We recently connected with Laura Dante and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

My Father played a huge part in my love of photography. He always had a camera or camcorder in his hands and would often make note of beautiful light, or an unexpected moment when out and about. At a very young age, maybe 11, I knew that a life behind the lens was my goal. He and I would adventure into nature, factories, our basement, friends houses, always with my Rolleiflex rangefinder at the ready. When I went to boarding school I took every art class I could, I pushed through the basics of photography. Because these were the film days, the darkroom was the only place I wanted to be. It felt like the only place I could slow down quiet the noise of world. Fast forward to the day my folks were dropping me off at Eckerd College for Freshman year. Pops gently placed a metal suitcase on the picnic table, looked me straight in the eye, and said, “Ok kid, if you want to be a photographer learn how to use this.”
Inside the case was a Speed Graphic. a 4×5 relic from the 1940’s. This challenge fueled my passion and when my professor at Eckerd recommended art school, I jumped at the opportunity. I was accepted into SCAD and have never looked back.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My path in photography has taken many roads, gone through several shifts, and has survived challenges unforeseen…(the recession of 2009 and Covid, I’m looking at you). I have spent nearly three decades honing my craft, reinforcing my technical skills, and creating an aesthetic that is refreshing yet reliable. In a world where anyone with a phone could be considered a photographer I feel extremely proud that I am one of the OG’s that got their hands dirty and cut their teeth in the dark room. All those years spent creating images from the first click of the shutter to the final hang over a fix bath gives me a different perspective on choosing those decisive moments in modern times of instant/digital photography. I thought that the 5 megapixel Sony camera I bought my father as a joke would be the last of its kind.
I have worked in high end portraiture/fashion, studio and tabletop advertising, real estate photography, commercial/architectural interiors, food and beverage, and can happily say I am finally venturing into the world of documentary and editorial photography.
I recently launched Chrome Focus Media, where I can merge my love of motorcycles and the beauty of women who ride.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Everyday I get to do what I have loved most of my life. I feel lucky to have had success and while it hasn’t always been easy, it is incredibly rewarding. I am grateful to have a husband, also a creative, that supports my drive and lifts me up when I feel like my wheels are spinning without traction. My children have joined me on photoshoots so they can see what I do when I am away on location. They are involved in so much of my process and that fuels me to keep learning and pushing to achieve my goals. I can’t imagine “being” anything other than a photographer, it is in my bones and this life has granted me access to a passion that only grows with intensity as the years pass.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I am in a pivot right now! I have focused so deeply on the commercial aspect of this photography world. I have been photographing hotels, resorts, bars and restaurants for over a decade and while these gigs have taken me all over the world I am missing so much of what happens right outside my front door. In the last couple years I have felt the need to find a way to shift my vision towards something more fluid, to look beyond the interiors I shoot on the daily. When a friend gifted me his non-running Harley, I had no idea it would take me to a place where picking up my camera wasn’t just for a job, I want to see this motorcycle community through my lens and share the stories of these rad people I’ve been meeting and riding with. It is so exciting to feel that fire again, to have a fresh outlook on my career and where the next step will take me. I have big plans for Chrome Focus and it’s only just beginning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lauradante.com
• Instagram: @chromefocusmedia
• Other: TikTok
  @Chromefocusmedia