I’ve been thinking a lot about where I am as a photographer.
There’s always that pull to chase what’s current. What feels cool, fast, trending. I see the work out there and part of me knows I could do it. I’ve done big campaigns, worked with major brands, traveled, handled the pressure. I know I’m capable.
But when I really check in with myself, that’s not what drives me.
First and foremost, I’m a father. That’s the most important role in my life. Every day I’m thinking about how I can show up better for my son. How to be present. How to make sure he feels loved, supported, and safe. That perspective shapes everything else.
Including the way I approach my work.
What I’m drawn to, over and over again, is connection. Real people. Real stories. Sitting with someone, listening, finding something honest, and translating that into an image that feels true to them. That’s the work that stays with me.
That’s also where I feel most at home on set. In the flow. Working with a team I trust, creating something meaningful, and actually enjoying the process. The kind of shoots where everyone’s locked in but also having a good time. That balance matters to me.
Lately, I’ve been putting more energy into my fine art work as well. It’s slower. Quieter. More about paying attention than producing. I’m not chasing anything with it. Just trying to see more clearly and make images that feel timeless, like they could exist outside of a specific moment.
I still love shooting campaigns. The work I’ve done with people sharing their stories, like the projects with J&J and Bio-Tech, means a lot to me. That’s the direction I want to keep moving toward. Work that has feeling behind it. Work that connects.
Same with smaller stories, like the Moonbread piece. Just spending time with people, understanding who they are, and telling it in a way that feels honest, through my lens.
I guess this is just me saying I’m choosing to stay aligned with who I am, even if it’s quieter than what’s out there.
If you’re into real people, real moments, and work that leans more into feeling than flash, I’m here for it.
I almost never share photos of myself here—I’ve always felt more at home behind the camera. But I’ve been hearing from people that they don’t even know what I look like, so… here I am 👋🏽
I’m Lou. I live in Ojai, California, where life is a mix of photography, fatherhood, and community. I’m a dad to an incredible 9-year-old boy who teaches me daily about love, presence, and play. When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me on a trail run, outside in the sunshine, or connecting with the people who make this little town feel like home.
Photography is my life’s work. On one side, I shoot commercial + advertising projects with brands, telling real, human stories. On the other, I create fine art work—slower, more personal projects that explore stillness, childlike wonder, and the quiet beauty of everyday life.
At the center of it all is connection. That’s what drives me, whether I’m behind the camera, with my son, or simply showing up in my community.
Thanks for being here. I’m grateful to share this mix of work and life with you. Say hi in the comments—I’d love to know who’s out there.
Ojai is often called the Valley of the Moon. So it feels right that a story like this lives here.
Once a month, under the full moon, Linn and her family set intentions over jars of water and leave them outside to absorb the night. The next day, she bakes sourdough with it.
Moonbread.
I went in curious. I left believing.
Not just in the ritual — but in what happens after. Bread slows people down. It gathers them around a table. It creates connection.
This is the first independent short film I’ve directed outside of a client brief. I made it simply because I believe in the story.
I’m really proud of this one.
Produced and directed by me @loumora
Shot and edited beautifully by Justin Donais. @jdonais
Watch it at the link in bio.
A small teaser from a recent afternoon w Jojo Alderson. @jojoaldersonart
I’ll share more from this series soon, but this portrait felt like a good place to start. There’s a quiet presence in the way she holds her space, something that comes through so naturally in her work and in person.
Spending time w her was easy in the best way. We ended up talking about Sweden, where she’s from, and it opened up a really personal thread for me. I lived there for a short time in my 20’s, and it’s where I first discovered photography. It’s a place that’s stayed w me, so that connection made the afternoon feel even more meaningful.
More to come from this one. In the meantime, take a look at her work if you’re not already familiar. It’s beautiful.
Visited the studio of @daniellamanini_art the other day. I’ve been a fan of her work for a long time, so getting to step into her space and see it all up close felt special.
Her work carries this energy that’s hard to ignore. Colorful, youthful, full of life in a way that feels effortless and honest.
What I love about these visits is how quickly things move past the surface. With Daniella, there was no small talk. We went straight into life, the real stuff, and it made the time feel meaningful right away.
Being invited into someone’s creative space is always an honor. There’s something about seeing where the work is made that gives you a deeper understanding of it, and of them.
She’s heading to Japan soon for a show and I’m already looking forward to hearing how it unfolds when she’s back.
If her work speaks to you, definitely take a moment to check it out. There’s a lot there to connect with.
Tilt - 2026
I was driving by in the rain when I saw this, chairs flipped over in an empty field.
Something about it made me stop.
The way they landed… it didn’t feel random.
Almost like an arrangement.
Like a sculpture that just happened to exist for a moment.
I cropped it in a way that feels a little off.
There’s a tilt to it, like the ground isn’t quite level.
It gives me this subtle sense of vertigo, like I need to lean to the right.
But that tension is what pulled me in.
The color, the wet surface, the way everything feels slightly out of place.
It’s a simple scene,
but it holds something unexpected.
A single frame from a recent project I photographed in Seattle.
The story behind this image is both tragic and incredibly inspiring. Listening to her interview had me in tears more than once. Her strength, humor, and spirit are unforgettable.
I feel incredibly lucky to help bring stories like this to life.
More to come soon.
✨𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍✨
🏆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧/𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫
Congratulations to Lou Mora from United States for his timeless capture, GIOVANNI 📸
«This portrait of my friend Giovanni, an avid surfer and free diver, was taken in front of an abandoned building with mountains towering in the background. I was drawn to the playful contrast between his aquatic world and the dry, rugged landscape. The scene carries a quiet humor while capturing a timeless essence, blending curiosity, adventure, and a sense of the unexpected.»
#filmphotography #120film #kodakportra400 #mediumformatfilm #analogsparks
Play, color, balance, curiosity. Always a joy working with the thoughtful human at Stapelstein.
#stapelstein #play #design #childhood #lifestylephotography
I started this series a long time ago, self-portraits on the edge of a bed, inspired by Lost in Translation.
Different places. Different years. Different versions of myself.
A simple frame to witness change, stillness, solitude, growth, and the quiet space between who I was and who I am becoming.
#louintranslation
