We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bonnie Arbittier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bonnie below.
Bonnie, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My ten-year photography career has always focused on telling stories. For four years (2017-2021), I was one of two staff photographers at the San Antonio Report in San Antonio, Texas. It was my mission, along with the Report, to give insight to local issues and share the voices of the community around me. When I transitioned from a full-time job in photography to a day job in health tech, I focused my creative work on volunteering at local animal shelters to promote adoptable dogs and cats on social media. My photo career has always been mission-driven, and I am honored that people and animals trust me to share their stories with the world.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am an award-winning photojournalist raised in upstate New York and rural Pennsylvania who has been photographing the world for 14 years. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Fine Arts and French. During my time at Upenn, I interned for photographer Annie Leibovitz, which ignited by love of photographing people with a focus on light and intimacy. That same summer, I recieved my first photojournalism assignement through Roads & Kingdoms; the story was called Rat Hunters of New York, and featured a group called R.A.T.S. (Ryders Alley Trencher-fed Society) that trained dogs to hunt rats in New York City. I was hooked – I knew I wanted to share peoples’ stories for my career. Photojournalism brought me to Texas for 7.5 years: I worked as an intern at the Victoria Advocate and then as a full time staff photographer at the San Antonio Report. I tirelessly covered everything from rodeos to local politics to Fiesta. Towards the end of my time at the Report, my interests started shifting. I transitioned from a full time role in photojournalism to a career in tech, where I now work at my day job as a Chief of Staff. I dedicate all my free time outside of work to volunteering at local animal shelters with my camera. It’s become my life passion to photograph dogs and cats to aid in the adoption process.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I thought for a long time that my passion in photography had to be my full time career and day job. While I thrived working full time as a photojournalist and wouldn’t trade it for the world, I have felt more creative and focused after shifting my day job to a role that does not incorporate photography. I have felt the creativity come back after the transition and have really loved exploring what photography means and can do outside of the daily news assignment.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most important part of being an artist, for me, is taking out the self agency. I belive that photography is a medium that is a means to an end, and a way to aid the world and to share stories. When I was young my motivation was, “how do I get my name out there as a photographer?” and as I have gotten older, I now only take on assignments or projects that are giving back and have a purpose other than to serve myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bonniearbittier.com
- Instagram: @bonniearbittier, @phillyrescuephoto
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniearbittier/
Image Credits
All images copyright Bonnie Arbittier