Today we’d like to introduce you to Pete Coco.

Hi Pete, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my journey as a portrait photographer during the pandemic. Although I had worked in the industry for many years, portrait photography was a relatively new venture for me at that time. All of my schooling was in music, but in 2020 I decided to take my passion and turn it into a business. It was a necessity at the time, because my other business had been closed due to the pandemic. I started the photo studio out of a very dark time in my career, but I am so glad I did! It has been such a rewarding journey. I think my background as a jazz bassist has helped me to develop my unique vision as a photographer, as there are many similarities between the two art forms.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No. There were, and still are, struggles. When I decided to start the portrait studio, I was ready to give up and sell all of my equipment. I was at a low point as I saw my other successful business decimated due to the pandemic, and it was my wife who encouraged me to go for it even though I didn’t want to. I was smart to listen to her, because I would not have the life I have now if I gave up. But, I had to figure out how to go from zero clients to actually generating a profit and covering expenses. It was tough, especially at first. And in general, running a small business is not for the faint of heart. You have to hustle every day, and go the extra mile to find and retain great clients. It’s a lot of work, but also very rewarding. The biggest challenge, at first, was dealing with a life-long negative mindset that held me back. Once I started to believe in myself as a portrait artist and business person, I began to grow as an artist and business person.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in headshots and dramatic portraits for a wide variety of clients, including executives, musicians, authors, artists, and more. My passion is working with artists or others who have a unique creative vision, and bringing their vision to life through my photographs. I believe my photography work is unique, and that is what has drawn many people in various industries to work with me. They know that they can collaborate with me to make images that are an asset to their brands, and that separate them from the sea of faces around them and in their respective industries.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Located right outside of Queens on Long Island, my studio is in a perfect location to work with clients everywhere from eastern Long Island to Manhattan. Since I travel often to my client’s offices, I am able to easily cover a wide area by car. The only negative is the traffic!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://petecocophoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petecocophoto/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeteCocoPhoto
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/petecocophotography

Image Credits
All images Copyright Pete Coco Photography, 2024