Adriana Teresa Letorney is the co-founder of Visura.co, a global platform for visual journalists and storytellers to connect with a global network and license their images directly to buyers. Adriana is also the co-founder of Scout Film Festival, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to celebrate and support filmmakers and visual storytellers aged 24 and under.  

An entrepreneur and journalist—Adriana is an alumnus of Techstars ('22), Comcast NBCUniversal Lift Labs Accelerator ('22), American Public Media's Next Challenge Program (2021), NYU's Accelerator Series (2021), and AAJA's Catalyst Entrepreneurship Program for Founders of Color (2020).


She is an Alexia Fellow at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications (2023), a Mark & Debra Leslie Fellow (2022), an NYU Female Founder Fellow (2021), and a Founder in Residence at NYU's Entrepreneurial Institute (2021-2023).                          

Adriana earned a Master's Degree in Journalism from NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism (2021), a BFA in Photography from The School of Visual Arts in NYC (2007), and a B.A. in Anthropology from The University of Puerto Rico (2001). She has been mentored by Michael Palmer (Winslow Capital), James Watson (Presidio Partners), Jeff Levick (Spotify, Google), Bharat Krish (Time Digital), and Whitney C. Johnson (National Geographic, New Yorker).      

Her career and work at Visura have been featured in numerous publications—including 
CNN, Comcast NBCUniversalThe Washington Post, The San Francisco ChronicleThe New York Times, Seven DaysPDN, NY Daily NewsSVAaPhotoEditor, and The Daring Magazine, amongst others.


  

 





As a writer, she has contributed to numerous publications, including The New York Times, and Huffington Post.  She has served a
s a juror, reviewer, or member of a nomination or selection committee for numerous organizations, including the Alexia Grant at the Newhouse School at the University of Syracuse, the 2024 International Center of Photography Infinity Awards, the 2022 Arnold Newman Prize, 2020 World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass, Prix Pictet (2016-present), 2019 CPOY, The New York Times Portfolio Review (2011-present), Northern Course Short, New York Photo Awards, The Google Photography Prize, amongst many others.  

Adriana has been a panelist and guest lecturer at the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute, Fashion Institute of Technology, Missouri School of Journalism, The S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Photo Plus Expo, The School of Visual Arts, and The New School in NY—amongst others. 



  The goal of Adriana's work is to drive the shift...
The goal of Adriana's work is to drive the shift from stock agencies to creator ecosystems for the market of visual communication. Through her work, she aims to reimagine the infrastructure, future of work, and marketplace for visual communication. Visura uses a creator economy approach instead of traditional agencies and social media platforms to source and license premium content directly from freelancers worldwide. Additionally, the platform offers freelance visual creators tools for showcasing, managing, and licensing their work globally. 

As part of her mission, she promotes fair trade and economic mobility for creators in order to elevate premium visuals across the internet. Visura is an alternative to stock agencies.

Publishers, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations can access the platform to connect with and license directly from freelance visual storytellers to engage audiences more effectively.

Adriana has worked over the years with leaders, creators, publishers, editors, and founders to provide an alternative ecosystem for sourcing, managing, licensing, and distributing visual content.

 
In her work, she aims to develop a Web3 infrastructure that fosters inclusion, sustainability, merit-based opportunities, and media literacy. By doing so, she hopes to empower the shift from stock agencies to the creator economy.

"90% of the information that the brain retains is visual. Visuals matter. Tech platforms, newsrooms, magazines, brands, and other publishers need to work together to empower visual creators worldwide and elevate unique, premium visuals across the internet. Publishers and brands will  authentically connect with audiences faster. Audiences will have better access to unique, authentic content that stems from perspective, skill and facts."


EARLY YEARS (2007-2013)


Adriana Teresa worked at The powerHouse Arena (2007-8), an experience which culminated in her first curatorial project titled Song of Myself Exhibition—a group show that presented personal visuals about our collective existence.  

She went on to produce the FotoVisura International Pavilion (2008-2013) in New York, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Australia. In 2010, she served as co-producer of the inaugural GuatePhoto International Festival    She has been a guest curator for The New York Photo Festival (2008-2011), Lucie Foundation (2010), Photoville (2012-13), and GuatePhoto Festival, amongst others.      

In 2011, Honorable Charles B. Rangel of the New York State House of Representatives added Adriana Teresa's Dia Exhibition at The New York Photo Festival to the Congressional Records in recognition of the impact it had in honoring the Puerto Rican photographers who documented their community in New York from 1960 to 1980.    








During 2008-9, Adriana Teresa assisted Magnum photographer Susan Meiselas during a project called The PR Flag and its identity, which was part of a major exhibition in Parc La Villette Museum in Paris, France from April 7-July 6, 2009. 

In 2009, she launched Visura Magazine, an online publication that featured personal projects by some of the world's top visual journalists, including Larry FinkLauren GreenfieldNina Berman, amongst many others.        




EDUCATION

Adriana completed a BA in Anthropology (2001) at the University of Puerto Rico and a BFA in photography (2007) at the School of Visual Arts NY. While attending the SVA, Adriana worked at Harper’s Bazaar Magazine (2006), Bruce Silverstein Gallery (2006), and Rolling Stone Magazine (2007); as well as, served as personal assistant to Sylvia Plachy, Suzanne Opton, and Donna Ferrato.

In 2021, she completed a Master's in American Journalism at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. The same year, she joined NYU's Entrepreneurship Institute, where she completed the LaunchPad, an award-winning immersive 9-week accelerator for scalable startups led by NYU students. During the NYU VC PitchFest, Visura was awarded "Most Investable Startup." 


In 2022, she completed the Comcast NBCUniversal Lift Accelerator Program and Techstars NY. In early 2023, she announced a pilot program with Comcast NBCUniversal to empower diverse creators across the country. 

Born & raised in Puerto Rico, Adriana Teresa lives between Vermont and New York. She is an NYU Female Founder Fellow, Mark and Debra Leslie Fellow, and NYU Founder in Residence.

Adriana Teresa Letorney

Founder & CEO of Visura.co
Website via Visura

Adriana Teresa Letorney is integrated to:
Visura site builder, a tool to grow your photography business
Visura's network for visual storytellers and journalists
A photography & film archive by Visura
Photography grants, open calls, and contests
A newsfeed for visual storytellers