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In the course of showing the family’s relocation from Afghanistan, she shared a special moment with the Siddiqis’ son, who loved her camera.

By Hannah Stewart (Comm’19)
Photos courtesy Lourdes Camarillo

In the fall of 2021, Lourdes Camarillo had, perhaps, the most unconventional photography session of her career.

Instead of photographing new babies and growing families, Camarillo found herself in the Broomfield home of a family of refugees resettling from Afghanistan.

It was a new challenge, but one her background had prepared her for.

“No two people are the same,” she said. “It’s essential for me as a photographer to pay close attention to all the details and connections between the families I’m photographing.”

Seeking meaningful connection is at the heart of Camarillo’s endeavors—as the author of a children’s book, the owner of a business and four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. As a journalism student, courses have honed her photography skills and expanded her focus, which has grown to include moments like the Siddiqi family relocating to Colorado, a rally for Ukrainians and a Marine Corps Memorial Foundation event in Denver.

“When I’m photographing families or photographing anything, it’s like everything around me is gone, and all I have are the people in front of me,” she said.

As a photographer, Camarillo believes the best way to understand people—and take their pictures—is to let them express themselves in a space without judgment. As a photojournalist, she believes it’s the industry’s duty to share information accurately—but also compassionately.

“In the military, you’re doing something for more than just yourself,” she said. “In a way, journalism is the same. I’m not covering stories because they’re about me, I’m covering stories because that’s what the public needs to know about.”

Camarillo found herself drawn to service through journalism after being frustrated by misinformation during the pandemic. A family move to Colorado made it possible to study journalism at ���ϳԹ� and, since enrolling, she has challenged herself to experiment with different styles, such as political journalism.

She also challenged herself in an entirely new medium when, in 2021, she published What I Adore, a children’s book in which her daughter and son take her camera and photograph what they love most throughout the day. It ends with Camarillo’s daughter taking a picture of the family.

“Family is very important to me,” she said. “Life is short and we should live it passionately and do our best to fulfill our lives in any way that we can.”

Now in her third year in CMCI, she looks forward to further developing her storytelling skills, and is looking into internships to do just that. She sees photography as “an art of people” and a tool to help the public develop a sense of connection and empathy for others, like the Siddiqi family.

“I think there’s so much more we need to do for refugees instead of using them for political gain,” Camarillo said. “That passion for learning more about people’s stories and the feeling I get from those moments is when I know I’m on the right path.”