I joined Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service as a visual journalist in July, and I have the pleasure of being our newsroom’s first full-time staff photographer. While I haven’t been in Milwaukee long, I already feel deeply connected to the people who call this city home. Being given access to people’s homes, or places of business, and sharing some of their stories is a privilege and one I don’t take lightly. 

From hanging out with Angel Perez as he shares his joy of urban fishing to being welcomed into Sheyla Rabelo and Sona Khamneh’s tattoo shop to photograph a one-stop shop for beauty where everyone is welcome. 

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I’ve been able to photograph glimpes into the life of Derek and Rikki Williams as they deal with the long parole process and have been given access to the Native American community in Milwaukee. Covering the Red Magic Art Festival has been especially rewarding, as it’s given me the opportunity to help highlight a community often underrepresented in media. 

I look forward to continuing to share the stories of the people of Milwaukee in the new year and thank you for welcoming me. Here are some of the favorite photos I took in 2025.

Angela Smith, owner of The Zen Dragonfly, a physical and spiritual healing space, poses for a photo on Dec. 3.
Harmony Hill laughs while getting her hair done by Belle Bearskin-Blackbird during the Red Magic Art Festival at Jackson Park on Aug. 10.
Malia Chow blows into a conch shell during the ninth annual CAM & Red Sand Event at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus on Nov. 14. The event is held every year to provide a space where community members can come together to grieve and heal in honor of missing and murdered indigenous women and relatives.
Sheadrean Blanks holds a photograph of her daughter, Keiairra Travis, during a day of remembrance for victims of road traffic violence on Nov. 15. Keiairra was out with her twin sister, Keinna Travis, to celebrate their upcoming 26th birthdays when she was killed.
A memorial in the parking lot of Smoky’s near the intersection of a fatal car crash at North 35th Street and West Vilet Street on Sept. 22.
Janiya Williams reads her poem “A Cry from the Youth” during a town hall on gun violence at the Infinite Church on Aug. 12.
Isiah Nahwahquaw, cofounder of RedNationBoyz, sings and plays the big drum at the Lutheran Church of the Great Spirit on Dec. 10.
Producer 808Jack dances to his beat during a Beat Battle event for Hip-Hop week MKE at the Cooperage on Aug. 19.
Betty Suárez, founder of Bilingual Story Time MKE, leads story time at Rescued Roasters on Oct. 1.
Dancers with the Ometochtli Mexican Folk Dance group perform The Mexican Hat Dance during Silver City Fest on Sept 6.
Kobi Phillips, 3, paints at the King Drive Commons Gallery and Studio on Aug. 5.
Nyia Luna works on a mural on the exterior wall of the La Michocana Plus 16th on Sept. 16.
Flower Harms pours red sand in sidewalk cracks during the ninth annual CAM & Red Sand Event at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus on Nov. 14, in Milwaukee. The event is held every year to provide a space where community members can come together to grieve and heal in honor of missing and murdered indigenous women and relatives.
Pinkey Bouford, with the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter, hands out cans of cranberries at Gee’s Clippers on Nov. 22.
Cameron Leflore, English teacher, cuts the hair of Elijah Ramirez, 17, at Rufus King High School on Oct. 15.
Phoenix Pigeon shaves a client’s wrist before applying a stencil at Beauty is Pain tattoo and piercing shop on Oct. 31.
Ruby Johnson-Harden is seen at her home on Sept. 30. Ruby raised several foster children in her home and would eventually end up adopting them.
Michael Adams stretches during a water exercise class at Noyes Pool on July 11.
People soak up the sun at Bradford Beach on July 10.
Julian Haliga, founder and CEO of Milwaukee Baseball Club, helps a player with their throwing mechanics on July 16.
Ammar Nsoroma, chair of Red Bike and Green Milwaukee, adds air to his tire before a Tasty Roll bike ride hosted by Soul Roll MKE and Red Bike Green Milwaukee on July 10.
Davin Dacir, a junior, works on his team’s robot at Audubon Technology and Communication High School on Dec. 9.
A member of the Milwaukee Flyers jumps rope inside two other ropes during Harvest Day at Clarence and Cleopatra Johnson Park on Oct. 25.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.


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Jonathan Aguilar is a photojournalist as well as a Report for America corps member and Catchlight Local fellow. Before coming to Milwaukee, he spent two years as a photographer at one of America’s oldest daily newspapers, The Blade, in Toledo, Ohio. Aguilar grew up in the Chicago suburbs. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from DePaul University and his master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism.