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

RemiJin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I had a very unconventional path to becoming the photographic artist and professor I am today. At a young age, I pursued playing golf professionally, and I did play minor tours for a short blip of time, but there was always something missing with my life. I loved the arts at a young age but didn’t consider pursuing them as a career until much later, after deciding that golf wasn’t the career path for me.
With the support of my husband and my best friend, I went back to school and finished a degree in music, and a second degree in photography. At this point I was conflicted with which path to take and ended up attempting both music and photography simultaneously. This didn’t last long!
Photography became more and more prominent as my main interest and goal in life, and I was so fortunate to have such supportive family, friends and mentors to encourage me to pursue my photography path. I started out doing commercial photography, weddings, events, headshots, etc., but this was a means to earn a living and wasn’t really a passion. I was also working as a photo lab technician at Barry University to make ends meet. The switch to the interest in teaching and creating my own art came about after observing in progress classes while working as the photo lab technician. It was such an amazing journey to witness. I was able to see their progress, as new students starting off excited and green, wanting to learn everything all the while guided by kind and knowledgeable professors, to when those same students graduated with their amazing senior exhibitions and the confidence in their abilities was just a joy to see. Observing that progress of self-growth in students was when I knew I wanted to teach, and to help other students along on their journey.

RemiJin, 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?

I am a Filipina-American photographic artist and full-time college photography professor at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida where I teach digital, analog, and alternative process photography courses. I absolutely love teaching students about photography and helping them come into their own artistry. Teaching took grasp of my heart and will never let go.
In regard for my own artwork, I create photo-based pieces and projects that explore themes of memory, emotions, and stories narrated with objects and landscapes. The need to make these works stems from an awareness of the limited existence humans have and wanting to give visual life to these narratives. Sometimes it is my own story, be it a happy or sad experience, and other times it is another person’s story that I have connected with and have been moved to tell.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect certainly comes from my career as a professor. I am so fortunate to have such wonderful students who are excited and invested in becoming a fully rounded artist. Conversations about art and life turn into passion projects; newly developed skills become a healthy obsession with a new way of creating and thinking.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

One way that society can change to better support artists and creatives is by understanding that studying and working in the creative fields is a viable career option. There are too many students who have talent but don’t pursue a career in the arts further because they feel it is pointless. There are many many ways someone can have an arts career and have a fulfilled life. Many non-artists don’t realize that their life is full of art, in many different ways. Architecture, music, wall art and sculpture, books and poetry, magazines, TV and movies. Take all that away and life would be so dull. Support can be shown as wanting to learn more about the arts, a supportive word, an opportunity to display, monetary assistance, or just wanting to understand what the art is trying to convey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.remijin.com
• Instagram: @remijinphotography

Image Credits

Photos courtesy of RemiJin Camping