We recently had the chance to connect with Loreal Curtis and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Loreal, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I lose track of time whenever I am behind the camera. Whether I am photographing live music, couples, sports, or portraits, I get completely pulled into the moment. I love savoring the energy and the emotion in front of me and capturing the true essence of the person I am photographing.
When I am creating, everything else fades. It becomes just me, my subject, and the moment we are preserving. Those moments bring me back to my purpose in being a visual storyteller.
I hope that when people look at my photos, they can feel the passion and care I pour into every shot. I want the image to make you pause, feel something, and remember the beauty of that moment.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Loreal Curtis and I am a Houston based photographer who creates immersive and expressive imagery across live music, couples, portraits, and sports. The common thread in everything I photograph is love. I am drawn to the love an artist has for their performance, the love an athlete feels for their sport, and the love two people share when they are fully present with each other. I am inspired by emotion in its truest form and the small moments that reveal who people really are.
My work is storytelling driven and rooted in connection. I focus on energy, expression, and the details that make a moment feel real. My goal is for my images to come to life, to hold the same emotion and presence that existed in that moment, and to help people remember exactly how it felt. Whether I am photographing a concert, a couple, or an athlete, I always aim to capture the true essence of the person in front of me.
I am continuing to grow my photography in concerts and festivals while expanding my work in couples, portraits, sports, and creative editorial projects. At my core, I am a visual storyteller who creates from intention and heart. I love celebrating people and the passion that moves them and turning those moments into images that last.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
The people who taught me the most about work were my cheerleading and track coaches. I competed at some of the highest levels in both cheerleading and track, winning the Cheerleading Worlds and later competing at the Indoor and Outdoor NCAA Division 1 Track & Field Championships. If it were not for my coaches pushing me, challenging me, teaching me, and believing in me, I would not have the discipline or drive that I have today.
They taught me the value of hard work, trusting others, showing up for my team, and receiving feedback with humility. I learned how to compete with myself and become better each day. I was blessed to be coached by the best of the best, and those lessons shaped the way I work as a photographer.
They taught me how to handle pressure, how to stay present, how to connect with people, and how to approach my craft with the same intention and consistency I learned on the field and on the mat. My coaches helped mold me into the person and artist I am today, and I carry their teachings into every moment I create.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me resilience and trust. Photography is a saturated industry, and there are many opportunities I apply for that I do not receive. There are artists I have been hoping to photograph for years, and the answer is still no. It can be discouraging, but I have learned not to let rejection define me. Instead, it reminds me to stay patient and committed to my journey. I know my time will come.
These experiences taught me that rejection is not a measure of my worth. It is part of the process. I learned how to keep creating, keep sharing, and keep strengthening my craft regardless of who says yes or no. I learned how to hold my vision with confidence and continue moving forward even when progress feels slow.
Most importantly, the hard moments brought me back to my purpose. I create because I love it, because it makes me feel alive, and because capturing real emotion fills me in a way that external validation never could. That clarity keeps me grounded.
Success is meaningful, but suffering taught me depth. It taught me grace, humility, consistency, and belief in myself. It taught me that what is meant for me will align when the timing is right, and until then I will keep creating with intention and heart.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I pay attention to what is actually changing how we work, not what is simply trending online. Social media moves fast and a lot of what we see is temporary. But the real shifts are the ones that change how we create, how we show up, and how we reach people.
Right now, technology is transforming the industry. AI is becoming a bigger part of our workflows, and video is getting more attention on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. I do not see these as threats. I see them as signals that the industry is evolving and we have to evolve with it.
AI will never replace photographers, but it can make us more efficient. Video may be the algorithm’s favorite, but that does not take away from the power of still photography. It simply means we have more ways to tell a story. Even incorporating small motion elements or behind the scenes clips into our workflow can help us stay visible without becoming full videographers.
For me, the foundational shifts are the ones that open doors and push us to grow. Fads disappear, but real change requires us to stay curious, stay adaptable, and stay creative. What matters most is that I remain connected to why I create. As long as I lead with passion and intention, the trends will come and go, but my work will continue to evolve in a way that feels true to me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I had a gift for capturing what words could not. I hope they remember that I truly saw people, that I honored who they were, and that my presence and my work made them feel something real. My goal has always been to create images that spark joy, nostalgia, and emotion, the kind that stays with you long after the moment has passed.
Images tell stories that live on forever. They hold our history, our memories, and the truth of how we loved and who we were. Long after we leave this world, photographs continue to speak. They become the bridge between generations, carrying the voices of those who cannot tell their stories anymore. I hope my work does that. I hope it lasts, and that it helps people remember the moments that shaped them.
If people say that I created with intention and heart, that I captured the essence of a moment with sincerity, and that my images helped preserve the beauty of real life, then I fulfilled my purpose. That is the legacy I hope my art leaves behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lorealcurtisphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorealcurtisphotography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorealcurtis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorealCurtisPhotography/
Image Credits
The photo of me was taken by Kevin Rawls, his Instagram is @kandidsxkev
All of the other photos were taken by me, Loreal Curtis, @LorealCurtisPhotography
