Gosia Machaczka shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Gosia, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
It depends on the project. But let’s say we are talking about a day when I have a commercial product photoshoot.
I wake up around 6am, my bag is already packed from the day before so I only need to freshen up and brew a good cup of coffee that I take with me. I arrive to the studio at 8, if the client is present I talk with them and the stylist and go through the mood board. After that I work with my photo assistent on setting up lights to achieve clients vision, stylist works on setting up product, we start shooting. There’s lunch around noon, we continue to shoot until 5-6pm. If I’m not too tired I go to the gym, then home. I have dinner and work on other projects (emails, editing, submitting to galleries). I wind down with an episode of a TV show (I am currently watching The Studio on Apple TV+) and go to bed ideally at 10pm, but if I’m being honest it usually ends up being around 11pm.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a product, portrait, and event photographer based in Los Angeles. I started my career working concert, events and huge festivals. In recent years I shifted my focus away from live music and more towards commercial product photography, portraits and events. I love using strong color stories, high contrast, and drama in my work. But I also enjoy creating light that mimics natural light for photography sets. I have also shot personal projects that aren’t commercial that have been shown in galleries and won awards.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was always a storyteller. First I told stories by playing with toys, later writing, and ended up using photography to tell viusal stories.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Honestly, no. I know I didn’t choose and easy profession. The journey had, and probably still will have, it’s ups and downs. And sometimes the struggle has made me feel like I should give up, but I have always used the struggle as motivator. I always seen it as destiny, or whatever you want to call it, is just testing me to see if I really wanted what I was trying to achieve. I would get sad or mad for a few moments, maybe even cry a little to let go of the emotions and then the burst of motivation and “I will not give up! I will achieve it” kind of energy would take over. That doesn’t mean I never doubted myself, but I just knew that if I really wanted something I had to work and fight for it. Nobody would just hand it to me.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I would say so, even though it might be a little dialed down. Deep down I am an introvert so I usually don’t show my full personality before I get to know a person. I can be very serious and goal oriented, and very light and fun. Depending on what I work on and who I work with I will lean into one of those.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Yes, I have done it on several occasions. It’s usually because of a mix of fun project and great team. I did that when I worked on Mattel Creations for San Diego Comic Con campaign last year, because I loved working with that team and the project was exciting. I have also done that when I worked on American Girl doll sets where I got to create light that mimicked natural daylight. I see doll sets as miniature film or show sets and it’s very exciting to get to work with something like that. I was also thrilled to work at the 97th Academy Awards this year because it was a whole new project for me and to get to be a part of such a huge production that Oscars is was very exciting. Also, every time I get to show my work in a gallery or get recognized with an award I feel very accomplished and it always feels special.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gosiamachaczka.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gosiamachaczka/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gosiamachaczka/en
