Today we’d like to introduce you to Eva And Issac Handojo And Renteria
Eva and Issac, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
From two creative souls came one shared vision——what started as individual creative passions transformed into a business uniquely ours that celebrates love, art, community, and adventure.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, our lives changed overnight. Our life and the world we once knew came to a standstill. We felt distant and out of touch with friends, family, classmates, and coworkers. The first year of university, which was supposed to be a pivotal chapter in our journey of self-discovery and professional growth, was stripped away from us, forcing us into a reality of online discussion forums and Zoom classes. It was a time filled with uncertainty, and the big questions of “who wanted to be” and “what we wanted to do with our lives” dawned on us.
With little to no social life, we found comfort in our shared company and embraced the opportunity to explore our creativity and freedom in ways we hadn’t before. Eva, who was primarily a landscape and portrait photographer, began to experiment with a more fashion and editorial focus. Drawing on her background in styling and her passion for the fashion world, she combined these two creative talents enriching her artistic direction, photography style, and overall vision. Issac became her muse and model, experimenting with his own creative passions during the pandemic. The collaboration on creative projects with Eva sparked his passion for fashion modeling, and with time, he grew more comfortable in front of the camera, especially with Eva behind it. This experience ignited his love for the art form as he was able to experiment with body language, expression, and movement to convey a visual narrative or mood. Building on his newfound confidence, Isaac began exploring his personal style and unique look. He was devoted to breaking down the traditional barriers of “men’s fashion” and began to embrace his own individuality.
During this period of isolation, as many sought connection through online platforms, we immersed ourselves into content creation and documenting our shared adventures. We began to refine our skills in video editing, storytelling, and graphic design, and started to gain more comfortability in front of the camera. Our creative exploration led us to dive deeper into the media world, and our love for modeling, photography, film, and videography expanded. Together, we turned a challenging time into a creative awakening.
With the noise of the outside world silenced, we had the freedom to dream and create. We started talking about an entrepreneurial vision that had been brewing in our minds—what if we created a personal brand and business that blended our creative passions? We wanted to build something that not only brought us joy, but also fostered a community for fellow creatives searching for connection and inspiration. It was a simple idea, not at all refined at the time, but it ignited a fire within us. We realized that we wanted to provide a space for others like us—those who felt isolated or unsure in these uncertain times. We envisioned a place where artists, makers, and dreamers could come together, share their talents, and support one another.
In 2021, when the world began to regain its footing, we became re-inspired while studying at San Diego State University. We chose to continue on this creative path and put ourselves out there. Eva became part of the executive board as the Media Director of Kolorhouse, a creative community and clothing brand on campus, where she executed content, planned events, workshops, and directed photoshoots for club members. Additionally, she became the Photography Director for SDSU’s first student-run fashion, art, and culture magazine, The Look Magazine. A few of her works were featured on the cover and pages for the Fall 2021, Spring 2022, and Fall 2022 issues. Her work was also published at the Auburn Art Gallery in Los Angeles for the Black and White exhibition. Meanwhile, Isaac worked diligently as an aspiring entrepreneur, earning the title of runner-up in the SDSU Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture Challenge, which is part of the ZIP Launchpad program for entrepreneurship students. He also joined the executive board as the Fashion Director of Kolorhouse, where he hosted workshops for designers, organized events, and coordinated fashion markets and shows for student designers and models on campus.
The connections we formed with other talented creatives in these clubs marked the beginning of our freelance modeling journey, both individually and as a couple. We started modeling as passion projects, collaborating with local photographers and fellow creatives. Eva’s background in photography and her experience in dance allowed her to easily embody different characters and conceptualize expansive creative visions. Together, we began modeling, styling, and creative directing photoshoots as a couple. By 2022, we were approached by several professional photographers to model for one-on-one sessions and styled photoshoots within the wedding industry.
