We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tina Crespo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tina below.

Tina, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with a fun one – what’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

There is this narrative that tells us we should choose one thing, get very good at it and that is the formula for success. This may be true for a certain personality type but it has never been something I could subscribe to. I spent a lot of time (and money) in my formative years as a business owner and artist feeling that something was wrong with me because I enjoyed working on “too many things”. What I’ve learned is that being a multi-passionate creative is who I am, the work that I put out is all encompassing of the things I think are important (and love to do): attention to details, endless color combinations, story creation, thoughtful styling, big joy in small things. The word success can mean anything you want it to mean.

Tina, 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?

I am a product photographer and fine artist living outside Philadelphia, PA. I offer vibrant product and storytelling photography to small businesses, makers and other creative folks. Artistically, I work across many mediums, using whichever helps convey the thought behind the piece. My work is heavily inspired by small moments that pass us by but leave a deep impact on us.

Like most photography graduates I spent a couple years assisting wedding and portrait photographers but it didn’t feel like a match for where I’d like to be. After a chance interview with an established commercial photography studio, I spent 10 years in the industry working alongside many creatives like art directors, graphic designers, prop and food stylists, product developers, and recipe developers. This environment spoke to my multi-passionate self, where else could you have a 4ft chocolate rabbit shoot, an outdoor winter scene shoot, and an editorial potato chip shoot all in one week?

In any creative field, problem solving is the base of what we provide. Now that I work exclusively with small business owners who are wearing all the hats – photography tends to be the last task on their list before a product launch. Clients have told me that they’ve felt rushed, frustrated by their lack of photo skills and it takes too much time. The most valuable asset to a small business owner is time and that’s what I give back to them by offering photography services. It allows us to elevate their photography to match the quality of their products.

It’s unique to have a product photographer who is also an artist and therefore there’s an understanding that happens. Clients want their brand story to feel unique to them, to really feel and look like what they envision in their minds – and I feel exactly the same about presenting my work.

Being able to create the work that feels closest to me while also creating imagery for other business that reflects their own story has been a really proud moment in my life. This work feels like exactly what I was meant to do.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2017 I had hit a wall and was entirely burnt out. The landscape of commercial photography was changing, mostly due to the rise of Instagram. Brands and other companies were now seeing a workaround when it came to their photography. They didn’t need big commercial photo studios like us anymore when they could ask Instagram accounts to share their products and use their images (for free!). We were one of many large-scale studios that were suffering. My photography partner was ready to retire and either close the studio or hand it over to me.

During all of this I was learning about this new (to me) artistic side. It led me to apply for markets like Clover Market and this entirely new world opened up to me. Prints were being sold in Urban Outfitters and featured in Elle Magazine It occurred to me that maybe this was something real, something worth leaning into.

In the end, I chose to close the studio with my photography partner and take a very big leap into renting my own, smaller studio to focus on…being an artist.

As they say, some things come full circle and by taking a chance on myself it led me to meeting some of my most dear creative friends in this life. Being a part of a maker community is unlike anything else I’ve experienced and ultimately showed me that photography was not done with me, I had an opportunity to offer elevated, thoughtful photography to the small businesses in this community.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

It can be easy to assume being an artist or creative person is well…easy. I wouldn’t trade this creative journey for anything in the world but it is anything but easy. There is a natural cycle and process to being creative and we live in a digital world that is asking us to crank out fresh content endlessly. Because of this there is a crucial part of the process that sometimes can be left out and that’s the “sit and do nothing” part of the process. There is something so special about letting your mind wander, allowing yourself time to soak in things around, taking a walk without any intention other than it feels good to move. All of these things lead to better clarity, more thoughtful and fulfilling work, and helps to keep your overall mental health in good standing.

I am still learning to do this for myself but I have found that the rest is equally as important as the focused work that I love to do       

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tinacrespo.com
• Instagram: @tinacrespo

Image Credits
All imagery © Tina Crespo