Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brooke Finnerty. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brooke, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
After graduating from college, I made the leap from Austin, Texas to New York City with only a few boxes and a vision for the life I wanted to build. That leap quickly turned into something bigger than I imagined when I landed a fashion PR internship with Lindsey Media during New York Fashion Week in September 2025—a moment that truly catapulted my career in the city.
On office days, I worked in the showroom assisting celebrity clients, carefully selecting pieces for global events and major magazine shoots. I helped build guest lists, managed VIP invitations, and found myself communicating with high-profile figures I had only ever seen in the media. It felt surreal. I had experienced Fashion Week before, working backstage at smaller shows through a college fashion organization I was part of, but this was on an entirely different level.
New York had always been familiar to me in pieces—family visits, holidays, quick trips—but living here and chasing my dreams was something else entirely. My days were fast-paced and physical, running through Manhattan in the late summer heat delivering heavy garment bags to apartments and hotel suites. But even in those exhausting moments, I didn’t mind—I was carrying pieces for icons I had admired for years. That made everything feel meaningful.
When the shows began, everything accelerated. I met incredible people at events—connections that have since grown into lasting relationships. Beyond PR, I had the opportunity to step into media work, covering shows and events like the Weiderhoeft afterparty. That experience sparked something new in me, building my confidence not just as a PR professional, but also as a photographer.
The team at Lindsey Media became more than coworkers—they were the support system I didn’t know I needed in a new city. Being surrounded by such driven, creative, and inspiring people made the entire experience feel even more surreal.
In February 2026, I returned for another season, this time with stronger relationships and a deeper sense of purpose. One of the most defining moments was shooting backstage at a show for one of my favorite designers, Collina Strada. It felt like a full-circle moment—proof that I was exactly where I was meant to be.
That opportunity led to my photography being featured across brands with audiences ranging from hundreds of thousands to over a million followers. I captured moments of models, internet personalities, and musicians I had long admired—experiences that still feel out-of-body when I think about them.
But more than anything, these moments grounded me. They reassured me that the risk I took—the move, the uncertainty, the long days—was worth it. Because somewhere between the chaos and the magic of it all, I found my place.
Brooke, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Since I was a little girl, I’ve been drawn to creating. I loved writing stories in elementary school, not because I had to, but because I genuinely looked forward to it. After school, I’d rush home to film quirky lifestyle YouTube videos for my small audience of about 100 subscribers. I didn’t know who was watching—and I didn’t really care. I just loved the process.
As I got older and approached college, that sense of direction faded. I felt unsure of my path and slowly lost touch with the creativity that once came so naturally to me. When I arrived at the University of Texas at Austin, I began studying psychology, still searching for clarity. But something kept pulling me back to storytelling. Eventually, I listened—I transferred into journalism, and everything changed.
It felt like a spark reignited. I rediscovered my passion for telling stories through both words and images, and reconnected with my love for pop culture, music, and style. Around that same time, I made a decision that would shape my entire college experience: I joined University Fashion Group, the organization my older sister had once led as president. I almost didn’t join—but I’m so glad I did.
Over the next three years, I immersed myself in the organization, growing into roles as Creative Director, Website Director, and ultimately Website Editor. I worked across social media, PR, and editorial, writing features on style, culture, and pop culture while learning how to run and manage a digital platform. I also helped produce fashion shows in Austin, gaining hands-on experience bringing creative visions to life. For the first time in a long time, I felt confident. I felt aligned. I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be.
During college, I became deeply fascinated by fashion—not just as an industry, but as a reflection of identity, community, and culture. Through University Fashion Group, I attended New York Fashion Week four times, each experience deepening my understanding of the stories behind the runway. I became captivated by the creatives, the energy, and the moments that shape the industry.
Outside of that, I contributed to a radio station’s blog in Austin, writing features and covering live events, and I volunteered at South by Southwest. I said yes to every opportunity I could, including a digital marketing internship working with a creator known for her distinct artistic style—an experience that pushed me to take risks and trust my creative instincts. I was constantly seeking ways to grow, both personally and professionally.
After graduating, I knew I couldn’t ignore what I wanted anymore. I took a leap and moved to New York City to pursue it fully.
