Meet Cintia Soto: Food and Travel Photographer

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

Hi Cintia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I start my business when I realize I found finally something I really enjoy and have passion for. I had been working on my career for more than 25 years but since I back home to San Diego after many years in Europe I realized that I needed to do something I really like.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Today I want to share artistic career “Photography”, most of the people know me as a photographer probably few of them know I have two careers in my portfolio, but today I’m going to talk about my passion “Photography” I started to take pictures since I was teenager, I always consider a difficult art at that time was very complicated, probably because I’m part of that generation who doesn’t have electronics, I start with my black and white lessons in SWC in Chula Vista, with my camera analogical with film, I moved to Italy and I start to use my camera more often not just for fun sometimes for work as well, when I travel and I took many photos I never find the results until I developed, that was the procedures, now everyone has access with a good cell phone to the photography, now we used filters, apps and more to get the best results in photography. I started my photography as a Travel Photographer, Landscapes, people, architecture, etc, Buy why Food photography? I started with travel photography because I used to travel a lot and I decided to start my own blog sharing my experiences and I found I really enjoyed doing it, one day I stopped to travel and I decided to continue my blog with another context in that moment I decided to switch to food, some recipes, some food experiences, food destinations, wine, healthy food etc. In that moment I decided to focus in Food photography more than anything else, Food styling is complicated, it has a lot of effort to re-create any situation cooking something special. this photography took me sometime to feel comfortable doing it and I wasn’t sure it was the right way to approach my possible clients. Visiting mostly Baja, Valle de Guadalupe the Mexican wine country I was able to photograph and documenting many wineries and restaurants that allow me to promote my work in social media. Also I do Travel & Food experiences in Italy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m always trying to combine, experience, culture, knowledge and photography, so my recommendations are a mix of all those aspects. Let’s go to Baja: Visiting the wine country and some of my favorite spots in Valle de Guadalupe 1. Visit Lechuza Wines to enjoy that only the wine also the people and environment. I love their Amante red wine is one of my favorites. Kristen Magnessun is the owner and she will make you more than welcome. 2. If you want to enjoy the place, food and want a nice pictures go to Finca Altozano or Animalon for dining make sure to make a reservation, 3. If you are planning to visit for a couple days or nights I will suggest a hidden gem, you would love this place, the name is Quinta las Piedras, it’s not in the heart of Valle de Guadalupe actually it’s outside of the valley but it’s about 15 mins from there if you. It’s a big house perfect for a group of people a family. The place is amazing and has the best view to the ocean from the area. Perfect for sunset photos. 4. Are you woman supporter visit great winemakers visit these wineries: Tres Mujeres, Adobe Guadalupe, Bruma 5. Do you want to have a simple but nice lunch visit the food-truck in Adobe Guadalupe, they are amazing and their food is phenomenal. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Honestly, I consider new in town even though I have less than 10 years living in San Diego I don’t know many people, but I certainly recognized the latin woman effort to be on business every single day, not just, mothers with kids, also every single woman who start the day working like no other.

Website: www.cintiasoto.com
Instagram: @cintiasoto
Linkedin: @cintiasoto
Twitter: @cintiasotoz
Facebook: @cintiasotophotography

Image Credits
All images own to Cintia Soto. I add some photos of Travel but my main photography is Food photography Some of them are Vertical because Food photos look better in that format.