my background

I was born and raised in Brazil. Although the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s were very challenging years for Brazilians, both socially and economically, I was inspired by the art movements that surfaced from those struggling times.

Art has been in my life since a very young age. My mother is very creative. During my childhood, she would create amazing decorations, games and entertainment for our birthday parties out of cardboard boxes and colored paper. I was fascinated by the “dolls” she used to draw, but refused to teach me how to make them. I had to learn on my own.

As a young adult I went to school to study art. While in school, I worked for an architect as a draftsman. Later, I graduated in the advertising field. I will try everything once.

Freshly out of school, I realized my chances of surviving working in the creative field in Brazil were very small, so I set my foot to travel the world to find a place were I could have more opportunities and freedom. In 1987, I started traveling all over Europe, and bought my first camera - a Pentax with a 50mm lenses and zoom lenses. I fell in love with photography.

I arrived in Los Angeles when the 1992 riots started. I was shocked but fascinated by the city’s contrasts and immediately joined photography classes at L.A. City College and started working as an assistant photographer soon after.

In 1995, I started working as a professional photographer.

My experience includes studio work and location, covers and magazine materials for many L.A. bands and musicians, including the aclaimed Los Angeles based, Human Drama and the New Orleans artist and song writer, Jonny Indovina, making the cover for their album "Fourteen Thousand Three Hundred Eight Four Days Later".

My work also includes commercial work for many companies in Los Angeles, including Hanna Barbera and Turner Broadcasting.

 

my vision

I appreciate the raw reality of everyday life, the fleeting beauty of those in-between moments, and I do my very best to take every picture with that in mind. I want my viewers to relate to my photographs through the situations, the emotions, and the energy they reflect.

If I am shooting portraits or events, I want my clients to fell comfortable in their own skin in front of the camera, and I want to make sure their beautiful and unique personalities are portrayed in the photos I capture of them. I try my best not to be invasive and graciously dance along and behind the scenes of the special moments and memories that they are creating.

 

disclosure

(c) Izzy Cruz Photography. These are all Copyrighted Photographs. Any copying or scanning is illegal worldwide! All Rights Reserved.