Celia D Luna - Photos and Interview

Mother Stories

At Home With Miami Mom & Photographer Celia D. Luna

Written by Erin Feher

Photography by Photographed by Celia D. Luna

Jun 23, 2020

With so much to fight for and so many hard realities to face these days, we will take our small celebrations whenever we can. Today, after months of not being able to send our trusted photographers into the field to shoot our signature Mother profiles, we have a stunner of a story for you, shot by an incredibly talented mama and photographer who has spent some of her shelter-in-place time taking some of the most beautiful self-portraits we have laid eyes on. Celia D. Luna is a visual artist who specializes in fashion and portrait photography. Born in Peru, she grew up immersed in the Andean folklore and traditions of rural Peru, and moved to Miami as a teenager. Today she lives with her 15-year-old daughter, Luna, in a colorful, personality-filled abode in Little Havana. Celia turned the camera on herself and her daughter for this inspiring profile, and the love shared by this mama-daughter duo is apparent in every shot. Click through the slideshow below to get a tour of their Miami home, and get to know more about this fabulous pair.

: "A friend of mine was moving out of this house and suggested we take it over because it had more space. That meant an office space, backyard, and mango trees! It worked for us. We’ve been living in this house for almost 7 years."

: "Multicultural, colorful, eccentric, and fun."

: "I wish! I currently rent my home, so no renovations for now."

: "Make it your sanctuary and make it as YOU as possible, even if it’s a rental."

: "My vision for my living room was to make it comfortable, a bit retro, with basic and neutral big pieces, and colorful accessories."

: "I really love the 'retablo' (altarpiece) I got in Peru. It’s a golden frame featuring dancers and musicians. It makes me happy every time I see it. I also love my vintage camera collection and the photos of my daughter and I."

: "Taking part in making an awesome human being. I’m proud of the woman my daughter is becoming."

: "The entire teenage phase makes me nervous. Probably because it reminds me of all the stupid things I did when I was a teen. I don’t want her to make bad decisions that can cause big problems. I’m learning to trust and be cautious at the same time."

: "My daughter hasn’t experienced inequality because she’s a girl. And that really excites me! If she’s ever been treated unfairly because she is a girl, she has put that person in their place and carried on. I love seeing that shift in girls more and more!"

: "My daughter’s name is Luna. I’ve always been fascinated by the moon since I was a child, so I knew then I would name my daughter Luna, which means moon in Spanish."

: "Luna is 15 and she’s into skateboarding and anime."

: "No. I had Luna pretty young and didn’t have much time to think about motherhood."

: "I had a fairly smooth pregnancy. No complications, but some normal discomfort the last month of pregnancy."

: "I did, but my job fired me during my pregnancy. I tried to file a report but my lawyer told me that it would cost me a lot of money, so I didn’t proceed."

: "It’s been a while! I do remember listening to this song over and over again and it made me tear up every time."

: "I really admire Perla Farías. She’s an Instagram friend. I love seeing her be kind, honest, and sweet, and living by her values, all while raising 5 kids!"

: "I was raised by a single mom and even though I missed having a father figure, I had a very happy childhood. I loved traveling with my mom and seeing her flourish as a boss of a company in a male-dominated society."

: "I asked my daughter this question and she said 'strict and laid back.' I guess it is all in the balance!"

: "You’re about to fall in love really hard. You’re gonna want to give your entire life to this little human. Do give your best, but don’t forget about you! An unhappy mom is not a good mom!"

: "Good question! I didn’t until quarantine happened. I’m more open to that idea now."

: "Thank you! My daughter is 15, so I don’t have much say about her room anymore. I know her latest decorations were inspired by TikTok and anime."

: Luna wears a vintage tee and jeans.

: "100%. The political climate has unveiled forgotten issues that are very important to me. It’s time to raise our voice for the future we want our kids to live in."

: "It has affected me deeply. As a Hispanic woman, I’ve witnessed microaggressions towards Black people almost all of my life, but never said anything. I felt guilty and angry. Now I’ve been educating myself and I’ve gotten even more angry towards the system. I’m currently turning that anger into passion and a commitment to help the Black community by being self-aware of my actions and by sharing what I’ve learned with my following."

