Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheila Trujillo.
Hi Sheila, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My husband and I moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 2000, seeking new opportunities for our family. In 2003, while still working a full-time, 8-hour job, I decided to use the photography knowledge I acquired at the University of Puerto Rico for commercial purposes on the weekends. At that time, there weren’t many Hispanics in the city, but I was bold enough to advertise in Spanish. I was the first Hispanic photographer to market myself in Spanish, and I had work every weekend.
My husband is a graphic artist and had the opportunity to work for several media outlets as a designer. He started with “Latino News”—now known as “Hola News”—a newspaper entirely in Spanish, directed by Evelyn Torres in 2000. Later, in 2006, he worked for “Mundo Latino,” a full-color magazine in Spanish.
In 2005, my husband and I decided to combine our talents and created “Our People” magazine. This was a bilingual magazine that featured my photography and my husband’s creative art, resulting in a beautiful product that contained information on various topics, highlighting Latino leaders working in the city. Due to work commitments and other circumstances, we eventually had to cease its production.
With the sustained growth of my photography business and my consolidated specialization in capturing Quinceañera events, the demand for video services from my clients increased significantly. To address this market need and expand our service offering, I incorporated my husband, who manages the videography, thereby strengthening the comprehensive audiovisual package we offer our clientele.
Our graphic arts and advertising company is called CW Advertising Agency, and the photography business is Sheila Trujillo Photography. Both businesses operate as DBAs under “Se Habla Español en Jacksonville LLC.”
“Se Habla Español en Jacksonville” started 7 years ago when I noticed a lack of important information in Spanish for the Latino community. It emerged as a community service from our businesses. We use the Facebook platform to share our educational interview videos, as we realized that Hispanics heavily rely on it to seek information or offer services. We have continued to provide information to the Hispanic community through our informative videos since 2018.
In 2024, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of North Florida granted us the Small Business of the Year Award.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been an easy road for us. To start a business, you need to have a lot of faith. Every day, you have to give your best and compete with others and with technology. There is also the element of your health; if you don’t have your health, you can’t work.
I am a survivor of Stage 4 colon cancer. When I was diagnosed in 2012, my children were still young. During my most critical time, my husband took care of the home and the business. I was unable to produce any work for two years, but I was able to overcome it with the help of God.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love conducting informational interviews for Se Habla Español in Jacksonville, and I also enjoy photography. I love people, and these two fields give me the opportunity to be close to them.
As the founder of Se Habla Español en Jacksonville, I am proud to have reached people who needed information and that they were able to find the help they required.
The wonderful world of photography has given me the privilege of being present during people’s most special moments. It’s wonderful to run into the young women I once photographed for their quinceañeras who are now professionals or mothers. Isn’t it marvelous to be able to capture a couple’s wedding, pregnancy, and children? I have several clients whose stories I’ve captured.
I treat everyone with respect, regardless of their social status. They greet me with “Hola Doña Sheila,” and I always return the greeting. I believe that is what makes me special.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
The city’s primary appeal lies in its palpable cultural heterogeneity, which is vividly reflected in its vibrant gastronomic diversity and widespread access to global experiences. Conversely, a notable constraint, particularly concerning my professional work, is the dearth of aesthetically varied and publicly accessible natural environments, which limits the scope for unique outdoor photography locations and diversification of my service offerings.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sheilatrujillophotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheilatrujillophotography/?next=%2F&hl=en
- Facebook: Sheila Trujillo Photography
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sheilatrujillophotography5137/videos
- Other: https://www.sehablaespanolenjacksonville.com/
