Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle (Gigi) Robinson.
Gabrielle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
All I can tell you is persistence and diligence is one of the reasons why I am where I am today.
I picked up a camera for the first time when I was about 10 years old it was my dads Nikon D70. At the time, I didn’t realize the path it would send me down.
Throughout my high school experience at LaGuardia High School in New York City, I studied various mediums in the art including drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, graphic design, sculpture, black and white darkroom, color darkroom and digital photography, further widening the breadth of skills. Naturally at arts high school, I was able to collaborate and work with fellow young artists in music, acting, singing and dance, exposing my photography skills to the students around me. It was then that I realized photography was going to be a feasible career for me. I would take headshots for friends who needed them and began entering local art competitions with my fine art photography.
If it weren’t for the organizations supporting my art through my high school years, I don’t know where I would be. I will always have endless thanks to Arts Connection, the NYC DOE PS Art committee, Manhattan Borough Arts, The Scholastic Arts and Writing Foundation, the Dedalus foundation, the International Center of Photography and of course my teacher, Ms.Felber at LaGuardia High School.
After High School, I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology for a year and then transferred to the University of Southern California, following my passion to study photography and design. Since I joined a network of students in a club called USC Reach which I have served on the e-board as the director of social media on. This club has allowed me to creatively collaborate with and share my ideas through social media techniques. As I enter my senior year at USC, I have found a love for creating content for brands to market very specifically, both as a photographer and a rising lifestyle influencer.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would say that this has not been a smooth, linear road, and don’t get worried because everyone’s journey is different. I consider my journey to be a winding road that has to lead me to the right place at the right time. Some obstacles that I have encountered are due to more personal issues, however, I have turned that struggle into creating art that shares my story and hopefully inspires others to do so as well.
My biggest piece of advice would be to do something new every day to improve or add to your knowledge of your craft, whatever that may be. For me, that was watching small youtube videos on retouching or lighting a set, how to communicate with people who challenge you in your own business, etc. I can not reiterate this enough, but persistence and diligence have been the thing that has always kept me going.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Currently, I am a student at the University of Southern California, a freelance photographer, an intern and overall creative who uses social media as a platform and outlet to share my work with the world around me. My specialty would have to be in creating photos for brands that are specifically marketable to a given target demographic. I love working with brands, not only to expand the companies that I work with, but also to create a wide variety of images that will be different, per each shoot. I am most proud of the work that I have done with Abercrombie and Fitch, Hint water and the USC Hospitality department so far.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Luckily, I am kind of already in the field of creating stories that empower women. In my freshman year of college, I created a documentary revolving around body image in media. It included photographing women and presenting them as un-retouched in the form of commercial media platforms, who do not necessarily fit the stereotypical model for commercial photography. There is an opportunity for any woman, especially young women, to be the change makers in the world we live in today. We are capable of setting the foundation to make changes for future generations in our society. If you’re a young woman looking for inspiration, follow it; if you’re looking to make a change, find out how you can achieve it; if you’re just trying to network, put on a smile and make it happen and lastly, if you have a dream, go achieve it. My advice would truly be to just do everything you can to make it happen.
Pricing:
- Headshots $450/1.5 hr shoot, 15 headshot images, retouched and delivered
- Social media content photography, Depends on the shoot, would have to be an outlined budget
- Social media collaborations/per post charging also depends on promotion, product and brand budget.
- Never ever, ever, do anything for free. I have stood by this since I started my photography business years ago, and will continue to get paid for the caliber of work that I produce for my clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: gabriellerobinsonphotography.com
- Phone: (917) 745-2262
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gabriellearobinson
Image Credit:
*Most of these images are taken from my IG with the photographers credited but I will scribe below!
Profile Image @dorynfine
Biore Picture – credited @AmeliaLind @biore
Abercrombie picture – sitting with small bag on table @hypeh @abercrombie
Photo with notebook – @Influencher Collective
Photo in flowers- @shopmaries
Photo with work on wall – @USCRoski
Photo in airport- @abercrombie
Photo with Tommy Trojan – @uschotel
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
