Behind the camera

Lester castillo

I am a 25 year old Michigan based photographer with a passion for capturing the moments and memories beyond the frame.

As a kid, I’d grab my parents’ Nikon every time we were on vacation and spend hours experimenting, learning light and composition. At the time I never considered myself creative, but looking back, the signs were there. Occasionally, I look back at those early photos and can still feel the moment itself, the scene captured within the image, yet extending far beyond its borders. That feeling is what I strive to recreate in my work today.

In 2020, I reconnected with photography and followed in my parents footsteps with a Nikon of my own. I photographed the beautiful Lake Superior coast, sweeping overlooks in the Virginia mountains, and the dramatic landscape of Sedona, AZ. Travel pushed me to explore new environments and work with all manner of lighting. Over time, I upgraded my gear and expanded my focus beyond landscapes into street and macro photography, always challenging myself to find unique perspectives.

Along the way, I found myself increasingly drawn to portraiture and other disciplines. In my spare time, I’d cut out images in fashion magazines for inspiration, analyzing the posing and crafted studio lighting. There is so much knowledge to be found in the work of others. If you have a spare copy of Vogue, I’ll gladly take it.

Now I spend more time in and around Detroit, pushing my art outside of just landscape, macro, and travel photography. For any style of shoot, I provide a creative, friendly, professional experience from behind the camera. I ensure every subject is posed in ways that truly flatter. Photography is fun. You should have a blast during your shoot and look good while doing it. Once the shoot is done, I then work meticulously maintaining a clean, natural look that embraces the uniqueness of each subject. In photography there is so much going on beyond the frame; leave the work to me and embrace the moment.