Highlight the achievements, talents, and stories of the entertainers shaping our culture.

By Richard Sandoval

I’ve been in the media industry for 30 years. I mark my “official” start in August 1995, when I picked up the very first edition of a newsletter I produced called the Inland Empire Hispanic Business Update.

What began with the printed word soon evolved into video postings and a television program that broadcasted on several PBS stations throughout the United States. My first celebrity sit-down interview was with actress Maria Canals-Barrera, and I vividly remember showing off my brand-new camera at the time. As technology advanced, so did my passion. I invested in better cameras, which opened the door to still photography.

By 2004, I began taking photography seriously, and by 2010, I was fully committed to honing my craft behind the lens. Since then, every interview I’ve conducted has often been accompanied by a camera in hand, capturing candid moments that bring stories to life. I love preserving the passions, expressions, and insights that emerge during an interview.

Capturing the Community at Its Best
I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve interviewed and photographed over the years it’s safe to say it’s a lot. My guiding belief has always been that our community deserves to be showcased at its very best. We work hard to select images that represent the authenticity and energy of each moment.
From Hispanic Lifestyle in-person productions to Hollywood red-carpet events, we’ve documented countless memories. Our platform has featured more than 30,000 photographs and received millions of views. Many of these high-resolution images appear on HispanicLifestyle.com and are often integrated into our video features.

Thank you for being part of my journey and for taking the time to view and share these images.

Behind the Lens: My Tools of the Trade

• Today, I use a combination of tools to capture images and video:
• iPhone 15 (with plans to upgrade to the 17 soon)
• Canon XF605 Video Camera
• Canon EOS R6 Mark II

For editing, I work on a Mac Pro with the M2 Ultra chip, using Final Cut Pro X for video and Pixelmator Pro for photo editing and graphic design. These tools help me deliver the quality content that reflects our community’s vibrancy.

Faces We’ve Captured
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of photographing and interviewing a remarkable list of artists, entertainers, athletes, and community icons, including:
Gina Rodriguez, John Leguizamo, Eva LaRue, Justina Machado, Efren Ramirez, Michelle Rodriguez, Yvonne DeLaRosa, Aimee Garcia, Eva Longoria, Lana Parrilla, Cote de Pablo, Andy Garcia, Antonio Banderas, Cesar Millan, Aubrey Plaza, Francia Raisa, Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba, Mariachi Divas, Danny Pino, Christina Aguilera, Josefina Lopez, Daisy Fuentes, Natalie Martinez, Simone Biles, Robert Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson, Mario Lopez, Kate del Castillo, Stephanie Beatriz, Lou Diamond Phillips, Wilmer Valderrama, Benjamin Bratt, Esai Morales, Charo, Jenni Rivera, Kenny Ortega, Constance Marie, Cheech Marin, Zoe Saldana — and so many more.

These moments remind me why I started: to highlight the achievements, talents, and stories of the people shaping our culture.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS by Richard Sandoval