: "My daughter and I had conversations about ways to be anti-racist. Before we try to change the world, we are making sure we’re looking within first. Making sure we apply to our lives what we preach. And then work to influence our family, our community, our state, our country, and so on."

: "It’s okay to make mistakes while you’re trying to help. Don’t let the fear of making a mistake of 'what to say/do' discourage you. This is the time to raise our voices, especially around our families and our loved ones. The Black community needs our support."

: "I love that Miami is a multicultural city and that she gets to have friends from all over the world. She loves to learn about different cultures and enjoys trying different types of food. And like a true Hispanic Miamian, she speaks Spanglish most of the time."

: "Only lately have I been dreaming of moving to an A-frame house surrounded by nature and a beautiful lake."

: "We live in Little Havana, one of the most vibrant parts of Miami. There’s an ice cream place here called Azúcar that we love! If you ever make it there, make sure to try the 'abuela maría' flavor. You can thank me later! Right across from Azúcar, is my favorite movie theater called Tower Theater. They play great foreign movies! And two doors down you can find my favorite bar, Union Beer. Good beer and laid back vibes. We also like to take our dog to Key Biscayne park and go for bike rides around our neighborhood."

: "Miami opened their beaches and restaurants two weeks ago. And even though we already took advantage of the ocean, I still have some hesitation to fully go back to normal. We had the most COVID cases this weekend, too, so we’re still being careful."

: Celia wears a The Onikas robe.

: "I had days of feeling helpless and anxious about the uncertainty, but I also had hopeful days. I’ve realized what truly matters to me and I don’t think I would’ve had that enlightenment without this difficult time."

: "I learned to establish and to be consistent with my morning routine. I wake up to music, dance a little bit, make my bed, meditate, write in my journal, and then I work out and have breakfast. This morning routine makes me feel hopeful and positive."

: "Surprisingly, my daughter has loved online school. She has been less distracted and got mostly A's in this last quarter. She has also been sad about not being able to see her friends. It's definitely mixed emotions for her, too."

: "I’m looking forward to exploring nature a lot more. I’m looking forward to hanging out with my friends and my family and squeezing them really hard."

: "I’m a fashion and portrait photographer."

: "I was born in Ayacucho, Peru, and moved to the states when I was a teenager. I was always inclined to the arts and decided to study graphic design at the AI international University of Art and Design in Miami. I worked for a couple of publications and advertising agencies before deciding to venture into photography."

: "My profession has been inspired by my mom. I portray my clients—mostly women entrepreneurs—as powerful, and I think that goes back to the way I’ve always seen my mom."

: "I’ve been so lucky to have my mom around to help with my daughter!"

: "It’s a lot. But I think setting boundaries is important! I have a work schedule that I follow for the most part. I don’t schedule any photo shoots on Sundays because that’s my time with my family. On the other hand, when my daughter sees my office door closed she knows not to interrupt unless there is an emergency. Small boundaries can make a big change for your sanity!"

: "Flower power every day."

: "It has. Comfort is priority!"

: "One of my favorite designers is Mara Hoffman. A friend of mine gifted me a dress by her that I consider a staple. It's a colorful plaid maxi dress that I love!"

: "I’ve been using No B.S. skin products and I’ve been loving them so far! My skin especially loves the brand's Vitamin C&E serum."

: "My morning routine is non-negotiable, and I’m also part of different communities that inspire me daily."

: "I find time for myself in the morning. I wake up to music, dance while I make my bed, meditate for 15 minutes, write in my journal whatever is on my mind, and then I either do some yoga or go for a bike ride. I’m ready to take on the day after that!"

: "Way less now! My teen rarely requires my time anymore, so I’ve been missing her, but I’ve been also enjoying my 'me' time."

: "Very important. I think actions speak louder than words and I want my daughter to know that we are very powerful. Powerful enough to choose happiness over and over again."