Today we’d like to introduce you to LaToria.
Hi LaToria, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story has always been rooted in creativity, faith, resilience, and the belief that every person has a story worth telling. Since I was a child, I’ve felt called to inspire people to embrace who they are, pursue the dreams that scare them and walk confidently in purpose using their gifts, but fear kept me from boldly pursuing my own for years.
I am a storyteller at heart. Before there was ever a camera in my hands, there was a pen and a set of drum sticks. As a child, I spent hours writing music, poetry and became the first drummer at my local church around age 9 as a way to express myself. I would sketch the lifestyle and future I imagined for myself being inspired by shows like MTV Cribs and My Super Sweet 16 to watching award shows with my granny. Looking back, it’s funny because I always dreamed of being in the entertainment industry, and now I’m finding my way into that world through music, visual media, and public relations.
Over time, my creativity evolved into photography, videography, and content creation. They have become ways I process life, build connection and community, celebrate meaningful moments, and share stories that deserve recognition.
My creative journey eventually led me to birth Lenses & Lore, my photography and videography business, where I specialize in capturing authentic moments through family portraits, events, and lifestyle storytelling. I’ve had the opportunity to work with individuals, families and organizations, and every project reminds me of why I fell in love with this work in the first place: to make people feel seen, known and valued.
I also began building my personal brand, where I share my journey through lifestyle content as I become more confident in who I am and build the life I’ve always dreamt of. I share everything from my 4C natural hair journey to entrepreneurship, life as a Black woman navigating ADHD and lifestyle moments at concerts and art shows interviewing other creatives who spark my interest. I keep my mini microphone on me!
I’m pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations, which has allowed me to combine my love for storytelling with strategic communication, media, and community engagement as I work toward a career in the entertainment industry. Through my work in nonprofit communications, I’ve been able to use my skills to highlight meaningful moments and connect people with causes bigger than themselves.
Today, I’m continuing to grow as an entrepreneur, artist, and PR professional. Whether it’s through music, visuals, or storytelling, my mission is to create work that lights a fire in anyone who encounters me and my work. I want people to walk away feeling inspired to embrace who they are, pursue their dreams boldly, and know that their story matters. We truly are better together.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I grew up with a single mother and six years later a baby brother. Throughout my childhood we moved around often before eventually settling in Irving, Texas during my sixth-grade year. We had a tight-knit extended family back home in Buffalo, Texas. Every move built my resilience and taught me how to adapt to different environments, but I always had a hard time letting go of what felt like home. It was a complete culture shock moving from the country to the city, but I adjusted well and built community through playing volleyball and basketball.
My greatest challenges came my freshman year in college. A mixture of being on my own in a new city, being betrayed by friends, and experiencing the loss of loved ones led me to our campus counselors office and after multiple episodes I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. A dark cloud followed me daily to the point where I’d just stay in my bed, in the dark, sometimes crying, sometimes numb, but everyday I struggled to find my fight to want to live in my reality any longer. Years later, a suicide attempt would lead me to an encounter with Jesus right in my dorm bathroom. From that day forward, nobody had to convince me that He was real and if He allowed me to make it through that moment, and made His presence known to me, I must have an identity and purpose worth discovering.
Over the years, I healed through therapy, community, serving others and of course creative expression. My light and bubbly personality returned and I began to understand how uniquely God wired me, the gifts He placed inside of me and how to use them. I had my associates degree, and had been working for a non-profit where I got my first leadership role. My path was becoming clearer as I stayed committed to healing and a growth mindset, even when it was uncomfortable.
Around 2023, I felt the tug to go back to college and finish my bachelors degree. After two semesters all I kept hearing was “storytelling, storytelling” and what was the perfect umbrella for that? Journalism with a concentration in public relations.
Now at 28, I’m navigating a different set of challenges. After struggling to balance school, work, relationships and all of the things my therapist suggested maybe I needed a different type of test. I received an inattentive ADHD diagnosis and immediately had language to deep rooted shame I’ve felt since I was a child. For years, I didn’t understand why I struggled to do things others seemed to do effortlessly, or why my brain never stopped spinning but now I have clarity, tools and am building systems to work with MY brain, not against it. As a Black woman, both depression and ADHD are taboo topics, and I am committed to spreading more awareness to help my community feel seen and learn to manage and overcome. I’ve been on a journey of unlearning, unmasking and being the full, authentic me out loud. While it’s come with grief, I’m learning to love all of me and allowing myself to be loved on.
