Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabelle Winardi
Hi Isabelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My parents gifted me a Nikon D3200 that I would whip out whenever we went on family vacations, although I didn’t start taking photography more seriously until I got to college. I joined UCLA’s photography club while completing my undergraduate studies there, and eventually became the club’s graphic designer. From there, I began selling my own prints and even several magazines.
“Pastel” was largely a travel magazine showcasing different scenes from Bhutan, Bulgaria, Greece, Nepal, Scotland, Serbia, Thailand, and the USA; “California” was a tribute to my home state, with photos from Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Sequoia, Yosemite, Highway 395, Palm Springs, and Los Angeles; and “Old & New” presented my work from Ukraine, Georgia, Norway, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Romania, New Mexico, and New York.
Nowadays, I no longer sell preprinted pictures in bulk as I used to before, opting instead for commission based work where clients can reach out to me directly for specific photos that they’re interested in. As for magazines, I’m currently accumulating enough photos for my next edition—stay tuned!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Strangely enough, the smoothest part of my photography career was actually in the beginning—my Instagram growth was rapid and I was getting tons of engagement on my posts, I was selling prints and magazines left and right, and I was featured in magazines and exhibitions both online and in person.
In the past couple years or so, though, I’ve experienced a decline in my Instagram growth and engagement as well as an increased struggle to sell prints and magazines. When I realized that hashtags no longer expanded my reach like they used to before, I stopped using them altogether.
After some introspection, I came to the realization that my photography has, in large part, actually gotten better, not worse, despite the lack of online validation suggesting otherwise. While difficult to unlearn, I have come to terms with the fact that views, likes, and comments simply aren’t a good measure of artistic value. In all honesty, my current work is much more cohesive and mature than my earlier works, and now I am content knowing that whether my art reaches one person or one million people, I am creating art for myself, not for others. The most genuine artwork is an expression of the self—it should be what you want to show to the world, not what you think others will want to see.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
While Adobe Stock images might pay the bills, my true passion lies in pastel photography. I specialize in photos of cars, plants, animals, landscapes, cityscapes, signs, and architecture with a side of vintage Americana, roadside attractions, and desert oddities, but what ultimately sets me apart from others is my editing style. My photos showcase a pastel world that feels simultaneously joyful yet melancholy, modern yet nostalgic, mostly free of human subjects yet somehow still full of life. My early career focused on selling my own prints and magazines, which gave me enough confidence to enter my first photography contest, where I won an award—I’m proud to have made it this far, as this was a big step forward after most of my exposure came from being featured in group exhibitions.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Although most people know me for my photography, I am actually an engineer by trade! I have a BS in Chemistry from UCLA and I’m currently doing my PhD in Materials Science & Engineering at UCLA again. While I may not be an automotive engineer or a professional car photographer, my dream car is the Porsche 930, and I’m lucky to have a fiancé who loves cars just as much as I do. In my free time, I enjoy collecting plants, baking cookies, and taking care of my bearded dragon.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.idraniwinardi.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idraniwinardi/
- Other: https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/209612673/idraniwinardi
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Dang Nguyen
Additional Photos: Isabelle Winardi
