Meet Rebecca Antrim | Professional Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Antrim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, how do you think about risk?
I believe taking risks is a good thing because you never know what could be without pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. It is when we are uncomfortable that we learn and grow. For these reasons, I consider myself a calculated risk taker. I begin by thinking about what I want to accomplish and then consider the rewards and potential consequences of my actions. Sometimes, it takes a lot of self-talk to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Even though things don’t usually turn out as we plan, I know that taking calculated risks will pay off.

I originally started off in college as an illustration major and wound up taking a photography class. I ended up enjoying it and took a risk by changing my major late in my academic career. Because of my transition, I had a lot of catching up to do to be as good as others in my major as they had more time and experience in photography. My success was too important, though, to be intimidated. I made the commitment to work hard, ask for feedback, look for ways to learn outside of the classroom, all to be the best photographer I could be. Looking back, I am glad I took this risk and put in the effort as I know it was the right decision for me.

Early in my photography studies, I was drawn to conceptual photography as it provided a creative outlet that reminded me of the creative freedom I felt when I was illustrating. I quickly realized that conceptual photography is not in high demand, so again, I needed to push myself outside of my comfort zone and explore different types of photography in order to make a living. I work on conceptual photography on the side and have focused my professional photography on product/commercial, fashion, and lifestyle photography. Becoming a professional photographer requires taking risks. You have to believe in your skills, knock on a lot of doors, and work hard for experiences so you can eventually land your dream job.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think the biggest thing that sets apart my artwork is my background in Illustration and in Fine Arts. Having this type of background gives me a strong eye for color, details, composition, and creativity within photography.

The collections I had the most fun with are my Alcohol Series, Candy Series, Cinemagraph Series. The Alcohol Series was taken in my mom’s best friend’s yard. We had a lot of fun working with her landscape and natural lighting. I enjoyed the Candy Series because I used my indoor lighting equipment and it was fun composing each candy shot and editing them. Finally, my Cinemagraph Series is the one that stretched me the most. I had to figure out my scenery, the moving aspect, and how to edit it in Photoshop.

I am proud that I have explored my talents within photography helping me see what I enjoy doing. I would say that my journey in photography wasn’t easy. I had to catch up to my classmates on general knowledge of photography and experience. I talked to professors and classmates for advice. I also bought books on different types of photography and pushed myself to become better and to achieve where I want to be. It was a lot of hard work but I eventually got there.

I hope to inspire other artists, especially those transitioning from college to the professional world. I want them believe in themselves and take the necessary risks to launch their careers and follow their dreams.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We will need multiple days for our visit. I’m going to take my friend to Cincinnati, where I grew up. I’m a roller coaster fan and we would have to go to Kings Island and the water park. From there we would also need to check out the zoo (one of the best in the country) and head to Over-The-Rhine to eat our way through the area and look at all the amazing murals that have been painted on the buildings. I would also take them to the small town I grew up in called Loveland. There is an old fire station converted to a pizza restaurant where you can eat in an old train. There are two other places that are a must to eat at. One is called Trailside Ice Shack with the best shaved ice and the other is called the Loveland Dairy Whip with the best soft serve ice-cream. Larosa’s, Skyline Chili, Graeter’s Ice Cream, and United Dairy Farmers (UDF) are also classics in Cincinnati. Other places I’d love to take a friend to is the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Krohn Conservatory during butterfly season, and the Aronoff Center for the Arts. I would love for my friend to experience everything about Cincinnati and what I grew up doing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family deserves credit. They all have stood by me and supported me throughout my journey. I would also say my professors and classmates at SCAD.

Website: https://rantri20.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaantrim_photography/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-antrim/

Image Credits
All photos are copyrighted by me, Rebecca Antrim.