Los Angeles Photographer
Portrait | Documentary | Sill Life | Urban Lifestyle
An Xicana educator and artist based in Southern California, Megan Pennings (she/her) brings her diverse cultural background to her multifaceted photography practice. Her work spans portraiture, documentary, still life, and urban lifestyle, exploring the intersections of social media, culture, and community while delving into questions of identity and social expression.
Megan's extensive academic background reflects her commitment to both artistic practice and cultural studies. She earned her MFA in Photography from the Academy of Art University San Francisco, complementing her earlier degrees: an M.A. in Mexican-American Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Cal State Los Angeles, a B.A. in Mexican-American Studies and Sociology from the same institution, and an A.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Mt. San Antonio College. She currently serves as Adjunct Faculty in Ethnic Studies at multiple institutions - Chaffey College, Citrus College, Fullerton College, and Santa Ana College - while also teaching Digital Photography at South Hills High School.
Beyond the classroom, Megan actively engages with community initiatives that align with her values of representation and empowerment. She mentored with Las Fotos Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering teenage girls and gender-expansive youth through photography. As a member of Mujeres de Maíz, a collective supporting women of color, she contributes to creating inclusive spaces for marginalized voices. Her role in co-curating their annual live art show and exhibition demonstrates her ongoing commitment to fostering social change and community engagement.
PHOTO BY: Anthony Hjaltalin (Hjaltalin Imgery)
Through the lens of a camera, we do more than capture fleeting moments - we preserve the vital stories of our communities. Photography paired with narrative allows us to illuminate the intricate connections between different cultures and social groups that shape our society. My photography journey began with a desire to document people in their authentic environments, catching genuine, unscripted moments. Social media, cultural expression, and community bonds particularly fascinate me, and these themes naturally became the focus of my work, manifesting in projects that explore identity and social connection.
My current documentary series examines the distinctive American subculture of bearded social clubs. These communities have embraced social media platforms not just as tools for expression, but as digital archives that preserve their unique culture and traditions. Through my portraits, I aim to reveal how these groups build and maintain their collective identity in both physical and digital spaces.