Meet Diana Campos | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diana Campos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Before I had children, I prioritized play over work–I was carefree and spontaneous without giving a second thought to my future. As a parent, those priorities have certainly changed. On top of raising two young boys, I work a regular, full time job and I run my own photography business on the side. I feel it’s important to prioritize what makes you happy, which for me would be my kids and photography. I want my kids to know that as Simon Sinek once said, “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.” I work hard at my small business because I have a passion for the art of photography, and I hope to one day turn my business into my 24/7.

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 dove into photography head first right before the pandemic started. As a matter of fact, it was on March 10, 2020 that I decided to go for it. And I know this because I shared a story on my Instagram that day: When in doubt, consult with the Magic 8 Ball. Yes, believe it or not, I actually used my kids’ Magic 8 Ball toy to decide whether or not to pursue photography. At the time, I didn’t exactly know what area of this art form I wanted to get involved with, but eventually I fell in love with lowrider photography, and it’s been mostly what I’ve photographed for the past year or so. It has taken a lot of practice, a lot of positive feedback, and constructive criticism, but in revisiting my work, I feel I have grown in this particular area and have become very confident in what I do. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned to think outside the box and capture angles and details that can be easily overlooked. I am pretty proud of that, but what I am most proud of is a lowrider photography exhibit several talented individuals and I recently organized to showcase our work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As I am based in California, specifically the Inland Empire, I highly recommend dining at a Mexican restaurant in Downtown Riverside called Tio’s Tacos. Aside from the delicious food choices, visitors here can admire art created out of recyclable materials. If a favorite artist is in town, they can be seen at the Fox Theater or the Riverside Municipal Auditorium. Local bars also showcase tribute bands, which are also fun to watch. If hiking is on the agenda, there a few places I recommend: Mt. Rubidoux, with an amazing view of the city from the top; Sycamore Canyon, with its many different hiking trails to choose from; and Box Springs Mountain, where you might run into some wildlife.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have always been fascinated by the art of photography: from watching and helping my brother take photographs on film to admiring the work of other photographers I’ve become really good friends with in the two years I’ve been doing this. They, along with my family, inspire me to keep learning and keep growing in this field.

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