We recently connected with Wendy Garfinkel and have shared our conversation below.

Wendy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

We are not in control of everything and we create our past every minute. I don’t wish for a different past. I would have become a photography professor which thinking back, would have been fine. But at the tender age of 21, I was not ready. I did not see myself starting a business alone in a big city like NYC which was where I lived and worked after college. We all plan and do the best we can. I am glad I waited a to become a fine art photographer because I had a huge head start with technology in the early 90s and I am grateful for this.

Here is my story. Fascinated with visual art and expression & movement in dance, my artistic nature began in childhood. I was deeply affected by still images from magazines that spread information about the far-off war in Vietnam, the MoMA photography book called The Family of Man by Steichen, the shock of a Diane Arbus monograph as well as fashion photographers Scavullo and Avedon. Growing up in Charleston, SC I was exposed to the fullness and depth of creative possibilities when I saw stage productions during the annual Spoleto Festival. I was hooked when I saw how a photo came to life in a development tray during summer camp for young artists in my junior year of high school at the Atlanta College of Art. So that was how it started for me. I was able to refine my understanding of the art world a bit after attending RISD and NYU Film school. I was still very young in my mind and naive and afraid to make certain choices due to having what I thought was a lack of stability. I did not see a clear path to what I wanted so I did go back to school in my late 20s and studied graphic design. I went to the University of the Arts and gained a much more in-depth, strong and solid background in design which really helped me solidify my goals. So personally I needed to live life and mature a bit before I was ready to accept this challenge. I spent over twenty years as a commercial graphic designer. Certain personal events led to me creating an art career and I am still working on it close to ten years later.

I want to say to people younger than me that may have had a similar trajectory – do what you can, start where you are and stay on the bus. The longer you stick with your goal the more beauty and fun you will gain. It will be hard. You will make mistakes. But it’s the ride – it is all about the ride and you are in the driver’s seat.

Wendy, 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 have a BFA in graphic design and after college I worked for a few design firms as an art director and designer, then I went on my own as a freelancer. I never wanted to build my business into a larger firm as I felt that would take me away from more creative pursuits. Plus, owning a business, even a freelance one, is a lot of responsibility. I worked with all kinds of clients from large Fortune 100 and 500 corporations to branding work for museums, universities, hospitals, non-profits and smaller independent contractors. I was enmeshed in the day-to-day work world up until 2013 where there were life changes that opened up an opportunity for me to freelance as a photographer.

It took time to get the ball rolling but in 2016 I had an opportunity to assist and learn from a seasoned photographer. I went on my own in 2020 at the start of Covid-19 but it was a good time to move into my own space. Currently I work on various artistic projects and I always want to grow in my skill level in lighting and tech related to this field (and there is a lot of it!) During 2022, I started to enter the art world. It’s challenging and fun. I have been fortunate to be chosen to show my work in various juried shows locally, in Atlanta, and abroad. I have won two awards and sold a couple of images, which does give me a push to move forward. I know I have a long way to go. I am always open to meeting anyone who would like to pose for my pieces. Many of my models are regular people, others are professional artists and models as well as actors and performers.

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.

Here is a comment I received on Facebook this month from a non-artist. I knew her in grammar and high school, and perhaps this could shed some light on what one non-artist thinks: Wendy, “I never cared for art much. I never really understood why people became so deeply attached to images. It’s a picture, okay. But your work has intrigued me for a while now. I’m understanding what it is to appreciate art. To feel an emotion for a picture. You are THAT good. Thank you.”

This. And yes, that is super high praise. TO FEEL AN EMOTION FOR A PICTURE. Yes it’s great when people want to buy your art. It is a huge compliment as they can look at it each day and it gives them a sense of joy. It was a first for me to change a persons mind. I think I can add this to a list of accomplishments because no matter what the image is, we can all appreciate being taken elsewhere and into our emotions.

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

I am always wanting to learn, practice, and experiment more. Why? I think I will get better. (Thank You Pablo Casals!) I want to stay on my path for as long as possible. I want to challenge myself. The concepts I create require weeks of planning and this includes finding props, clothing, models, sets and lighting. I have to practice all of the time to play my instruments, which are not only ideas but photography technology, cameras, lights, spaces and working with people. I am my own mini theater director!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wendygarfinkelphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wgg_photography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garfinkelgold/
• Other: https://modelsociety.com/Photographer/wendy-garfinkel

Image Credits

Gazelle, Carter, Most Ghost, Astrid and Katie