Now, I work as a freelance writer and photographer, while also gaining experience as a PR and communications assistant and working in retail at Anthropologie. During New York Fashion Week, I’ve stepped into a new role—not just working behind the scenes, but attending shows as media. That shift has been one of the most meaningful milestones in my journey so far. And not just for any brands, but for ones at the top of the Fashion Week schedule—spaces I once only dreamed of being in.
I’ve met creative directors I admire, along with artists, musicians, and cultural figures who once felt so far out of reach. Standing in those rooms, surrounded by people who share the same passion and ambition, feels surreal—but also deeply fulfilling.
Things don’t always feel perfectly in place, and I’m still figuring so much out. But I know I’m on the right path. I’m following what I love, taking risks, and building a life that the younger version of me—camera in hand, full of ideas—always dreamed of having.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My biggest goal has always been to see my work published in major publications—to open the pages of something like Vogue and know that the images or words in front of me are mine. Whether through photography or writing, I’m driven by the idea of creating work on a large scale—being on major sets, collaborating with inspiring creatives, and connecting with people whose stories reach far beyond a single moment.
But it’s never just been about visibility. What matters most to me is impact. I want to create work that makes people feel something—stories that introduce new perspectives, images that stay with someone long after they’ve seen them, moments that resonate in a deeper way. I want people to see themselves in what I create, or to discover something within themselves because of it.
Alongside editorial work, I’m also drawn to the idea of scale in a different sense—seeing my photography on billboards for brands I admire, creating visuals that live in the world and become part of people’s everyday lives. There’s something powerful about that kind of presence, about storytelling that exists both intimately and publicly at the same time.
At the core of all of it, though, is connection. I’m driven by telling stories—especially the ones that haven’t been told in the way they deserve to be. I want to create spaces where people feel seen, understood, and represented. And in the process, I want to keep growing—experimenting, evolving, and learning as an artist while meeting incredible people along the way.
Of course, there are milestones I dream about: a magazine cover, a standout feature, a campaign that feels larger than life. But beyond those moments, what matters most is making the people who have supported me proud—and honoring the younger version of myself who first fell in love with creating.
And when I reach those goals, I don’t want it to stop there. I want to turn around and help others do the same.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have mentors who guided me, believed in me, and helped me find my path. Their impact stays with me in everything I create. Because of them, I know that part of my purpose is to give back—to mentor younger creatives, to support dreamers who are still finding their way, and to remind them that their vision is valid.
I was once that person, and in many ways, I still am—just learning, growing, and creating as I go.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
After graduating college I had a few jobs that I knew all together would pay my bills. People who were going in the traditional corporate 9 to 5 path sometimes I felt they were confused or looked down on me “not having my life together” and was even told “you will never make it” “that will never be possible” “I dont know what you think you’re doing” “you shoul probably stay home or work where you’re comfortable for a while” but for me that didnt really phase me I just know they didnt understand. Moving from Austin where the fashion and creative isn’t nearly as big as New York (barley anywhere compares to the industry in New York and overall inspiration and energy of the city) felt like it was the right step forward just to place myself in this location. I know so many people feel this way but feel like they need to have a 9-5 set up to where they can persuetheir creative/editorial dreams on the side but that’s not true. I found a few remote jobs and transferred retail stores to where I created a budget and knew that if I hustled I could make it work. That was definitely true. I found roles during fashion week which was only a week after I arrived in the city and immediately started meeting people, doing photography, and finding places I could publish my writing with only if it was for a little bit of extra cash. It is so possible to move here without a 100% game plan but as long as youre adaptable and think quick on your feet and hustle you totally can. I think about if I were still back in Austin which that city still holds so much love in my heart and truly shaped me to be where I am today, I still frequently visit… I would never be in the place I am today or hold the confidence in my work, connections in the Industry, heard more unique and inspiring stories and best yet, feel more alive than I ever have in my entire life than if I were to be in NEW YORK CITY. Finding jobs that can pay the bills even if it’s three is something that can make it work for anyone. I only brought a few boxes of clothes, my laptop, and camera to the city and you can too. Even in nyc seeing the classic corporate 9-5 people its easy to get caught up maybe wishing you had a bit of structure especially when facing burnout but I wouldn’t trade this chapter of my life for anything or settle for life I didn’t dream of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brookefinnerty.com
- Instagram: @finnjournal @brookeefinn
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brookefinnerty
