Where are you based?
I’m based in Reno, Nevada and regularly work throughout Reno, Sparks, Lake Tahoe, and Northern Nevada. I’m also available for travel when a project takes me somewhere else.
ABOUT · ACZEL SANTANA
A little moreabout me.
Photographer + filmmaker based in Reno, Nevada. Working with people, businesses, and brands throughout Reno, Lake Tahoe, Northern Nevada, and beyond.
BASED IN
Reno, Nevada
WORKING THROUGHOUT
Tahoe + Beyond
FOCUS
Photography + Film
THE PERSON BEHIND THE CAMERA
I like getting to knowwhat matters to people.
I’m Aczel Santana, a photographer and filmmaker based in Reno, Nevada.
I photograph people, businesses, artists, celebrations, and everything in between. If I had to pick, I’d say my favorite part of all of this is getting to know the people I work with and understanding what makes what we’re creating worth documenting.
I like keeping the process comfortable and collaborative. We’ll talk, figure out what matters, and build from there. You don’t need to show up knowing exactly what photos to take or what a film should look like.
Sometimes the best moments are the ones we didn’t plan for.
A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL
I’ve never really wanted this work to feel overly formal.
I’d rather get to know who I’m working with, keep things comfortable, and let the good stuff happen from there.
OUTSIDE THE WORK
When the camera’s down,life’s pretty simple.
I’m happiest around the people I love, finding the next best place to eat, heading out for runs that are honestly sometimes way too long, or watching a movie that’ll probably end up making me a little emotional.
Reno is home, and having the mountains and Lake Tahoe right outside the city is something I never really get tired of. At the same time, I love when the work gives me an excuse to see somewhere new.
At the end of the day, I’m a people person. I like hearing what someone is working on, why they care about it, and what got them there.
A FEW THINGS YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING
A few questions.Some answers.
What kind of photography do you do?
My work ranges from commercial and brand photography to portraits, couples, celebrations, events, artists, and documentary-style projects. What I’m photographing changes, but I always want the finished work to feel natural to the people involved.
Do you also shoot video?
Absolutely. I work across photography and film, including interviews, short-form content, documentary pieces, events, brand work, and other story-driven projects. Some projects need one or the other, and plenty benefit from both.
I’m awkward in front of a camera. Is that okay?
Completely. Most people aren’t used to having a camera pointed at them. You don’t need to know how to pose or what to do. I keep things relaxed, give direction when it helps, and leave room for things to happen naturally.
Do you travel outside of Reno?
Yes. Reno is home, and I regularly work throughout Lake Tahoe and Northern Nevada, but I’m available for projects elsewhere too. If you have something farther away in mind, tell me about it.
Do I need to know exactly what I want before reaching out?
Not at all. Some people come to me with a complete concept. Others just know they want photography or film and need help figuring out the rest. Either is a perfectly good place to start.
WHY I DO IT
Eventually,the moment passes.
People change. Businesses grow. Places look different. Celebrations end.
Photography and film give us a way to hold onto a small part of it — the people, the feeling, and what things looked like right then.
I THINK THERE’S SOMETHING PRETTY SPECIAL ABOUT THAT.RENO · LAKE TAHOE · + BEYOND
Based here.Happy to go elsewhere.
I’m based in Reno, Nevada and work throughout Reno, Sparks, Lake Tahoe, and Northern Nevada, with travel available for projects farther from home.
Whether it’s commercial photography for a local business, a film about the people behind a brand, portraits in the mountains, or a celebration worth remembering, the starting point is simple: tell me what you’re thinking.
ENOUGH ABOUT ME
What areyou working on?
Tell me what you have in mind. We can figure out the rest together.