Amber Valley Evangelista is a full-time mom of four children, a photographer, a curator, and is me! I'm a first-generation California native, with my mom having family roots in Texas and my dad in the Philippines. I have always had a love and obsession with anything vintage. However, my mom got me hooked on film photography by watching her capture all our family moments as I grew up. I loved watching her get excited about our family, its old and new traditions. As I got older, I started getting more involved with photography because it became an outlet to express the changes I was going through as a woman, mother, and artist. My self-portraiture and family documentation grew into something more. I found passion in helping POC and BIPOC families tell their stories through imagery. #LegacyArchives is a personal passion project that allows me to connect and give back to the community through free family portrait sessions. I hope to continuously inspire and empower my children by watching their mom chase her dreams.

I am passionate about what I do because it doesn't limit me; I get to evolve, and my art will continue to grow with me. I love that my kids can be in my work environment and that I'm not required to sacrifice significantly with my family to do what I love. The absolute best part is that my relationship with my family and photography is intertwined; they are both the muses and the subjects of my favorite works.

I have been a storyteller since I knew art was my calling, and that's been since I learned how to speak. My mediums have evolved as I grew, and so have my stories. It wasn't until I had children of my own that I understood the importance of preserving my family legacy. I found my voice through portraiture and want to give the same to my community.

My favorite part of being a photographer is being able to meet amazing individuals who have graced me with their time and vulnerability in front of the camera. I have been pretty isolated since having my first child, and photography gave me an opportunity to climb out of my depression and feel more connected to others. Getting your portrait taken can be an intimidating experience. Still, I strive to make the photo session comfortable by being my normal goofy self breaking out smiles and exchanging stories to break down the walls built up by nerves. There's always that one moment when a client will let go, and I love capturing that moment of their true authentic self.

As a co-curator, I am currently on the Los Angeles exhibition committee for @BlackWomenPhotographers. This experience has constantly been rewarding; the women I work amongst are brilliant, always motivating, and advocating for femme image makers. In the future, I hope to curate with #CameronShaw with the @CAAMINLA and @Rainalf1 with @SoulsGrownDeepFoundation. These women have curated exhibitions that have spoken to my inner black child. My work has always been inspired by my mother's roots stemming from the South. I would love nothing more to share the oppressed stories of legacies before me, current and of the future, alongside trailblazing black femme curators. 📸