October 22, 2016

Meet DTLA Photographer: Nathan Tecson

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Tecson.

Nathan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I was much younger, a mentor of mine handed me a camera to use during a surf trip. I’ve loved photography ever since. Today, I continue to fuel my passion for photography by capturing images of people and the outdoors in my travels.

Has it been a smooth road?
Everyone’s journey is different, but I myself surrounded by a lot of support. As a creative, I think it’s extremely important to surround myself with people who not only encourage my work, but who also challenge me to be better. I very grateful for my wife, friends, and mentors who have brought me to where I am now. Community is so incredibly important.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan on traveling a lot. I’ve always enjoyed the thrill of exploring new places and meeting new people. My team & I are planning a trip to Ireland next.

Let’s go backward a bit – can you tell us about the most trying time in your career?
One of the hardest times in my career as a photographer was several years ago when I quit my day job to pursue photography full time. It was a difficult transition, and I regret not preparing more thoroughly for the change. It was a time I experienced the true meaning of the term “starving artist”. If I could do it over again, I would have kept my passion for photography, but paired that passion with patience and asked advice from other business owners who had been in the field longer. I would have also surrounded myself with a supportive community instead of isolating myself and trying to prove. Things are great now, but that’s definitely a time in my life that will remind me of the importance of being humble through my artistic passions.

Are there days when you feel like you’ve done everything you wanted to, careerwise – the “I’ve made it” kind of moments?
To be honest, knowing my personality, I feel like I’m always going to be waiting for that day! I’m always ready for the next goal or achievement. If there’s anything that’s a highlighted victory, it’s probably when I had my first published photo in a printed magazine. It was a goal I had for at least a year, and I remember holding the magazine in my hands with all the thoughts and emotions rushing through me, realizing everything that went into bringing me to that moment and then finally seeing it all come to fruition. Even though I immediately set a goal to be published again barely a minute later, I did have a few brief moments of satisfaction in the achievement.

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