Paola Paredes (b.1986) is an Ecuadorean photographer. Blending traditional documentary photography with staged imagery, her work focuses on issues facing the LGBT community, exploring contemporary attitudes towards homosexuality in Ecuador. Putting herself at the forefront of her imagery, her work represents a personal and intimate challenge to social prejudices, and invites renewed discourse on the interactions between sexuality, family and personal freedom in contemporary society. The works exclusively available with artvocate explore mental health within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Paola received a Bachelor’s degree in graphic design in Quito before completing her first photography masters degree at Middlesex University in 2015. She also earned a second masters in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at the London College of Communication in 2016.
Her first major photographic work ‘Unveiled’ was widely celebrated upon its publication, and has been extensively distributed online, receiving support from prominent publications including, Huffington Post, Feature Shoot, and Cosmopolitan. Her second project ‘Until You Change’ has also been widely celebrated online with prominent publications in BBC, Aljazeera, Yahoo News, Vanity Fair and more, as well as been exhibited internationally. Skin Deep is her latest interactive photographic series.