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

Tony , appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I worked as a photographer for a variety of companies over the years from the Museum of Northern Arizona, Gannett Publishing, Cabellas, etc. to finally making the leap to full time freelance photographer. It was probably the scariest thing I have done going from full time employment to not knowing where the next job would be. I liken it to a roller coaster ride or ocean waves. And the feast or famine saying defiantly fits. Some days Im so busy I have no time to turn around and others I find myself looking for my next job. It takes patience and perserverance but in the long run is so worth it. I am my own boss! I call all the shots and hire assistants, or stylists or designers depending on the jobs. It did take a good year or so to accept the ups and downs of self employment but aging no regretts.

Tony , 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 was given my first camera in sixth grade by a family friend who had a Canonflex he had picked up when in Korea in the military. Almost immediately I was hooked, taking pictures of any and everything that would move. My mom got upset with may as to why there were bees in the freezer. I have to explain they are rather dormant when you do that and can be placed on a flower or other surface and will remain until they warm up. From then on I chased the dream of being a photographer. I did photography in high school and went on to college to do the same. I need up at Northern Arizona University ion Flagstaff as they had a commercial photography program that was unique as most other schools were fine arts programs as apposed to this one that would be a bachelor of science with a minor in business management. After college I pursued my goals and worked in photo studios, labs, and assisted other professional photographers. As time went by I eventually honed my skills in architeure photography and applied that to luxury real estate. While I love to photography nature and wildlife, I realized I needed steady work and no matter how good or bad the economy may be houses always have to sell. I now do a variety of commercial photography from product to real estate to corporate photography. But my love will always be in nature, it just doesn’t always pay the bills.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love when people look at me and say “you photographed that?” There is always this disbelief that I could actually produce such an image. People assume that because you may photograph one subject for work does not me your passionate about others. One feeds the bank account the other nourishes the soul! The other thing that gives me great pleasure is to mentor other photographers who are looking for advice. It is so rewarding to see their drive and passion and to be able to add to their knowledge.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Fine art photography has to be the most difficult item to sell. I have had images in galleries and other institutions and people just don’t seem to want to pay for printed photography as much as other fine art. It is funny that people will share my work all over social media but hardly purchase prints. So I believe we need to add value to photography as art. Who cares how it was taken or with what. Besides my cell phone now allows me to shoot 48 megabyte files in a raw format. That means I have a darn good camera with me everywhere I go. But he down side for me is that I get “Nice Capture”. I didn’t haphazardly capture anything! I envisioned a scene then photographed and then in post processing made it look like what I saw as the camera can to always produce what the mind sees. So no more nice capture! How about wow, great photography!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tonymarinella.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonymarinellaphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tony.marinella/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonymarinellaphotography/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO6Z799tSV7MmnGkzoAExQg
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tony-marinella-photography-mesa

Image Credits
Tony Marinella