CEO Student Portfolios
Flash Forward
The powerful portfolios of our CEO students, who are bridging the gap between creative vision and entrepreneurship, have refined their artistic skills while gaining insights into professional techniques are showcased here. Flash Forward highlights the work of female and gender expansive photographers who are paving the way in a predominantly male-dominated industry. From candid portraits to bold conceptual work, each piece reflects their unique perspectives on identity, resilience, and artistic ambition. Viewers are invited to witness the evolution of a new generation of photographers who are shaping the future of visual storytelling with both skill and intention. This exhibition is a celebration of empowerment, innovation, and the diverse voices ready to make their mark on the industry.
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS
Delilah Mendez
Janelle Rivas
Mía "Semmia" Rovira
Miranda Aquino
MJ Joya
Presley Mena
Samantha Ramirez
Starla Mendoza
Honorable Mention
Diana Martinez
TEACHING ARTISTS
Mitzi Valenzuela
TEACHING ARTIST ASSISTANT
Karen Parez
MENTORS
Adrian Nowak, Amanda Tapia, Angelica Saucedo, Christina Russo, Robin Kadfalk, & Solo Kanehailua
Photo printing for this exhibition sponsored by Epilogue Inc.
New Walls, Old Stories
Delilah Mendez,
age 15
ARTIST STATEMENT
This photograph captures a powerful contrast between old and new, reflecting the tensions of gentrification and the lasting impact of immigration on Los Angeles’s 1st Street. An aging house stands in contrast to a modern apartment building, symbolizing the transformation of the area and the displacement of long-time residents. We observe the change in the cityscape along with the unveiling of the Fernando Valenzuela mural, the presence of lowriders in the frame and Valenzuela’s jersey further unite the image in the cultural identity of the community, celebrating its Mexican-American heritage.
ABOUT ME
Delilah Mendez is a 15-year-old Mexican-American photographer from L.A. County. With a passion for photojournalism, candid moments, and portraiture, Delilah uses her lens to capture raw emotion and document the passage of time. Photography offers her a space to take control of her art and express how she sees the world. Within Los Angeles, Delilah is inspired by the city’s creativity, which heavily influences her work. Through her photographs, Delilah invites her audience to reflect on themes of change, nostalgia, and the feeling of familiarity in youth. She strives to convey how time shapes both her city and the lives within it, hoping to inspire others to reflect on their own lively experiences through her work.
This Just In
Janelle Rivas,
age 17
ARTIST STATEMENT
Many come here to pursue the American dream to build better lives for themselves and their families. The morning after the 2024 presidential election I woke up feeling a wave of the same emotions that I once felt as a 9 year old in 2015. Instead of focusing on what our communities have worked for, as minorities, we’ve come across new reasons to keep us from coming together.
ABOUT ME
Being able to share my art and what I create has become one of the biggest privileges that I've been given. I love sharing work that connects to how I feel during a certain stage in my life. Turning my visions into a reality and the entire process of telling a story from my perspective is what pushes me to continue to share creatively these parts of my identity.
Una Flor No Florece Sola
Mía "Semmia" Rovira, age 16
ARTIST STATEMENT
A flower does not bloom without their beloved community to uplift them and cheer for their wonderful accomplishments. Una flor no florece sola is a campaign in honor of Hispanic Heritage month in partnership with Rare Beauty. Thank you to my beautiful community, family and friends for cheering me on as I reach for the stars.
ABOUT ME
Semmia is a 16-year-old photographer whose work is deeply rooted in cultural ties of their Zapotec heritage. Semmia’s intention with photography is to highlight her underrepresented communities, essentially capturing the essence of their abundance. Through each photo, she aims to tell a story of resilience, beauty, and pride.
Untitled
Reflejo de Mi Niñez
Miranda Aquino, age 17
ARTIST STATEMENT
Capturing the spirited girls performing felt like coming full circle because I similarly began dancing at a young age. I loved being able to present myself as an artist onstage. Seeing other young artists vividly show their passion was nostalgic, as I saw myself in their smiles–like a reflection.
