My name is Monik Flores, and I am a photographer based out of Chicago.

Mary Oliver, my favorite poet, gave the following instructions for living a life:

1. Pay Attention

2. Be Astonished

3. Tell About It

Everything that I do stems from this stanza. They are my guiding principles for living and creating. As a human being, I would describe myself as inherently observant, looking for and finding profound beauty in the smallest details.

As a person, I believe in the art of noticing: how the light hits that building, the subtle gestures of someone’s hands when they’re nervous, the nuanced way someone’s speech changes depending on who they’re talking to, and so on.

I believe that our world becomes richer when we take the time to truly pay attention. There are always stories waiting to be told or revealed.

The essence of my work is also driven by a deep desire to foster connections among people. Sometimes, it's as simple as saying, "This is beautiful, and I want you to see it too” and other times it is creating with a clear direction in mind. This storytelling drive has woven its way through my career, from teaching English, to writing, and to capturing moments through photography.

I love taking my camera out to capture friends, I love documenting events going on in the city, I love capturing light, and, in my ideal world, I am shooting editorials for bands or hopping on a tour bus to capture their shows.

I would love to help you capture whatever story it is you are aiming to tell :)