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

Hi Robin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Creativity is my anchor—it shows up in so many forms throughout my life. Whether I’m coloring, doodling, journaling, painting, planting a container garden, or wandering through a museum, I find joy in the act of making. I’m constantly noticing light, shape, and composition. Sometimes while watching a film at home, a moment of stunning light will stop me in my tracks. I’ll pause the movie just to study it, already thinking about how I might recreate that feeling through my lens.

When I began exploring what my next chapter would look like—after a fulfilling corporate career in advertising and years devoted to raising my kids—I knew I wanted to build something that allowed for creativity, felt fun, and served others. Photography was the obvious choice. It checks every box and gives me the privilege of creating heirloom portraits that become part of my clients’ stories.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The family portraits I create for my clients are deeply personal and unique to their current season of life. What sets me apart is my commitment to providing a personalized, luxury experience for every client. I help with everything from wardrobe and location selection to directing the portrait session assisting and ordering prints and heirloom albums. My clients love displaying photos in their home and having something tangible to pass down to future generations.

Taking care of every detail for my clients—from planning to delivery—means they don’t have to stress over a single to-do. That level of service has truly helped my business thrive.

The path to building my business was a steep climb. I had to not only learn the ins and outs of running a business, but also a deep dive into creating art with my camera. Through perseverance and a commitment to learning, I’ve grown both creatively and as a business owner. I continue to invest in my education and push myself to improve.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1: grab brunch at The Cottage in La Jolla, stroll around La Jolla Cove to watch the sea lions, and maybe pop into the La Valencia Hotel for a rooftop drink. For evening, head to Sunset Cliffs for a golden hour walk and a jaw-dropping sunset.

Day 2: Start the day exploring Balboa Park—visit the Botanical Building, Japanese Friendship Garden, and San Diego Museum of Art. Enjoy a meal at Panama 66 or The Prado then visit the San Diego Zoo.

Day 3: Visit Coronado Island and stroll Orange avenue to visit the shops. Head to the Hotel Del Coronado for lunch. Rent bikes and to cruise the Silver Strand bike path.

Day 4: Breakfast at The Mission in Mission Beach, then rent bikes to ride the boardwalk between Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Visit Point Loma lighthouse and tidepools. Grab dinner at Cesarina (adorable Italian spot in Point Loma).

Day 5: Drive up to Encinitas or Carlsbad. Stop at Pannikin Coffee & Tea in Leucadia (inside an old cute yellow train station). Visit the San Diego Botanic Garden, Dinner at The Campfire in Carlsbad (very cool campfire-inspired dishes and cocktails).

Day 6: Brunch and boutique shopping in South Park or North Park (try Communal Coffee—flower shop and café combo). Explore Liberty Station Public Market. Dress up for a night out in the Gaslamp Quarter—cocktails at Noble Experiment (hidden speakeasy) and dinner at Born and Raised (gorgeous steakhouse with a rooftop bar)

Day 7: Brunch at Great Maple or Morning Glory in Little Italy. Walk around Seaport Village or stop by Chicano Park to see the murals.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My fiancé, Ron, has been my biggest supporter from the moment I shared my dream of starting a portrait photography business. On the days when the business side feels overwhelming, he’s the steady presence that keeps me grounded.

My daughter, Marin, cheers me on daily. She brings not only endless encouragement but also lends her marketing savvy to help my business grow.

I’m also incredibly grateful for my colleague and friend, Jen Regnier. We’ve collaborated on many sessions, and our regular meetups—filled with talks about both business and life—have been a true source of encouragement and inspiration.

A special thanks goes to D’Ann Boal, a fine art portrait photographer in Colorado, whose mentorship has been instrumental in helping me discover my creative voice. Her guidance in mastering off-camera flash has truly elevated my work and deepened my confidence.

And finally, a big shoutout to my Business Babes accountability group. I met Deanna O’Connor, Kristine Esposito, and Rachel Dickman at a photography retreat hosted by D’Ann in the fall of 2023. Since then, we’ve held monthly video calls to share support, strategies, and solutions for running our businesses—and we keep the conversation going with regular texts in between. Their support has been nothing short of game-changing.

Website: https://www.robinlitrentaphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinlitrenta

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robinlitrentaphotography

Image Credits
Robin Litrenta Photography

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