We had the good fortune of connecting with Reyna J. Valdez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Reyna J., can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It’s when I began to see that people liked my work and that was very affirming. I thought, “If I am going to offer a service, I am going to do it the right way”. Word of mouth has been the primary method of client referrals and I wanted to get my name out to a wider reaching audience. I did my own research and learned how to start my LLC, register a trade name etc. Fortunately, I was already skilled in building and managing websites, promoting on social media, and networking so that part was fun. Nothing was easy, I learned a lot about google analytics, SEO and branding along the way. I am still learning every day.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a Denver Colorado native with Mexican and Native American roots. I received a bachelor’s degree in Human Development & Family Relations and master’s degree in Learning Development and Family Sciences from the University of Colorado Denver in 2018 and 2021. By day I am a child protection social worker in local government and in my free time I am dedicated to running my photography business that I started in 2020. I am a single mother in recovery who has broken the generational curse of abuse, addiction and trauma.

Photography is more than just a creative outlet for me, creating is a key element in living a fulfilling and productive life. Connecting with and uplifting others through my story of resilience and creating art through digital imagery is where I thrive. I love capturing culture, artistic design and raw emotion. My two fields of work combined with my sober lifestyle and being an inspiration to my daughter and my community have woven together perfectly, turning my passions into purpose.

What I want the world to know about my brand is that I never aspired to be a photographer. I became a creator by following my passions. I was always the kid with a disposable camera in school, then the young adult who always had the most pictures and albums, I was the one who always made slide shows and gave picture collages as gifts. My education is what made me a great networker and where I learned my technical skills. I loved creating.

My journey in recovery allowed me to learn about my-self and I discovered what was important to me and that was being good at something and being of service to others. when I became sober, I made a commitment to never stop learning and to always do what brings me joy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Wherever I would take a friend that was new to Denver, we wouldn’t make it through the night without talking about how much this city had changed for the better but also in the ways that gentrification has impacted the lives of so many native Denverites. New developments in areas that were historically communities of color and rich in culture have altered the landscape and hearts of so many of us that were born here. The Mile High City is an incredible place to live, work and play; to walk the streets and enjoy the amazing urban life Denver has to offer comes with a price, and with history that can’t be forgotten.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I’m at without my amazing friend and mentor Joel Lahey who taught me everything I know about photography and helps me keep my devices up to date with the latest technology. To my community: the scholars, artists, creators, educators, activists, servant leaders and public officials who have either mentored me directly or those that I admire and have shared my journey with. Thank you for inspiring me!

Website: reynajean.com

Instagram: @rj_portraits

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/reynajean

Facebook: Reyna Jean Photography

Other: Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/reynajean

Image Credits:

Image  4BDE2440: Johnnie Medina
Image 207: Kai Davis Visuals
Image 16: JJ Constantine
Image 5745: Joel Lahey (Joel Lahey Photography) who taught me everything I know about the art of photography and starting my business. I owe a very special shoutout and thanks to Joel for his contributions to my growth.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.