorite lens?
My favorite lens is my 24-70mm 2.8L. That lens is usually on my camera and I seldom take it off. It’s a great all around lens and it offers so much flexibility with its range. It definitely comes in handy when shooting large groups, which is a plus with formals at weddings.
What is your favorite hobby beyond photography?
I don’t have much time for hobbies outside of photography. I have to admit that most of my free time is spent with my children or husband. I can however get caught up in a juicy romance novel and I love my spin class at the gym.
If you and your camera were invisible for one day, where would you secretly shoot?
This is such a difficult question to answer. My go-to answer would be New York because that’s the ideal setting for gorgeous romantic imagery but after thinking about it, I’d have to say my home. I would just love to be able to capture everything as it happens in a way that only someone from the outside could only see.
If it was almost time for your family portrait, what photographer would you LOVE to say – he/she took my portrait?
Joy Prouty of Wildflowers photography. Her works is beyond perfection and so incredible. Everything she photographs is just utterly amazing. She captures life in such a raw and abiding way. Her voice and her vision cannot be compared; she truly is a gem in this industry.
What photo editing software do you use most?
I use adobe photoshop cs 5 and lightroom.
How is offering the Lustre Book benefitting your business?
Lustre Books are hand crafted and absolutely beautiful. At the end of the day, wedding photography for me boils down to one key point: telling my clients story from beginning to end. Page after page reveals the details, the moments and the beauty of their day. I have personally found no perfect alternative to an album. These Lustre Books truly are heirlooms that will be treasured for years.
A big thank you to Lisa Marie for taking the time to interview with us! For more information check out her links below!