During the Spring of 2023, Eva graduated with a BA in Journalism with an emphasis in Media Studies and Issac graduated with a BA in Business Management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. As we gained experience through the professional opportunities during our time at university, we discovered the beauty of creative collaboration and the strength that comes from building something meaningful together as a team of talented individuals. The pressing question of “what’s next” became unavoidable. Not many people discuss the extensive burnout, isolation, and challenges that often follow graduation. In today’s climate, finding a job is tough, regardless of one’s level of experience. We realized that our journey ahead needed to be one in the creative field, and that we wanted to establish our own company and personal brand. We recognized as creatives, and from the path that we were currently on, a 9 to 5 job did not suit us. We thrive in collaborative environments surrounded by like-minded creatives. While we were modeling together as a side hustle, what began as casual fashion modeling quickly evolved into a dedicated passion and career in the couple modeling industry.
In November 2023, we launched The Lovers Travel Diary (TLTD). Initially, we created our personal brand to embark on our professional modeling journey as a couple, and to document our shared passions for modeling, lifestyle, travel & adventure through visual content. As we began to book modeling jobs within the styled shoot community in the wedding and elopement industry, we found a growing demand for couple models. This past year, we have been fortunate to travel throughout California and to incredible destinations such as Iceland, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Florida as freelance models. We are now full-time models, booking collaborations with local brands, photographers, designers, and runway shows, both individually and as a couple. We are incredibly grateful for all the professional opportunities we have been given this year, as they have enriched our experience and allowed us to grow both personally and professionally.
While we initially aimed to explore modeling, content creation, and influencing through this joint account, we soon realized that TLTD was more than just our brand. It became our chance to foster community and create a space for creatives to learn, connect, grow, and express themselves artistically. We recognized how much we missed the inspiration that creative collaboration and event planning provided, so we decided to expand our focus beyond modeling. We began designing styled photoshoots and content day retreats, specifically for photographers, videographers, and vendors in the wedding industry. By bringing people together, we wanted to help other creatives build their personal brands, enhance their portfolios, and network with other talented individuals while making memorable experiences. Our mission is to inspire others, who want to kickstart their creative career, and to give them a space to experiment with their creative freedom. We launched our first event in February 2024 in San Diego, and have since had the opportunity to creatively direct and organize events in Florida, Palm Springs, and Big Sur this past year. While we are still in the early stages of our business, we are incredibly grateful for the community we have built and become a part of. We have many exciting plans for 2025, as we dive deeper into event planning, creative direction, modeling, UGC content creation, travel blogging, and photography/videography. We are very excited to see where our creativity and business take us next!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We certainly have had our fair share of roadblocks, to get where we are today, so we would not describe it has been a smooth road. However, the journey has been the most fun either of us has experienced. There have been struggles, but they have come with the fulfilling reward of pursuing our dreams. We want to be very honest about what our work behind the scenes and in front of the camera entails since this is not usually shined on. Especially on social media, life can be portrayed to be perfect, but the struggles and hardships to get there are often masked.
When we first started modeling in 2022, we wanted to grow our modeling portfolio with TFP collaborations (Time for pictures). Yet, after gaining more experience and seeking more demand to model, the question of, “Should we start charging?”, came up, especially since our goal was to start modeling full-time. First of all, there is not much information out there for freelance models, especially within the model couple industry. Most of what we did at the beginning of our journey up until now has come down to trial and error.
In general, freelance models (those who are not represented by an agency or choose to represent themselves), get taken advantage of. Many freelance models encounter clients, photographers, and agencies that try to exploit their eagerness to work which can involve lowballing pay, asking for extra work without compensation, or presenting unfavorable contract terms. When we first started our professional modeling journey, there wasn’t much information out there to aid us in our journey. We accepted unpaid jobs for much longer than we should have with a growing portfolio, and when we started charging, we didn’t realize how low of a rate we were placing on ourselves! We placed our value on the budgets of clients, photographers, agencies, and planners instead of asking ourselves, what value we bring to the table instead. Models often struggle with knowing their worth and may feel pressure to accept lower rates to secure jobs, especially when starting out. We are extremely grateful for the other models in the industry we reached out to to ask questions and insightful advice. We definitely experienced imposter syndrome, but with time we have learned to know our worth as professionals and to respect our time, experience, and value. As we continue to learn, grow, and create community, we want to provide information and relatable experiences as models, event planners, and content creators in the creative industry.
