Tampa area based photographer Luis Santana has been involved with the Fire Service since he was 16. Luis was a fire explorer with the Seffner Mango Volunteer Fire Department until he reached the age of 18. Luis then became a Volunteer firefighter for Seffner Mango Volunteer Fire Dept.

Luis began shooting news events when he was first on scene of a fully involved apartment fire. As units arrived to the scene to fight the fire Luis picked up his digital camera and began shooting.

His photos ran the next day in the St. Petersburg Times. A front page color photo of the burning apartment complex gave Luis the confidence he needed to pursue photography more seriously.  Since then Luis began shooting local breaking news freelance for local and national Newspapers and Magazines. He has covered serious car crashes, major fires, hostage standoffs, celebrity appearances, and natural disasters.

During the unbelievable Hurricane season of 2004 Luis photographed the damage in Punta Gorda, hours after Hurricane Charley plowed through the town. He was with the FEMA's U.S.A.R. Task Force 3 as they searched collapsed structures, mobile home parks, and neighborhoods for deceased or injured persons. Luis photographed emergency scenes for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue since the age of 20; however the department recently parted ways with SMVFD and himself. To read more about it click here.

Luis Has also traveled across the State of Florida gathering photos of today’s newsmakers. Luis Santana shot the exclusive photos of Paris Hilton as she emerged from a Tampa Hospital after being trampled by a horse. Paris Hilton was filming a scene for her show “The Simple Life 2” The photos sold internationally and is one of the more internationally known photos. After getting his second “break”, Luis began shooting for celebrity news and photo agencies covering concerts, celeb sightings and the red carpet.

Luis is the “go to” photographer in Tampa for celebrity coverage as well as off beat news stories in the West Central Florida region.

Photos of Luis in action: