Meet Lina Takeuchi | Photographer

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

Hi Lina, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I learned how to take risks the hard way when I moved to NYC. The first year was tough since I had the mindset of accepting all the invitations and executing them all, whether it was a photoshoot or managing/promotion work that I was doing for the photo studio where I used to work. After all, the reason why I am in this industry is because I love to collaborate and create something that I have never even thought of on my own.

Now, after four years of living in NYC, after many mistakes I made, I know for myself that how I used to work, which was to share the responsibilities, does not work. Now, I work as if I will take all the responsibilities for what we do. This fosters true teamwork because the more you take responsibility for your work, the more you attract the people who would take responsibility for themselves and the whole harmony happens on set.

I also used to think saying “NO” was rude, but it is important to know who can work well together and respect each other, especially in NYC. Now I am learning that saying NO is your own responsibility and that is an important part of being a freelancer in NYC and meeting the right people who can make something happen together.

Taking a RISK means to me, is to have the courage to take responsibility for your work and action and to be able to know when is the right time to be vulnerable to jump and catch the chance!

I still have a long way to go but NYC is training me to have a better sense of knowing who may be able to feed one another for worth making something great together.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My strength and weaknesses are spontaneousness, therefore I do not only do Photography as my career but everything I do is connected to photography or they feed off of each other. It was not easy to get to this point to think that it is okay to do everything. Most of the protocols are to stick with one thing first and become an expert in that, then move on to new things or expand. This seems especially true in Japan but I feel that it is okay to do what I feel is right. Then, my life got a lot easier, and became happier to be in that moment and free to express who I am and to connect with others.

I want people to know how much I love to connect with other people and it is my strength to work together to get to success in my own terms.

The most excitement I get from my work is when I feel lucky to create something with others that is more than what I can dream of! I get so much adrenaline out of this and nothing else can beat that feeling!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I will definitely take my friend to the pop-up event that I host at MIKA Bushwick @mikabushwick and show them every single vendor I have there, because they are all Brooklyn-based artisans who just genuinely give off the most positive energy!

Gallery openings are a must especially if any of my friends are curating!! @norton_williams @sonomikobayashi

Jazz live show with @shinsakaino,@keita_percussion, @marthakatomusic
Happy hour Oysters, and more.

Explore in my neighborhood, East Williamsburg, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint.

Maybe a trip to Storm King or Dia: Beacon for a day trip if the time allows.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many artists that I admired and respect as human beings. Testu Collective @testucollective – NYC-based intermedia art group
YOKO @yokoteki – Performance artist/ dancer
SASAI Jewelry @sasaijewelry – Brooklyn based Jewelry designer
Yui Brooklyn @yuibrooklyn- Brooklyn based candle artist
Norton WIlliams @norton_williams- Artist and curator
Sandra Jockus @sandrajockus- illustrator
Dane Castillo @stocksteady.co- natural Skin care brand

Website: https://www.linatakeuchi.com/

Instagram: @linatakefoto

Facebook: Lina Takeuchi Photography

Other: linktree: @linaloveproject

Image Credits
Here are the names of the credits that made these images come alive. Thank you all. Image 1-2: Photography | Lina Takeuchi @linatakefoto Styling | Melissa Melardo @_vision_me_ Model Ovo Drenth @itsovodrenth MUA | Shoko Sawatari @shokomakeup Stylist Assistant | @gods_hidden_treasures Image 3: Photographer: LinaTakeuchi @linatakefoto Model: Tian-Yi Chang @tianyinyc Agency: EMG Models @emg_models Model: Honglin @honglinliii Agency: Major Worldwide Hair: Chika-Keisuke @chikahair66 Makeup: Miki Ishikura @miki_ishikura Stylist: Melissa Belardo @_vision_me_ Image 4: Photography | Lina Takeuchi @linatakefoto Nest Robe @nestnest_robe_usa Image 5-7: Photography | Lina Takeuchi @linatakefoto Styling | Rikiya Ogura @rikiya_ogura Model | Meisha Brooks @meishabrooks MUA | Shoko Sawatari @shokomakeup Hair | Kiyo @kiyotaka_tsutsumi