ABOUT ME
Miranda Aquino resides in Mid-City, Los Angeles as a senior in high school. Her explorations in the arts led her to fall in love with photography, journalism, filmmaking, and dance. She learned to lean on elements from different areas of L.A, guiding her to form a wondrous persona. With the mediums she uses–along with her understanding of her community–Miranda plans to produce narratives on womanhood and the gift of Hispanic/Latinx culture. As her final year of adolescence comes to a close, she has been able to use photography to capture a theme she holds dear: youth. In her own style, she visually represents the nostalgia of being young, but also the bittersweet emotion of eventually getting older. With this mindset, she hopes to continue exploring through other art forms the multiple themes that shape her character.
Spotlight
Joker
MJ Joya, age 17
ARTIST STATEMENT
Hi! I'm Maryjane, or Mj, a 17-year-old high school student specializing in environmental portraiture and events. This semester, I've focused on expanding my clientele and creating personal work, like capturing fun moments with friends at the park. It's been an exciting time, working gigs and meeting new people! My portraits are all about bright, happy colors and capturing joyful moments, often with huge smiles. I’m grateful for the opportunities to grow and connect through my photography!
ABOUT ME
Maryjane Joya is a 17-year-old high school student based in South Central, Los Angeles. They started their photography journey in 2018 and have continued to improve their skills with Las Fotos Project since 2019. They focus on environmental portraiture, but are most comfortable with special events. They have done many types of gigs, two notably: concert photography for The FORD and Golden Glow. Maryjane is heavily inspired by their family and LFP mentors. They greatly appreciate all forms of photography. After graduation, Maryjane wishes to major in photography and run their own photography studio.
Yeux
Stonehaven (LIVE)
Presley Mena, age 17
ARTIST STATEMENT
Presley Mena is a 17-year-old artist based in Los Angeles. She is a photo editor and also creates collages. Additionally, she utilizes cinematography as a form of creative expression. She hopes to study film in college and eventually edit or direct films. She is currently learning photography to explore opportunities for her future career. She hopes to discover more about her own identity and forms to express her ideas creatively. She hopes to one day impact young, intriguing minds.
ABOUT ME
My name is Presley Marie Mena. I have always been passionate about art, in particular film and photography, but what intrigues me the most is directing. For me, directing is a way to express my likes and interests behind the scenes. Film and photography have positively impacted me and have allowed me to express myself. One of my goals is to attend a film school, where I can obtain a degree in cinema/film to pursue a career as a director. I also want to get better at concert photography, and hopefully one day become a band’s personal photographer.
Crumpled
Radiant
Samantha Ramirez, age 16
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist, I am inspired immensely by cinema, loved ones, and emotion. I love using cinematography, stillness, perspective, and overall the colors and vibrancy that I come across every day. My photography celebrates my experimentation with texture, lighting, mood, composition, and so much more.
ABOUT ME
My name is Samantha Ramirez. I am a 16-year-old immigrant artist and I have been with Las Fotos Project for three years. I was born and raised in Mexico, where I lived for 7 years before my family moved to the U.S. to find a better future. Because we moved around a lot, I always struggled with my identity. Las Fotos Project gave me an outlet to explore my identity and introduced me to what art can be through photography–the way to capture a story or feeling in a single frame. Through my participation in LFP, I created work that I used for my application to Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, which I am currently attending. LFP taught me how to use my creative mind and heart and how to share that message with the world.
Iridescent
365 Party Girl
Starla Mendoza, age 14
ARTIST STATEMENT
2024: The year pop music disrupted pop culture. While there are many artists that are notorious for their style of music, there’s none quite like Charli XCX. She single-handedly turned a regular summer into something that would go down in history–BRAT summer. While it was not intentional for the model in the photo to be wearing a “365 Party Girl” shirt, it is a prime example of the chokehold Charli XCX’s music has on many people, including myself.
ABOUT ME
My name is Starla Mendoza. I am a 14-year-old photographer born, raised, and based in Los Angeles. With every photo I capture, I aim to express and showcase the creative outburst that happens in my mind. My family has always been very artistic, with everyone having an interest in varying and different art forms. Photography has always felt like the perfect outlet, for it affords me the opportunity to share the views I have of the world. I aspire to pursue a career as a studio photographer as I have taken a keen interest in the ways I am able to manipulate light. I enjoy being able to control all factors in the creative process to seemingly create a world of my own.
Lights, Lights, Lights