Additionally, like with any business, there is the unknown—taking a leap into something new and figuring things out along the way. There are many decisions, skills, and conflicts we had to learn how to handle along the way. We learned with trial and error and adapted to the different challenges of growing a business. Balancing a business with your significant other also brings its own set of challenges, requiring new forms of communication. It can be difficult when your business partner and significant other is the same person to differentiate when it’s time for business and when it’s time for the relationship. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows, especially at the beginning of our venture, but we are continuously learning to manage a work/life/relationship balance as time goes on.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a professional model couple, a UGC photographer-content creator team, and the creative minds behind The Lovers Travel Diary (TLTD). Founded in 2023, TLTD is our personal brand dedicated to creative directing and organizing styled photoshoot events for photographers, videographers, and vendors in the wedding and elopement industry. We design and host fully styled events in collaboration with various vendors, creating a fashion-forward, editorial setup that mirrors a real wedding or elopement. This streamlined approach alleviates the stress for many clients, associated with booking or sourcing vendors, models, or locations, making it easier for those starting out in the field or looking to enhance their personal brand. They simply arrive at our event with their cameras, and we handle everything else!
Our mission is to facilitate networking opportunities that help creatives build their personal brands and portfolios while immersing themselves in exciting experiences—eventually expanding this around the world. At the heart of TLTD, we are more than just a brand; it is a vibrant, supportive community designed to connect like-minded individuals. We aim to inspire fellow creatives, reignite their passions, and foster collaboration among artists. In addition, we aim to provide educational content, insights, and practical advice for aspiring creatives, helping them navigate the worlds of modeling, travel, and content creation as a couple—sharing both what we’ve learned and what we continue to discover along the way. We hope to invite other like-minded dreamers to join us on beginning a journey towards their personal goals. We want to show others that a successful creative career is possible, and unite around shared interests for creativity, love, and travel.
Through TLTD, we offer our freelance services as professional models and UGC content creators specializing in travel, couple lifestyle, and dynamic visual storytelling. We specialize in creating experiences through modeling, where we help brands, photographers, videographers, and event planners capture the details, emotions, and moments that can elevate their work. Our modeling portfolio includes editorial, commercial, runway, wedding, lifestyle, and boudoir works. By merging our creative backgrounds with expressive posing, movement, and storytelling, we aim to deliver the shots that resonate with photographers and brands, so that they will attract their dream clients, bookings, and sales.
Through authentic, user-generated content, we provide high-quality photo, video, and editing services as visual marketing for brands, businesses, and unique experiences. We’re currently focused on local work but, our ultimate goal is to travel full-time and offer our services around the world. On our social platforms for TLTD, we share our travel adventures, modeling experiences, and couple lifestyle.
We never imagined that we would get to where we are now in such a short time, especially after feeling like we lost two valuable years to the pandemic and experiencing burnout and stagnation shortly after graduating from university. Starting a business can be scary and often comes with its challenges, but we are grateful for the tremendous amount of support we’ve received from others. We are thankful for the experiences and opportunities this first year of our journey, but most proud of the genuine connections we have made with people in the creative community. It’s been truly beautiful to meet people with diverse talents, which have been both inspirational and motivating. We’re also proud to serve as a source of inspiration for others, because it is a beautiful thing to watch the journeys of other creatives pursuing their passions. We believe that everyone has talents that they can make into their own career, and that following your dreams—no matter what they are—is not just a saying but an essential pursuit to feeling alive.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most valuable lesson we have learned is to trust the process. Each person’s purpose and journey unfolds in its own time.
