HAMAJE

MALIAMU: Interview with Ana María Agüero Jahannes, Photographer & Massage Therapist

“Part of being a freelance photographer is figuring out and being adamant about what you don’t do. For instance, I don’t shoot weddings. My personal political beliefs clash with traditional institutional marriage so I’m very uncomfortable shooting them. There have been exceptions; don’t get me wrong. But it’s not a desire that I have nor am interested in pursuing. I only take freelance work when it excites me, when I have a creative part in the planning, not just the execution and when the vibe is right with my clients, who at that point are artist partners-in-crime. Collaborations. I’m over doing work that I’m not passionate about. I have too many loves and talents for that. On the other side of that, part of being an independent photographer/artist is figuring out what it is that you do do. I know I love shooting women of color, queer and trans people, queered fashion, colors, textures and patterns in black and white and I want to be a part of a movement to make visible images that help radical progress. Some people think that this is a super specific, limited niche, but that’s because they aren’t in this boundless, heterogeneous ‘community’ or are having pride issues.”

Read the rest of the interview and check out the photos at maliamu.com