Meet Tye Nave | Photographer

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

Hi Tye, how do you think about risk?
Without risk I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. At a young age, I had dreams of pursuing an art career. Once looking into options I came across Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I decided that if I wanted to pursue this seriously, I would have to take the biggest risk of my life. Ultimately. I decided to move 2,600 miles to San Francisco, CA from a small town of Latrobe Pennsylvania. At that point, I left everything behind with a optimistic outlook on what was to come.

Without knowing what the outcome of ‘the’ risk is, it’s scary. There is a lot of fear that surrounds it but without risk, you don’t know what great opportunities can lie on the other side.

What’s life without risk anyways?

Of course there’s fear instilled in us. It’s natural to have fear but usually, amazing opportunities and outcomes are on the other side.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a commercial product photographer with a studio located in the Arts District in Los Angeles. My goal is to capture the vision of a brand/product and showcase it in a way that encompasses the brand. Although I shoot a variety of things, my main cliental are cannabis brands. With the huge rise and success in the cannabis industry, there is still a stigma that surrounds it and my goal is to break that. I shed a different kind of light on these products because they deserve to be shown just as if it were cosmetic, skincare, jewelry, etc. that you see product photos for. I believe I am giving products the platform it deserves.

I got to where I am today by multiple factors. First and foremost, not giving up. Especially during times like these, it’s hard to find a job and it’s especially hard to find a job that is competitive like photography. I started by going to college and receiving my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photography at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I was able to learn by amazing instructors that are successful in the industry which taught me everything from technical skills to ways to push the way of thinking and open up my creativity even further. After college, I dipped my toes into almost every genre of photography by interning and doing jobs that weren’t necessarily my passion. These were all great opportunities to dive into the industry and see where my interests were in the business. This all leads me to where I am at today.

I currently work full time for a cannabis company called Proper. I am the Senior Product Photographer while also freelancing with some amazing brands on the side.

Although I’m currently at the height of my career, I believe that it didn’t come easy. It took patience, as it doesn’t come over night. I took years to get to where I am at today. There is always more room to grow and endless opportunities yet to come. With hard work and determination, I think anyone can achieve their dream job. Never give up on your goals and passions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I will say I love trips outside the city! Big Bear is probably one of my favorites and is perfect for a little weekend trip to escape the hustle and bustle of LA. Coming from Pennsylvania I miss the nature and the seasons and I feel that Big Bear is the closet to feeling that.

Back in LA, there are a couple places that I would for sure take them too. La Cha Cha Chá restaurant in the Arts District, Home restaurant in Los Feliz and Ysabel restaurant in West Hollywood. For some great coffee, Constellation Coffee in Silverlake and while we’re there if they need a cut, The Jackal & Hare Cut Club is next door to my favorite barber, Chun.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would have to give a huge amount of credit to my parents who deserve the most recognition in my story. Without their support, I know that I wouldn’t be where I am at today. I know a lot of artists whose families don’t believe in art as a career path and most of them believe that you can’t be successful in it. My parents have never questioned my capabilities and I can proudly say that I am a successful artist making a career doing what I love and what I was born to do.

Website: tyenave.com

Instagram: @tyenavephoto

Other: tyenave@gmail.com