As artists, we often hold ourselves to high standards, feeling as if life is a ticking time bomb. It’s hard not to feel this way, especially since we’re taught from a young age that only a small percentage of creatives truly “make it big”. This “starving artist” mindset can create immense internal pressure and hardship. We have come to realize that perfection is the killer of progress. While we naturally strive to evolve and grow, we frequently become our harshest critics, with perfectionism creeping in alongside our ambitions.
We are only human. We are still learning as we fail, make mistakes, and grow. Through this journey, we have learned the importance of patience and taking time to appreciate and enjoy the process. Perfectionism can be a leading cause to creative burnout, stress, procrastination, anxiety, and even depression in an artists’ life, especially when we cling too tightly to a vision and place it on a pedestal. Yet, we have discovered that beautiful things often emerge when you open your mind and are optimistic. When you surrender to the creative process, the ideas and art often evolve into something greater than you could have imagined.
If you have been feeling stuck or burnt out, stick it out a little more and trust the process. Looking back, we now see that those darker moments were blessings in disguise. They served as essential lessons and opportunities for growth that brought us to where we are today. Before you know it, you will find yourself reflecting on the past year and realize that you are in the middle of the dream you once fought so hard to achieve!
Pricing:
- Email us at evaandissac.info@gmail.com or DM us for rates & travel quotes for inquries/bookings!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloverstraveldiary/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555306463350
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLoversTravelDiary
- Other: https://www.threads.net/@theloverstraveldiary
Image Credits
Cover Photo: Milena and Eddie @ourrdigitaldiaries
Le Chacuel Portrait: Jake Fosmire @jakefosmirephoto
Ocean Editorial: Erin Miller @erin.miller.photo
Secret Garden Madonna Inn Editorial: Stephanie Fisher @fromthedaises
Clothing Brand Tree Editorial: Kurriizma @kurriizmatic Arielle Garfield @orionlynnephotography
Skateboard Couple Session: Natasha Yeung @natashayeungphotography
Surrealism in the Sand Dunes: Brittany @portraiturebybritt
San Diego Content Day Collage:
Photographer Credits –
Kat @ktphotocreative, Natasha @natashayeungphotography, Fernando @fernvjr, Nikky @nikkyhuynhphoto, Savanah @savanahpoolphotography
Vendor Credits –
Creative Director: @theloverstraveldiary
Florist: @roguepetalsbyv @freshflowersociety
Wardrobe styling/Table set-up: @byangeltan
Menu Cards/Invitations: @ume__design
Wedding dress #1: @forloveandlemons
Wedding dress #2/Ruffle Veil: @somethingwhite.dressrentals
Suit: @zegliosd @zegliobeverlyhills
Vintage Lingerie/Stylist: @valentinev1ntage @nicoletterstacks
Ruffle Veil: @somethingwhite.dressrentals
Vintage Car: @dannycozmos
Hair and Makeup Artists: @nataliebohlin_makeupandhair, @deziv, @beautybyheatherarnold, @haircraftbymelinda
@tressesandtwine @b.a.r._beauty
Big Sur Content Day:
Photographer Credits –
Adam @momentsintimephotographyandco, Emma @pananiaphotos, Ranjith @ranjith.studios, Victoria @volskayaphotography
Vendor Credits –
Creative director/host: @theloverstraveldiary
Event Coordination: @happilyeveradventureco
Lead Photographer: @momentsintimephotographyandco
Florist: @poplarfloral
Arch/Rug Event Rentals: @loveboundelopements
Candle/Event Rentals: @summitseasdesigns
Stationary/Flatlay: @signature.e.tone
HMUA: @evolve_bridal
Veil Designer: @o_mara.co
Flower Veil: @garnetandgracebridalboutique
Hat: @sol_authentica
Wedding Dresses: @garnetandgracebridalboutique
Jewelry Designer: @thecoastalrodeo
Bespoke Suit: @zegliosd @zegliobeverlyhills @zegliooc
Rings: @rhodesweddingco
Model Couples: @theorozcos @olivia.natalya @grace.mckevitt @theloverstraveldiary
