Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristina Aranilla-Hernandez.
Kristina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I graduated from the University of North Florida in 2016 as a Communications major, with a focus on Advertising. I started my professional career as a Comms Coordinator at the JAX Chamber where I started to really dabble in the photography and videography world. I went on to become the Media Design & Productions Manager, working on all design and visual marketing coming out of the organization before leaving to pursue entrepreneurship. The entire time I was working full-time in the corporate world, I was also on YouTube doing beauty videos. So it felt natural that I started to take photos and do videos of beauty products. And that’s what led me into commercial photography for beauty brands.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While going through the journey to get to where I’m at today, I would say it didn’t feel smooth. But looking back, it all kind of tied together. I went into University not knowing what I ultimately wanted to do. I thought Comms/Advertising was a good route for me because I was always interested in illustrations and photography in beauty magazines. I decided to go into the professional corporate world because I thought 1. It was safe 2. I’d learn professional skills. A huge struggle for me was getting very comfortable in my growth and positions and feeling stagnant. And when I was finally reaching that threshold of “Okay, I’ve learned everything I’ve needed to here” I was afraid to leave. But I had a lot of supporters along the way that really helped me realize I could do it.
I learned so much about how businesses operate and how to manage projects while working corporate, and I think it’s helped me navigate and shape my own business. I think my clients appreciate that I have a background in business and marketing because I understand what their goals are ultimately, with photography.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Commercial Photographer with a focus on the Beauty Industry. In photography, I’m known for my use of fresh ingredients to portray my clients’ products. I’m also known for my use of water in my photography to give the products some movement.
I like to say that I create memorable imagery that will resonate with your audience, while keeping your end goal in mind. I think what sets me apart is my understanding of business (from my experience in the corporate world) and analytics (from my YouTube career) and how to read what resonates with your audience. I understand that a photo isn’t just a photo — it has to really portray the story of the product, how you created it, and the love you put into creating it.
I’m very proud of how my journey has grown so organically. For a long time, I felt like I had too many interests in a variety of subjects — photography, creating videos, makeup, business… but they all ended up melting together. I’m also really proud of myself for taking the leap and making the sacrifices I had to in order to get my business off the ground. As Asian-Americans, we’re not typically encouraged to pursue the arts — rather a degree is for a successful medical career or law career, or something with high ranks. So I’m happy with my choices thus far and I’m very thankful to my family for supporting me through it all.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love about Jacksonville is its ability to feel like a small town but also give us a variety that a city would. Everyone has a connection to everyone and it’s only a matter of time before you meet a mutual friend of someone in your line of work or who has a connection in your line of work. But Jacksonville continues to grow economically and businesses are constantly coming to Jacksonville, which is not an easy task for a city to have to happen. There are so many steps and criteria that it takes for a big business like IKEA, Amazon, and the like to want to come to a city — so we should be proud that we have something worth building and creating here.
What I like least is the amount of driving we have to do (lol). You can drive 45 minutes out and still be in Jacksonville. I also wish everyone would be supportive of our city and not be stuck in the past of what Jacksonville used to be. Yes, Jacksonville was boring in the early 2000s but come back and see what we have to offer now in terms of dining, events, arts, medical and see how much we’ve actually grown.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bykristinastudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bykristinastudio/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/kristinaaranilla_beauty
Image Credits
By Kristina Studio
