AMA Member Profile: Nina Padilla
By Sam Boykin
Nina Padilla’s path to becoming a marketing professional didn’t begin in a boardroom or behind a camera. It started in a dance studio.
A San Antonio native and mother of two, Padilla originally dreamed of a career as a professional dancer. While pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance at Texas State University, she was assigned to create dance videos for a film class. The equipment available through the library left her frustrated.
“They had us rent these awful cameras, and the quality just wasn’t there,” she said. “I ended up using part of my student loan money to buy my first DSLR so I could film my projects the way I envisioned them.”
That purchase changed everything.
What began as a practical solution quickly turned into a passion for photography and visual storytelling. Padilla started taking on small projects, building her skills behind the lens while continuing to teach dance. In 2016, she formalized that side work into a business, launching Vignette Portrait Photography.
For several years, she balanced running her photography company with teaching dance. Then the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing mandates brought her time in the studio to an abrupt halt.
“That pushed me into early retirement from dancing,” she said. “It was emotional at first because dance had been such a big part of my life. But in that transition, I focused all my energy on my company. I was determined to bet on myself.”
That moment marked one of several strategic pivots in Padilla’s career, which she credits as essential to her growth and success. In 2020, she rebranded her photography company and launched her LLC, Motion Arts Media, expanding her services to include videography, editing, content strategy, and social media storytelling. Her client base grew to include nonprofits, small businesses, artists, dance studios, and creative entrepreneurs across San Antonio.
“I realized I couldn’t just be a photographer anymore,” she said. “The industry was changing, and if I wanted to stay relevant, I had to evolve with it. I’ve always had a solopreneur spirit, but that experience really taught me how to be adaptable and think like a marketer, not just a creative.”
AMA Member Profile: Nina Padilla, Motion Arts Media
AMA San Antonio
She also launched a personal podcast, Candid and Curious, where she interviews creatives and entrepreneurs about their journeys, challenges, and lessons learned.
Padilla’s interest in storytelling and strategy eventually led her to a new opportunity. In 2022, she joined Haven for Hope, which provides programming and services to support those experiencing homelessness. As the multimedia manager, she leads the nonprofit’s multimedia strategy, creative direction, and digital storytelling efforts.
She also launched Haven for Hope's first podcast, The Hope Connection, to further amplify client voices and highlight the organization’s mission.
Working with a small team in a fast-paced nonprofit environment pushed Padilla to sharpen her marketing and leadership skills. Looking to connect with peers and continue her professional growth, she joined AMA-San Antonio in 2025.
“I really wanted to be part of a community of marketers,” she said. “I’ve had the best time. I’ve met so many awesome people, and it’s been refreshing to hear different perspectives from professionals across industries. It reminds you that you’re not figuring this out alone.”
Through AMA’s partnerships with organizations such as the Digital Marketing Institute, Padilla is also pursuing certifications in digital marketing and marketing management to strengthen her strategic expertise.
“Continuously learning and investing in my professional development through AMA has raised the bar for my career,” she said. “It’s exciting to feel like I’m still growing and evolving. I highly encourage others to join AMA and see what they have to offer.”