Behind the Lens: Creating Corazón Divino
In 2021, I had the joy of bringing Corazón Divino to life, a collaboration that still holds a special place in my heart. This portrait of La Catrina was created through the shared vision of three Mexican artists: the model, the makeup artist, and myself. What began as a creative idea soon turned into one of the most meaningful projects I have ever photographed.
The makeup process alone took about three hours of intricate work. I watched as each detail came to life, from the delicate paint strokes around the eyes to the carefully placed embellishments that transformed our model into a living symbol of strength and beauty. When the final touches were done, she stepped out into the world fully dressed and painted, driving nearly an hour through Seattle traffic to reach the studio in Sammamish. I still smile thinking of the people she must have surprised along the way, glimpsing a Catrina at a stoplight.
We shot in a friend’s home studio, a space that once belonged to a visual artist and still carried that creative energy in every corner. The afternoon light filtered through the windows, bouncing off the red fabrics and soft shadows that filled the room. For two hours, we moved intuitively, adjusting lights, angles, and poses as ideas flowed freely between us. There was an unspoken understanding in the room, a sense of shared purpose that made the process effortless and full of joy.
What made this session truly special was the collaboration itself. Each of us brought something deeply personal to the table — our heritage, our craft, and our respect for La Catrina as a cultural icon. The styling evolved naturally, a blend of tradition and contemporary expression that reflected how Mexican identity continues to grow and transform far from home.
Corazón Divino remains one of my favorite shoots because it represents the best kind of creative collaboration, the kind that happens when artists trust each other completely. Together, we created something that felt authentic and alive, a visual love letter to our culture and to the power of shared vision.
