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About
Matt Valenzuela: Photographer. Creative problem solver. Husky and German dog dad.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.
So there I was, sitting at my desk, staring at a computer screen and surrounded by piles of paper. 1.5 hour commute in. 1.5 hour commute home. Sleep. Work. Eat. Repeat. I felt a fire burning inside and I felt a strong calling to take another path. I left my full time job and joined the Marine Corps infantry in 2006. While serving with First Battalion Ninth Marines, I deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008 and part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2010. Summing up my experience in the Marines to one word. EPIC.
Our unit was just reactivated when I arrived so myself and my peers were mostly put into leadership positions right out the gate. The learning curve was STEEP! We did everything from shooting guns, to driving huge trucks, to sliding down a rope from a helicopter and more! The fast paced life helped me learn to think on my feet, problem solve, and perform in difficult and stressful situations.
My enlisted service came to an end and I moved back to California; returning to my career in geospatial information systems. The change of pace was difficult and I needed something more. I’m not going to tell you a love story of how I picked up a camera at a young age and fell in love with it. To be honest, I was using photography as a communications tool and saw how effective it could be to potential stakeholders. I dove in and immersed myself in workshops, conferences, tutorials, and anything else I could get my hands on. What I learned was how powerful media and technology can be in helping people and businesses crush their goals and promote what they’re doing. Naturally, I had to make this a full time gig and founded Illume Multimedia.
The journey so far has been incredible! It’s such a honor to be a part of a project and to see how passionate people are in their work. I’m especially excited to continue to grow in my craft and meet all the talented creatives along the way!