Nonahood News: Tell us a little about you, your art, and your artistic journey.

Aleah Torres: I do lifestyle photography, which is mostly outdoors or at home. I started my company during COVID. When COVID hit, I lost my job as a server. At the time, I was photographing family and friends but figured it would be a good time to start working on the backend of my company. In 2020, I launched my business, The Wandering Storyteller. I also got married the same year to my husband, Christian, and then three months after, I was pregnant with my first child. I have a seven-year-old bonus daughter. My passion for photography started when I was a kid. My grandmother always had a camera or camcorder in her hand. When I was a kid, I didn’t really appreciate it. My grandma passed away when I was 16, and I was able to look back through all those memories and see everything she captured. It’s so beautiful to see all those memories. I got my first camera on Christmas when I was 18 years old. I had begged my dad to buy me a camera. My first camera was a Canon Rebel T3i, and I loved that thing. I took it everywhere. Eventually, photography grew into a business. It was hard to let go of the stability I had while serving to pursue something I wasn’t sure was going to make it or not. Everybody wants their dreams to come true, but it’s hard taking that leap. 

NHN: Recent accomplishments?

AT: About three weeks ago, I got to photograph an adoption, and while I don’t shoot photos indoors often, this couple has had their son for three years now and they were finally able to adopt him. It was such a beautiful moment to capture and to see all the raw emotion. I cried. Being able to capture those moments is probably my biggest accomplishment. I could sit here and talk about how my business has made money or how it’s grown, but the true meaning for me is being able to experience these moments with people. My clients become not only my friends, but some of them become my family. I get to experience their family or their relationship. It’s such a beautiful thing; it’s probably the best thing.

NHN: Most challenging aspect of your work?

AT: One of the most challenging things is that there’s a super-saturated market with photography, especially in the Orlando/Central Florida area. I travel, and it still affects me. Being in a saturated market is hard. There are a lot of photographers that underbid, and sometimes it’s because they don’t have as much experience. There are a lot of great photographers who charge a decent amount of money, but it’s because they’re good at what they do. Everybody’s trying to get a bargain. I totally understand that – I’m a mom of two. I am also trying to get a bargain – but it’s important not to skimp on memories because the photos you get are going to be something you’ll want to have for a lifetime. I get underbid a lot, but it’s okay because the clients that have come to me and the clients I’ve had, I can retain them, they love my style.

NHN: Who or what inspires your photography?

AT: I have a friend, Taylor Shea, who is a great wedding photographer in Southwest Florida. I love her style and her personality, which is a big thing with photographers. She has inspired me. My clients also inspire me for each individual shoot. When I’m photographing people, I’m photographing their candid moments. I love that because I can keep my style the same as a photographer, but those little moments where you get their genuine personality mean so much more. I also love nature. Anything in nature, I am all for it.

NHN: Passions besides photography?

AT: I love art. My oldest and I just made clay earrings. I paint a lot, and we hang them up back here. I also love cooking.

NHN: New projects?

AT: I am working with Jules Fleming Artistry, and we are going to do something like a styled shoot for the summer. I’m going to make dried citrus fruit. I’m going to hang ruby red grapefruit and oranges and lemons to make it, like, really summary. And then we’re going to do shoots. So that’s my next big project coming up. Otherwise, I have a ton of weddings to go to at the end of the year. I love fall for that reason. I got married in the fall, too. I’m also excited to be partnered with a lot of vendors.

NHN: Where can people find you and your art?

AT: On Facebook @thewanderingstoryteller, on Instagram @thewandering.storyteller, or https://thewanderingstoryteller.net/