Meet Alyssa Martinez | Photographer

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

Hi Alyssa, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
This is a tricky question because I feel as if I am still kind of figuring this out. As an artist and creative, there is a lot of uncertainty. I may be uncertain about my work, my skills, the way that others will see and interpret it, etc. There are times where I may be uncertain about getting past a creative block or getting out of my comfort zone. The ups and downs are inevitable but all in all, I think the way that I feel about my photography through the hard times shows me whether I should keep it pushing or go in a different direction. When I’m at a low point with myself and my craft, I still feel that love and appreciation for photography that I’ve always had; I am still thinking of ways to improve my skills and the quality of my work. I am willing to be uncomfortable to do what I love and that is how I know I’m getting to where I am supposed to be.

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.
The drive behind my art is really my passion for helping others. Through my photography I am able to help people see their beauty through another lens or perspective. Something that has become really important to me to photograph over the last few years is minorities. I have a passion for showing people that look like me in a light that the world doesn’t get to see often and hasn’t gotten to see much throughout history.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
San Diego is the first place that comes to mind and it also happens to be one of my favorite cities to hang out in. We would start at the beach where we could walk around or lay out and grab some food and maybe drinks. Ocean Beach is really nice for this and if it is a Wednesday, we could hit the OB night market that same night to try all kinds of different cultural foods and check out what other vendors are selling.

Another fun thing to do is go out in the Gaslamp Quarter. I would definitely take my friend to get some dinner and then hit a few bars after. You can never go wrong with Mexican food in San Diego, which is essential when visiting in my opinion.

One last thing I wouldn’t let my friend leave with out doing is walking around Little Italy. There are so many great restaurants to grab lunch or dinner and getting cupcakes from Frost Me Cafe and Bakery is a must. It also looks really pretty at night with all the lights which makes for a fun and chill day or night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family is my biggest support system in everything I do. They have always motivated me to be the best at whatever I do and pushing my to get out of my comfort zone in order to level up. I also have very supportive friends who are always willing to help me execute visions and even bring me concept ideas they think I will like.

Instagram: instagram.com/photobylyss

Facebook: Facebook.com/photobylyss