Simple Beauty: The Photography of Laura Paulo Aguilar

Tara A. Spears

Photography is a magical world where images speak louder than words. It captures moments, emotions, and stories with a single click. Anyone can snap a picture, but it takes a creative eye to take photos that pull the viewer into the frame and spark emotion. A true photographer considers light, arrangement and what message they want to achieve. “Art, including photography, is important because it’s a powerful means of communication, where images are a language understood by every human being,” said the vivacious Laura Paola Aguilar. She is a freelance photographer who specializes in portraits and commercial food advertisements. You can commission her professional services via WhatsApp at 331 251 8506 or by messaging her on Facebook. Let’s explore the enchanting world of Laura Paola Aguilar’s photography.

Recently, Laura donated her professional expertise to capture the fun of the Mujeres a Mujeres Fashion Show. But supporting MaM is not the only volunteering that Laura does. I first met Laura years ago at an environmental rally to protest pollution problems in Jaltemba Bay. In addition, Laura is active with other local groups, such as the artist collective and recycling initiatives. As is the case for many gifted people, Laura is passionate about diverse issues: “I support projects for children because I believe that education for children and women is the most important thing in this era; I believe in equality for women in general, equal access to education for women; wellness to balance the stress of modern life; health; and art.” Besides living an environmentally respectful life — you’ll see her riding her bike to meetings instead of driving — Laura uses her camera to share her beliefs.

Although Laura was born in León, Guanajuato, when she was eight years old her family moved to Guadalajara. She has observed firsthand the detrimental effect that urban population growth has on the environment, having lived in the country’s second-largest city, with a population of more than 5.2 million people. Growing up, her family vacationed in Guayabitos, and Laura made friends in the area. When she fell in love with Cristobal, they married on the beach in 2016 and moved to Guayabitos. While Laura is blessed to look like a teenager, she is a mature 35 years old and taking her career in a new direction.

“I feel proud of the life that I have created up to this moment, where I have already experienced having two restaurant businesses. When I was younger, gastronomy was my career goal. Now, I am pursuing a different dream that has to do with using art and creativity.” Laura has always enjoyed photography as a hobby, but in 2022 she decided to make it her career. “I started working with Antonio Nabor, Studio Woow, to learn more and develop my photography skills.”

“I really enjoy taking portraits of people to capture their personality. I also like gastronomy, because taking still shots of food is communication between a culinary item and the public. It’s a challenging, fun project for me because I enjoy both parts.” Look at the photos in this article that illustrate Laura’s skill: they appear to be studio photos, but were taken in the challenging outdoor lighting of the plaza! Beautiful.

For Laura, it is history and bygone eras that are a source of inspiration. “I really enjoy looking at photos from many years ago; I love to reminisce about what happened, and about how the moment, the person, and the place have changed.” When taking portraits, Laura likes to capture the spiritual side, or a natural, uncontrived snapshot of a person’s personality — a keen eye for natural photography.

Laura shared that she is inspired by Miriam “Mina” Morsan, a Mexican woman, feminist, activist, and environmentalist. Mina has fought for the corals and reefs of Cozumel, defended the jungles affected by the “Maya Train,” and advocated for climate justice in our country. Jaltemba Bay is fortunate to have the talented, dedicated Laura Paola Aguilar to capture memories for us. “Happiness is only real when shared, and a quality photo is a great way to do it!”