About
I’m Mike Lara, a photographer born and raised in South Central LA. For the past 9 years, I’ve been capturing life through my lens—starting with friends and family, and stepping into professional work in 2018 once I found confidence in my style and invested fully in my craft.
I specialize in portraits—solo portraits, family sessions, maternity, and engagement shoots. I also cover events like weddings, quinceañeras, baby showers, gender reveals, and bridal showers. My experience extends into real estate photography, street, landscape, and cityscape work.
I’ve photographed live performances, including a Metallica tribute band at the Anaheim House of Blues and an Ozzy Osbourne cover band at Garden Amp. I’ve shot high-speed action at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, and even capture the magic of Disneyland through my lens.
Lately, I’ve been exploring the world of 35mm film photography—learning the art of manual focus, exposure, and slowing down to appreciate every frame.
My creative goal is to continue evolving, pushing the boundaries of what I can capture, and stepping into new challenges. Whether it's exploring new photography styles or working on larger-scale projects, I’m always striving to create work that feels raw, authentic, and inspiring.
No matter the setting, my goal is always the same: to capture life’s greatest moments—with honesty, emotion, and intention.
If you don’t see what you're looking for on the site, feel free to reach out.