Interview with Photographer Gina DeSimone

I recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Gina DeSimone, a photographer currently based here in Philadelphia. She shared her journey with me, starting from her roots in Ohio, spending time in Alabama, and eventually moving to Philly in 2018. It's kind of wild to think that 2018 was seven years ago now.

I was curious about how she first got into photography. Gina explained that her start was a little serendipitous. It wasn't something she had done since she was a child. In high school, a friend in the band, Pete, picked up film photography, and I found it interesting how Gina was immediately drawn to cameras, following him around and asking questions. He would even give her the camera for the last few frames of a roll to shoot photos of her friends. She recalled the excitement of waiting for the film to come back and seeing her own photos. This led her to seek out her own film camera, finding a Rangefinder for $25 at a thrift store and haggling it down to just $5. Starting on a Rangefinder, which she calls "kind of psychotic" for a beginner, actually made transitioning to digital and SLRs easier for her later on. She even mentioned she still occasionally shoots with that same camera. Another serendipitous moment connected her with the local film photography community after she commented on an online photo.

Moving to her education, I learned that Gina purposely chose a university with an "applied program," earning a Bachelor's of Science rather than a Bachelor's of Arts. She knew she wanted to focus specifically on photography and learn how to make money from it, not spend four years on other artistic methods like drawing or painting, which she wasn't strong at. Her priority was getting studio knowledge built into her program, focusing on practical skills like lighting and composition, which she didn't know as a teenager. She felt lucky that her professor integrated older traditions and an artistic approach, teaching the "why" behind methods and studying historical greats. She believes that while you can learn technical skills like setting up lights through assisting or online, a college setting offers mentorship and a push to cultivate a creative eye, which she feels is cultivated, not inherent. While she initially found business-focused classes like tax preparation for freelancers less engaging than studio time, she conceded that having that base level knowledge built into the degree program was beneficial, as many young people might not seek it out themselves.

After college, her career path wasn't exactly what she initially planned. She initially focused on fashion photography in college, but her internship in New York at an advertising agency primarily involved food and drink lifestyle shoots. She ended up liking it, and this experience led her to a year-long food photography fellowship in Alabama after college. She highlighted getting this opportunity partly because she knew technical aspects like Capture One, which many art-focused programs didn't teach. After the fellowship, she freelanced in Cleveland, working for a commercial food photography studio, which showed her the distinct differences between magazine food photography (real, approachable food) and commercial work (where food might be faked for perfection). However, she still had that desire for fashion work.

This led her to apply to Urban Outfitters in Philadelphia. Facing a personal deadline to move out of her parents' home, she gave Urban Outfitters a bold timeline, telling them she needed a decision quickly. She interviewed, got along with the team, and secured the entry-level staff photographer role quickly because they needed someone immediately. She made the move to Philadelphia by her target date of October 1st.

Given my own experience, I was particularly interested in her perspective on staff vs. freelance. Gina identifies as someone who seeks steadiness and stability. She mentioned that while freelancing offers many benefits, "steadiness is not one of them". She acknowledged sacrificing potentially higher income and certain creative opportunities by taking a staff job. However, she feels her role at Urban Outfitters offers a "perfect balance," providing consistency while still allowing for creative moments. A key benefit she highlighted is working daily with cool people, including freelance models and hair/makeup artists, which offers exposure to diverse personalities and industry insights.

I asked how she maintains her creative vision while working full-time. She emphasized her continuous drive and hustle to learn and grow, pushing her to do work outside her day job. She believes her personal creative vision, described as "youthful, vibrant, fun, a little satirical," aligns well with the aesthetic cultivated at Urban Outfitters. This allows much of her work there to naturally fit her portfolio. While she loves both food and fashion photography, she leans towards portraiture and fashion due to the interaction with subjects. However, she appreciates being able to take on freelance food or wedding clients for extra income and creative exploration. She views shooting weddings as practice for street photography, observing people and capturing what she finds interesting.

Regarding Urban Outfitters, she noted they sometimes budget for film photography on larger campaigns. She feels the creative team appreciates the visual benefit of film as a way to differentiate the brand. As a photographer, she sees the clear difference between film and digital and believes its quality and aesthetic are subconsciously perceived by viewers. She candidly admitted to being "pretentious about film because I think it looks better" and admires Urban's commitment to quality within budget constraints. She mentioned that many staff photographers, including herself, shoot film on set with their own cameras and film even without a budget, leveraging the professional environment, models, and setups. While acknowledging film is more expensive and cumbersome, she loves its look and the process.

For continuing her education, Gina focuses less on basic technical knowledge found online, which she finds simple. She values the complex lighting and setup knowledge gained through mentorship, assisting, and being on professional sets – an experience she wishes she had pursued for longer. Now, she prioritizes staying culturally relevant and inspired by "what's going on culturally," "what's popular and what's young and what's cool". She actively seeks inspiration at art museums, galleries, and concerts, observing youth culture, fashion, and behavior. She believes artists must maintain a humble attitude, keep learning, and study contemporary culture to avoid artistic stagnation.

When I asked if she felt she had "made it", Gina said she doesn't feel she has "arrived". However, she shared a moment of profound contentment while on set – eating her packed vegetarian lunch in a sundress (something disallowed when she was assisting) and realizing she had "crafted this life" where her "mundane" day was something others might aspire to.

For aspiring photographers, Gina offered some practical advice:

•Money doesn't dictate your art: Most won't make a living solely from photography, but that doesn't lessen the value of their work.

•Photography is a calling: You must truly love it to persevere.

•Be resilient and positive: It's a marriage with ups and downs; keep going and never give up.

•Network and be inquisitive: Ask people about their careers and try to get on professional sets, even just to observe. She encourages "cold calling" and believes people would be surprised by the positive responses.

Looking ahead to 2025, Gina's goals are broader than just photography, focusing on artistic consistency and exploring other creative outlets. She plans to write more (taking a writing class) and is taking a drawing class to explore different artistic capacities.

It was a genuinely insightful conversation, and I'm excited to share it with you all.