Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nancy Szostak Wright. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nancy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

In college, I was an undecided major for the first two years. At the end of sophomore year, I had to pick a major, so I got out the handbook and said I would major in whatever I opened it to: GEOLOGY! Thank goodness, my RA talked some sense into me. I mean, I do love rocks, but she asked what class I enjoyed the most. I loved the advertising class I took, so I decided to major in journalism with a concentration in advertising. I loved being creative!

Following graduation, I was a copywriter for 20+ years in both agency and corporate settings and I earned my master’s degree in communications.

But, let’s flash back to college graduation for a second. My mother had given me a 35mm camera and I was hooked!

I became the go-to photographer for family, sports, and travel adventures (“Hey, can you bring your camera to the party/game/wedding?”).

Through the years, I took photography classes, did workshops, and eventually, joined a camera club. That same year, I did a paid snowy owl workshop, where we spent around four hours capturing the magic of this beautiful creature. That experience inspired me to pivot and get more serious about photography.

People always told me I should do something with my photography. So, I started making prints. My first exhibition was through the Westborough Community Land Trust. I did a large display of glass prints because I thought they were so different and minimal. I sold three glass prints at that venue, which inspired me to make it official and start wrightpix photo gifts in 2018. I had an artist reception at Elsie Kaye Glassworks, a local artisan shop, where I sold prints and products. In the fall of 2019 is when wrightpix really got going when I launched my web site and started doing juried artisan shows.

I’ve come a long way since that first snowy owl trip and have been blessed to be recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for my photography.

Nancy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As one of eight kids and a two-sport D1 athlete, early on, I learned a thing or two about resilience, teamwork, and not only the necessity of being creative, but also harnessing the beauty of its innate power.

When my mother gave that 35mm camera to me for college graduation, it all started to click.

I loved photography! Being behind the lens was my happy place.

After graduation, I did the corporate career thing for over 20 years and earned my master’s degree. Then I shifted gears, dropped out of corporate, and left the six-figure income behind to dedicate the next 16 years to my daughter. I happily raised my hand to be the volunteer photographer for her school, sports, and Girl Scout activities.

In 2019, I went on a snowy owl workshop and I fell in love. I joined a camera club and my learning and business journey began. I launched my web site and started doing select juried artisan markets to sell fine art nature prints and products, such as coasters, ornaments, and note cards.

When the pandemic hit, like most, I pivoted because there were no shows. I started selling fine art photo puzzles, which were a big hit. Also, as much as I do not like photo contests, I started entering them through my camera club, so I could learn from critiques and see how my art measured up. I learned a lot and earned quite a few ribbons.

In 2021, my friend nudged me (she had to nudge me twice!) to enter the National Wildlife Federation photo contest. I was honored and humbled that I won first place for my 10 bee images out of over 400 portfolios. That is the biggest feather in my cap!

My business is now shifting, as I focus more on selling larger fine art prints, applying for art exhibitions, and planning a couple of passive income streams, such as a Clicking with Nature card deck and possibly a memory card game (I have a few left from a sample run I did). One of my favorite things to do is work with clients on custom orders that meet their specific style, space, and budget needs. I believe art is for everyone and I always do my best to create the exact piece that a customer is envisioning.

In 2022, I worked on a custom corporate project for a UMass Memorial office in Auburn. My assignment was to take scenic photos in Auburn. I visited the medical offices and took photos of all the wall spaces. In the end, they ordered six large prints, with the largest being a 90×30” print. All prints were metal, as that is the most hygienic photo print material. Side story: an 18-wheeler showed up at my home to deliver the 90×30” print, which was in a crate. Yikes! We had to get a pick-up truck to deliver it to the UMass Memorial office.

More recently, I worked on canvas prints for someone who saw one of my dahlia images with a striking black background. I created a mock-up with three different 16×20″ dahlia prints for her bedroom. She loves them!

Another recent project was helping a repeat customer figure out how a new wrightpix great blue heron print would fit with her existing three wrightpix prints. I worked up several mock-ups with various canvas sizes and she found the perfect print to fit under the other prints. I like to say she has a mini wrightpix gallery in her home.

Sometimes, client projects present challenges. I will not deliver a print or product unless it meets my high standards and makes everyone 100% happy. Just last year, I had to delay delivery of a 20×40” Boston skyline metal print TWICE because it was not perfect upon delivery to me. Thank goodness, my client was patient and willing to wait.

What I am most proud of, and known for, is the level of quality that I make available through my prints, products, and service. And, while I’m proud of the recognition I’ve earned, I’m equally proud of the fact that my business continues to evolve; running a small business is not easy for a creative-centric person. Why do I persevere? Because I just love how my images make people happy and connect them to stories, memories, and feelings.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The goal of wrightpix is to connect people to nature, art, emotions, stories, and memories. The mission? To make people happy. I love it when someone sees my photo and has the same exuberant reaction I had in the moment that I captured it. #clickingwithnature

Maybe they love owls and yearn to see one in the wild. Or, they have a special connection to cardinals, herons, or hummingbirds. Or, they love songbirds and all the sweet melodies. Or, maybe they love sunsets, abstract art, or the nature of architecture in a city skyline or landmark.

Clicking with nature, while clicking with each other is magical. Connecting with the world and all of its beauty on a deeper level is the ultimate goal.

I love the many ways people connect with me and my art.

• Customers who buy wrightpix prints and products that are special and meaningful to them.
• People who send photos and videos to me because the birds and flowers reminded them of me.
• Everyone who shares stories and memories on Facebook and Instagram when I post photos.
• Nature lovers who respond to my wrightpix newsletters, the many photos and stories about all the shenanigans in the woods and swamps.
• Generous people who bid on and buy the fine art that I donate to causes close to my heart, such as Westborough Connects, HOPESudbury, Appalachia Service Project, ECAD, and our local food pantry.
• Photographers who take pix as a hobby and tell me how they thought of the lessons they learned during my presentations when they took a photo of a flower in their garden.

In your experience, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Since I can remember, I have been a creative thinker. Who else, as a young child, writes a poem about an apple from the cap of a cider jug? Ha! I’ve always loved creative projects and creative writing. I love to dabble and make sure I have creative distractions all around me. For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative artist is sharing what I create, and even more so, sharing that euphoric feeling of connecting with nature, art, and the beauty that is all around us. #happyplace

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wrightpixphotogifts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrightpixphotos/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrightpixphotogifts
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyszostakwright/

Image Credits
Headshot (first pic) and waiting room photos (last two pix) are credited to Christine McShane Creative. All other pix are credited to me.