Every challenge I’ve overcome has shaped the heart behind everything I create, and my hope is that my story inspires someone to embrace the whole of their journey, love it and live it out loud!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve never limited myself to one creative outlet. My journey started with writing, sketching, playing drums, singing and later piano, and over the years that creativity has expanded into photography, videography, content creation, and public relations. I’ve always sang in church growing up, which set the foundation for me joining the Tyler Junior College Choir and being a leader in the alto section. During the pandemic, a group of ladies I was in the choir with got together and birthed a girl group named Lydia, The Band, where we shared song covers online and performed throughout East Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I loved creating vocal arrangements, mashups and finding the perfect harmonies. In 2021, I got to sing in the Maverick City Gospel Choir for a concert behind a few of my favorite artists at that time. I recently served as a praise and worship director, and til this day it is one of the musical experiences I’m most proud of. Our team became family through our shared love for Christ, crazy musical chemistry, and commitment to doing real life together, not just ministry. That experience taught me so much! I’ve sang background vocals and been featured on music projects, including my remix of Marsha Ambrosia’s “Far Away,” which can be found on my YouTube channel. Today, I’m finally creating the original music I’ve dreamed of making for years.
What I’m most proud of right now is having the courage to finally share my journey publicly through my personal brand, @livewithlatoria. For years, I lived in fear of being seen, even though the people around me naturally looked to me for encouragement and inspiration. Friends and family would often ask me about everything from my journey with depression and tell me how they needed my transparency, to my hair routine and skincare. Eventually, I realized I had been influencing people long before I ever built a platform—I just had to give myself permission to step into it. Outside of those things mentioned, you can find me with my mini microphone, at events, ready to interview other creatives who spark my interest and have a story to tell!
What makes my creative journey unique is that I’m not showing up as someone who has everything figured out and can give you all of the answers. I’m inviting people to grow with me, authentically, in real time as I unlearn, learn, create, heal, and pursue the dreams I’ve carried since childhood. I’m sharing my experiences in hopes that my journey inspires others to take the leap and just do it, and I’m committed to sharing the whole of my story, not just the highlight reels and good times.
I’m loving the journey building my community and career in PR, music and the entertainment industry, brick by brick!
Fun fact: I’m a HUGE Michael Jackson fan, and meeting Jackie and Marlon Jackson this summer was a dream come true. Even crazier, Marlon remembered me from the crowd during the meet and greet! (You can catch the moment in my pinned reels. 😊) I would love to interview some of the siblings one day!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can follow my journey primarily on Instagram and TikTok (@livewithlatoria), where I share my 4C hair journey, lifestyle, entrepreneurship, music, and my experience as a Black woman navigating ADHD and MDD. I’ve also recently expanded to YouTube and Substack as I continue building my community and using my voice for a cause bigger than me.
I’d love to collaborate with Black-owned brands—especially hair care and beauty brands—as well as singer/songwriters, creatives, and businesses looking to tell their stories and engage with their audience through visual storytelling. Through Lenses & Lore (@lensesandlore), I offer photography, videography, and content creation services and am always open to opportunities in front of the camera as a model or content creator.
My long-term goal is to grow as a media personality and host, creating spaces where I can connect with people, tell meaningful stories, and highlight the voices and experiences that deserve to be heard. Whether it’s through PR, music and artist development, content creation, hosting, or visual storytelling, I’m excited to learn, contribute, and grow. The best way to support me is by following my journey, sharing my work, booking Lenses & Lore, or connecting me with opportunities that align with my mission of becoming authentically, out loud — while inspiring others to do the same.
For Lenses & Lore bookings and inquiries: booklensesandlore@gmail.com
For personal brand collaborations and opportunities: thelatoriajanae@gmail.com
Pricing:
- Photography sessions start at $100.
- Event videography and custom content packages begin at $150.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livewithlatoria/ and https://www.instagram.com/lensesandlore/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latoria.janae.2025/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565295703345
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@livewithlatoria
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewithlatoria
