We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gina Medina a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Gina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
Both of my parents have always been absolute beasts when it comes to their hearts, their work ethic, and their faith. I was able to see them balance five kids, constantly work multiple jobs, still go to school, make sure we always had everything we needed, helped us with our homework in ways we’d later hilariously be able to teach our babies lol our daddy is a true comedian and it’s where we get our hilarious comedic timing from lol our parents above all else instilled the importance of family and taking care of each other… I’m the oldest so I got to see them evolve, grow and want to change and be better humans for us and each other… I’ve been in awe of their strength my entire life, it’s what gave me mine. There is absolutely no way I would’ve turned into the person I am today had it not been for what we’ve been through and for them never giving up… Being able to see them first hand, build this world for my siblings and I and to still to this day see them exude that same level of ferocity for all of our kids is the highest and truest honor.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
I’m the blurry, live your love out loud, laugh with your full heart, and don’t look at me type of photographer. I want what we all want and that is to never forget these fleeing moments with the people that mean the most to us, my art allows me to freeze those moments in time and show people just how truly beautiful every second with them is.
What do you find most rewarding about being creative?
I get to breathe out any and all anxiety, worry and hurt through my lens. I get to release whatever tension my mind is holding onto, I have the honor of meeting people who may hold all kinds of insecurities within their own minds about themselves and I get to help them see just how much beauty and power it is they hold by simply just being present.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
That is a great question, and as my friend says “YouTube University” is the place to be when you’re wanting to learn anything and everything from concepts to software to production… but because of people I’ve met recently, my answer for what’s impacted my thinking meaningfully would have to be opening my mind and actually listening to people… unlearning and relearning my entire way of thinking as a human being just in myself really and letting that be carried into my art… Getting out of my own mind and not reacting to every single feeling or thought that I have is an ongoing tug of war for sure lol but it’s also so relieving… it can be debilitating sometimes but it can also feel so freeing. Just like all of us, the past few years my world has drastically and in some aspects, devastatingly changed and it’s when you feel as though you’ve lost absolutely everything that you’re reminded NOBODY can take your faith away from you. Don’t love any less, don’t become smaller, don’t be stuck in any one thought or feeling… remember to breathe…and always always always, take the picture. Lol
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmariephotography07_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gmariephotography7
Image Credits
Main Picture of Myself – JoAnn Marie Photography