Meet Gina Sabatella | Commercial Freelance Photographer

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

Hi Gina, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Photography came to me late in high school and I was drawn to it. Soon after, I took a photography class and the teacher took a liking to my photographs, my perspective in how I saw things and communicated through my images and later received an art award. That made me feel so good and boosted my confidence as a younger person and wanted to further my studies after high school in photography. It was on a trip that summer after graduating high school my family and I went to Europe. Traveling through Spain between towns, I came upon endless fields of sunflowers, it was truly beautiful. We stopped the car, I hoped out and got lost in photographing the sunflowers and it was then in that moment I wanted to pursue photography as a career, traveling and meeting people all over the world. There was something about capturing a subject, a moment and communicating through your eyes in the way you see the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Well, as you can image my family was happy for me to get into the Art Center and supportive but it was very expensive and they wanted to make sure I was really committed at 19 years old. And I felt really blessed at such a younger age that I knew this was my path and it took hard work, persistence, determination and it was a good challenge. Seeing the gallery at the Art Center College of Design for the first time was so impressive, inspiring and down right intimidating the quality and high skilled level of artist work coming from this school was incredible. I was determined to goto this school and to have a career in photography. I learned so much at the Art Center, it really prepared me on a commercial level, high quality and as a future artist and creator. Throughout this experiene and in my personal life growing up here in Los Angeles, had quite a bit of personal relationships and that got me my first break working for an editorial photographing various assignments for Angeleno Magazine. And soon others followed, such as: Los Angeles, Sunset Latina, Food & Wine, Wine Spectator, Spa Finder, Woman’s Health Magazine’s to name a few. And eventually local advertising projects started, that lead to national and international projects. Throughout my career I have been told by clients that they love that I have a range of what I can shoot, for example people, lifestyle, product and food, that really helped me be successful and versatile in my career. A big part of success for me in this career was a good foundation, persistent work ethic, contacts, putting yourself out they’re connecting with people, being in the field life experience is such a key role and truly doing what is authentic to you, what you feel passionate about it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, I would take her to local spots and little neighborhoods that are not too main stream or touristy. There is great eating here in Los Angeles, from all cultures that is truly a gem about this city. We would start in the little town of South Pasadena, to Mission street a great little area and suburb that feels like small town USA and the home to many movies filmed all over the town. Grab a good breakfast outdoors at Mike and Annes, great coffee shops here too. I’d hop on the metro goldmine down to Union Station and visit Alvera Street and have lunch at the Central Market Place were there are fresh produce and great eateries all throughout the market, so fun. Then we would head west to Hermosa beach and visit friends, walk down the main street for drinks and dinner.

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?
It all started for me with my photography teacher, Mr. Stillabower originally an English teacher in High School he really got me excited to pursue further photography studies. And in college, Ms. Joan Watanabe my photography teacher inspired me to continue photography as a major and get a degree from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Ca. They were highly influential in my life on this journey of photography in my studies in pursuing this art form that later turned into a career.

Website: www.ginasabatella.com

Instagram: gina.sabatella.foto

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginasabatella/

Image Credits
©GinaSabatellaPhotography