Meet Dominic LaMora | Photographer, Student, Skateboarder

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

Hi Dominic, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
As a 21 year old who feels slightly behind in life, I tend to work very hard towards financial goals and I do what I know must be done. However, putting things into perspective has helped me to prioritize the important things in my life, whether that be family, health, or mental health. I broke my thumb a week ago so I haven’t been able to work which is frustrating, however I’ve been able to spend more time with my parents and my siblings.

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 street photographer based out of Tempe. My work is different from that of my peers because I capture truly raw moments. I think the age of social media has made it easy to glorify our lives by only capturing the highlights. My photography sheds light on the ordinary. I find beauty in things I see on my commute, at my job, while I study and more, thus, I always keep my camera with me. At the moment I have a ways to go in terms of branding my art. I am in the process of working through challenges of feeling burnt out, lost, and not having confidence in my abilities. Like my art, nothing is perfect, embrace the imperfections and treat others with kindness.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My friends came out last October and we ended up skating all over ASU’s Tempe campus. We ended at shady park and ate phenomenal ramen. I frequently visit Papago park and like to go to H Mart on weekends. Arizona donuts has drive thru boba for all of my introverted boba lovers. In terms of a night out, I really enjoy watching football at Pedal Haus then walking on Mill Ave. If you’re near ASU and want some cardio and breath taking views, you can’t go wrong with “A” mountain, the hike is very short and the peak offers a view of the whole campus while also being able to see downtown Phoenix. In terms of food, I love tacos huichos and taco boys. The valley also offers amazing Asian cuisine from Korean BBQ to Pho.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a huge shoutout to my father. After working a warehouse job with him this summer, I’ve grown to admire his work ethic and his selflessness to provide for our family. Not only would he work from 2 AM to 7 AM, he would also work his office job from 8 AM till 5 PM. I can’t fathom his work ethic and I aspire to be at least half the man that he is today. Additionally he is the funniest person I know, introduced me to hip hop, skateboarding and football. He has truly had a impact on who I am today and makes me feel proud to be a LaMora.

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