Who I am

Carolina is passionate about documenting the history and cultural significance of Latino music and identities in the United States.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Carolina's creative journey was shaped early on by the stories her father shared from his time working at El Imparcial, a daily newspaper in Oaxaca, Mexico. Before immigrating to the United States, her father worked in the paper's darkroom, developing photos for the daily news—a formative experience that deeply inspired Carolina and ultimately influenced her decision to pursue photography.

Though immersed in music classes during her youth, Carolina’s path led her to Columbia College Chicago, where she enrolled in the photography program. She graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Photography, concentrating in Photojournalism, and a Minor in Museum Studies. During her time at Columbia, Carolina served as Senior Photo Editor for The Columbia Chronicle, which opened the door to an exciting opportunity as Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s staff photographer during his 2015 mayoral campaign. At the same time, she nurtured her passion for education as a Teaching Artist at the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Carolina’s love of music and photography converged in 2011 when she began documenting city-wide events for the Festival de Música Electrónica Latina in Chicago, creating portraits of visiting artists. Her work in music photography grew as she became the Arts & Culture Photographer and eventually Photo Editor at Gozamos, one of the Midwest’s leading cultural platforms. Carolina’s dedication to the music scene has taken her to festivals such as Supersonico in Los Angeles and Música en el Patio in Tijuana, México, where she continues to discover and amplify the voices of new artists. She also serves as the main photographer for Chicago’s iconic Cumbiasazo, one of the city’s longest-running Latinx cultural events.

Her work has been featured in prestigious publications and platforms, including Vogue US & MX, The Guardian, NBC Today, Chicago Reader, Noisey MX & US, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Tribune, and Hyundai, among others.

Carolina’s passion for visual storytelling and community outreach allows her to capture profound moments through her lens, from music festivals and underground arts communities to artist portraiture. She continues to bridge her love for music and photography, sharing stories that celebrate culture and creativity.

Published

• Vogue US & Mexico

• The Guardian

• NBC Today

• Chicago Reader

• DICE FM

• The TRACE

• Chicago Bulls

• Red Bull

• Noisey/Vice Media US & MX

• Smirnoff

• Chicago Sun-Times

• Contratiempo

• The Triibe

• A&TT

  
  
  
  
  
  

Info

 Currently in: Grand Rapids, MI
Work in : Anywhere!

carofotos@protonmail.com

+1 708-288-3953