What happens when one of the biggest achievements of your career is met with criticism instead of celebration?
On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with Emmy Award–winning photojournalist Roxanna Ortiz for an honest conversation about storytelling, resilience, recognition, and what it takes to navigate the creative industry as a woman today.
Based in Seattle, Washington, Roxanna has built a career around powerful visual storytelling, documenting real moments and real people through both photography and video. But with success often comes scrutiny.
In this episode, Roxanna opens up about winning an Emmy Award, the unexpected backlash that followed, and how she learned to stay focused on her work despite outside noise. We also discuss her current and upcoming projects, the gear she relies on, and her perspective on the state of the photography and videography community.
Together, we explore the unique challenges female creators face online, the impact of social media on creativity, and why the Community Over Competition movement is more important than ever.
In This Episode:
• Roxanna's journey as an Emmy Award–winning photojournalist
• The story behind her Emmy win and the backlash that followed
• Current and future photography and video projects
• The camera gear and tools she uses today
• Changes coming to her creative workflow
• The state of the photography and videography industry
• Social media challenges facing female creators
• Building confidence in a competitive creative landscape
• Why Community Over Competition matters
This is a conversation about perseverance, creativity, storytelling, and finding your place in an industry that doesn't always celebrate success.
Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, journalist, content creator, or someone pursuing a creative dream, Roxanna's story is a powerful reminder that your work matters and that community will always be stronger than competition.
Visit Xanna:
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Instagram:@rawplus.media
Threads:@rawplus.media
Web:www.rawplusseattle.com
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Instagram: @PHYS_Podcast
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YouTube: @phys_podcast
Web: www.physpodcast.ca
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