Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Gitnick.
Hi Tracy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my career working for the Associated Press, first in their international headquarters in NYC working in sports and news. After several years I moved to Los Angeles to move into management working as a News Editor for Photography managing their news, sports and entertainment coverage in the southwest region. After 17 years with the AP I decided it was time to make a major life change and return to working behind the camera as a freelance photographer as well as freelance editing for corporate clients. I have photographed a bit of everything but at the AP I always truly loved working in sports. Both of my daughters pursued several sports including soccer, volleyball and gymnastics and I truly love documenting their teams and their leagues. My younger daughter Charlie has been a competitive gymnast for many years and Sarah Catania, my partner in Gold Medal Sports Photography, and I met when our daughters were training at the same gym. We both recognized there was a need for more quality action photography in their sport on the West Coast. These athletes are training at the highest levels and deserve to be documented by professionals who understand and appreciate the sport. We built Gold Medal Sports Photography with that in mind. We want our clients at all levels to feel they are being documented as professional athletes, quality is paramount to our clientele. It has been just two short years since we started Gold Medal and our company has already more than doubled in size, offering photography at all levels and ages of competitive gymnastics. In the next year we plan to dive into more sports. We are still considering what sport to offer next, but quality and customer service will always be our primary goal.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Gold Medal has been a process of learning from our customers. We completely changed our model from year one to year two as we learned and recognized what our clients want to see the most of. They prefer to see the pictures before buying which meant we had to change our distribution platform to support a massive feed of photos at each event we cover. Rather than pre-selling refined edited packages, our clients would rather see everything first and place a lower priority on having each frame perfectly edited. As a visual thinker that was the opposite of how I prefer to distribute, but we listened to our customers and changed everything. It meant double the research and investment in technology, but a strong reputation is the best way to build a business and that means listening to our customers.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
After working for so many years for the AP as a manager and editor I emerged as a freelance photographer and editor specializing in working on and leading large scale editing teams at news and entertainment events. I still enjoy that work and pursue new clients, but I am loving the freedom of working as a freelance lifestyle photographer as well as starting and running Gold Medal Photography with business partner Sarah Catania. Both of these give me the ability to work creatively while also using my skills as a manager and team builder. It has been exciting to start and grow a business and I am looking forward to expanding in the next year into other sports such as volleyball and tennis.
My photography work is a combination of my background in photojournalism with my creative fine art experience. I think this sets my eye apart. I can shoot a portrait, a news conference or a game, but it will always look like mine with an eye towards light and framing.
When it comes to gymnastics photography my depth of experience in that sport really plays a big part in the outcome. I have been supporting my daughter Charlie on her gymnastics journey for over 11 years and I have learned so much along the way. I have a deep respect for the athletes at every step of the way from absolute beginners to college gymnasts. I understand the details and what makes a big moment, not just to the average viewer but to the gymnasts and coaches. When they let me know how much they are loving my work it makes the hours and hard work so worth it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck has brought me some amazing mentors especially early in my career while I was learning how the industry works. But mainly I believe that luck is the combination of knowledge, experience and touch of good fortune. I have worked an overwhelming number of hours to get Gold Medal off the ground and that hard work has put Sarah and I in the position to, on occasion, be in the right place at the right time. I am open and ready for a bit more luck to step in and help take us to the next level of success in this business though!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.goldmedalgymphoto.com/
- Instagram: @californiainmyeyes @tracyshootssports @goldmedalgymphoto
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-gitnick-41a92a4/
Image Credits
Tracy Gitnick Photography
Gold Medal Photography
