We recently connected with Tink Lockett and have shared our conversation below.

Tink, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

As a photographer I have always loved the process of making imagery, like having props made versus using photoshop/Ai, so have had a few fun projects doing so, nothing big as of course comes with expenses of doing so, hence why i see others using Ai and the likes.
So inheriting old slides (transparency film) that my great grandparents had shot on film camera on their travels overseas, i started to digitize the better ones, and then came to the idea that i could incorporate both their imagery and someone from my work to create an art piece.
For me this was perfect to join family artistic visions together.

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

Tink Lockett and i am a self taught photographer based in New Zealand,.

Imagery is fashioned styled, with movement, bold colors or strong black and white contrasts.

My artistic vision mixed with photography, will talk of emotion, thought and the dance with light.

I love working with people of all kinds, and placing them individually into a story or theme, that shows both them and i in a creative light, unique to them through the narrative of photography.

A love for visual, has allowed myself to develop her strong visual eye and tastes, which I shares in the medium of photography.

Work has been shown on NYC billboard times square, art galleries and museum exhibitions.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The journey in photography as been one since school, very much wanted to move from New Zealand to New York, life didn’t end up that way, and was on and off with working in the photography industry, now after 10 years or so, I had the chance in 2024 to have two weeks in NYC shooting with models and runway shows, i thought this would calm the dreams of bright lights and NYC, but it seemed to intensify, so going again in 2025 is driving all the passion to create more, and i have also been lucky enough to been offered a solo exhibition while i am there, so being able to show case my work in NYC is a dream come true, and who knows what may come next.
I find the vibe of NYC unbelievable, and through social media i have been able to make many connections, and have my work also displayed as the digital world opens many doors for the ease of sharing imagery.
I am excited for Feb, and glad to found a way to live for what i dreamed about, even though its come later in life, but i am ok with that, confidence and reliance comes with doing it now.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Creatives each have their own process and visions, being in a creative industry can sometimes be isolating, and the ups and downs of working and then not and also having your work subject to peoples opinions is something you have to be comfortable with, that can take time as at first it can very personal when you have put your heart and soul into a vision.
Its challenging also working along side other creatives, especially as a photographer, as you are bring the vision of someone else into life, capturing the image that tells someone else’s story, but when you do it, and well, the rewards on all levels is fantastic.
For my journey, weeding out the things that i wasn’t passionate about was easy, and staying true, as a lot of people think because you love photographing that translates to everything, which for me is definitely not the case, and a pet hate is phone photos.
I can look at something and see it as a black and white photo, people wondering why i like it, and seeing the finished image, get it.
Creativity is expression and passion and we are lucky yo carry such a wild imagination.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tinklockettphotography.nz/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinklockett/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinklockettphotography

Image Credits

1. Kayla Tobin
2. Angus McDougall
3. Mikaylarose
4. Prins
5. Kayla Tobin
6. Kayla Tobin
7. Jo Holley
8. Olivia