Can you tell us a bit more about you?

My name is Eliza Romero and I run the blog, Aesthetic Distance. I am a Filipino-American fashion photographer, style blogger and educator. I am also the Public Relations Officer for the Katipunan, a nonprofit that promote Filipino culture in Maryland by developing social and educational programs.

Where are you from? Where do you live now?

I was born and raised in Baltimore, MD, which is about 45 minutes north of Washington, D.C.. After college, I moved to Austin, TX and now I am back in Baltimore, MD.

Tell us a bit about your background?

Prior to starting my blog, I attended the University of Maryland where I studied Art and Art History. Then I got my MFA in Design and Photography. I started out in portrait photography before I really found my voice in fashion photography, social justice, blogging, and pop culture criticism.

Can you tell us a bit more about Aesthetic Distance? When did it start?

I started my blog in January 2015 as a way to finally create my dream job by combining my passions for art, fashion, photography, and pop culture. Early on, my blog was a way to share my entrepreneurial journey via blogging outfit posts and new fashion editorials that I photographed with a personal message to my readers. People started to take notice and the response was incredible. I think that Aesthetic Distance has really shifted from being a blog to a calling. It’s become a conversation with my followers, a vehicle to inspire, encourage and support other females, especially minority females, in their endeavours.

How would you describe your style, image, storytelling?

I never write about the clothing or the fashion I’m shooting whether it’s an editorial or an outfit post. I always have some sort of observation or critique about the culture that we live in. When it comes to my editorials, I love the idea of using real people as opposed to agency models all the time. I also really try to show people of colour in my shots because I believe that media representation is so important. In a way, I feel that I am filling a gap that the fashion and media industries have left since they are still so white centric.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

The news. Music. Films. Books.

When your passion for fashion photography begins?

I started out as a portrait photographer and learned that what I really loved was creating these narratives in my photo shoots through the styling, makeup, locations, etc. There is so much creativity and collaboration involved and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. Also, because fashion is such a large part of our culture, I loved being able to use my photography as a way to get people thinking, socially and politically.

What materials do you use to work?

I always have my camera, my speed light, my reflector, and a tonne of batteries on me!

What are your biggest accomplishments? 

My biggest accomplishment to date is that my post, Dear Asian Women …, went viral and made a huge impact on the Asian community. It sparked a nationwide discussion about Asian American identity politics and interracial dating. To date, the blog post has received 120k clicks, 2.9k shares on FB and was picked up by several large media outlets. I love that it’s gotten people talking about a subject that is pretty much never talked about publicly.

Where do you usually like to go to chill/take a drink/party, dance?

I am a sun worshipper so anywhere sunny and warm! 

What is your favourite place to travel? to take pictures?

Shooting in the California desert was one of my favourite places to shoot but I usually take pictures in and around Baltimore and D.C. As far as travelling, I love Japan, the Philippines and Egypt. 

What is your motto in life? 

I don’t have a motto in life.