Portrait of photographer Mariana Otalora

Mariana Otalora is a New York-based portrait and advertising photographer whose diverse background in communications, marketing, advertising, and sales gives her a unique understanding of her clients’ needs.

In New York she has worked with clients such as Mount Sinai Hospitals, Valar Ventures and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. In Mexico, she has collaborated with entrepreneurs and private clients, photographing products, portraits and events. She also worked for Kellogg’s and PepsiCo in marketing and sales.

As a visual storyteller, Otalora’s most recent fine art project is an immersive experience that allows viewers to play an illustrated board game based on Loteria Mexicana, a Mexican bingo. This game is a cultural family tradition from her native Mexico, where she has created her own personalized deck of cards for viewers to play with. 

She recently earned her Masters in Digital Photography from the prestigious School of Visual Arts in New York, and received the James L. Chung Memorial Scholarship 2024 from the International Photographic Council at the United Nations.

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