Meet Tink Lockett

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tink Lockett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tink , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Photography is what got me through school – it’s the reason I stayed. Atter school I didn’t know what to do, but I used dream about being a photographer in New York. Life took me on another path and I found myself helping others through massage, which I was happy to do as it felt right at the time. But photography resurfaced for me in my mid 20s because creativity is what I craved. I couldn’t figure out how to get to New York because at the time the industry was shifting to digital and film, so I assisted few a few years but ended up having to massage again to earn a living. In my 30s I moved back to the small town I grew up in and didn’t expect to ever pick a camera up again. Now my life has come full circle, and thanks to social media its opened the doors to New York to make my dream of showcasing my work there a reality.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Photography has been a life journey for me on and off since school – and getting to New York was my teenage dream. After many years on other paths I finally got the chance to shoot fashion and editorial work, and while the days were long and hard the bright lights reminded me of my dream to make it to New York.
I finally have that opportunity and it really is a dream come true. I’ve been trying to make it in a small NZ town, but New York kept calling.

I love working with designers to use my creativity and intuition to bring their visions to life. I thrive most when shooting under pressure like the fast paced runway shows where you have one chance to get ‘the shot’.
In 2023 I said eff it.I’m going to New York!I had no idea how to get there but I wanted to shoot content for my portfolio and follow my lifelong dream. So I got to it –  I had no idea what to do so I randomly started connecting with models on social media to find talent and runway shows to shoot there –  It opened my world!

Back in NZ I came across an online artist forum with open calls for work – some of my work was selected and it’s been amazing. I’ve had pieces exhibited in galleries in NYC and Bali and led me to my first solo exhibition in NYC at Awita Gallery Feb 5th and 6th, 2025. Allowing me to realise my dream of finally showcasing my work in New York City.

My personal creative style varies from project to project but I’ve worked for free with the LGBTQI community to show them as they’d like to be seen –  pushing against stereotypes. Right now I’m exploring the cross section of combing old travel slide scenes with modern portrait work.  

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Everyone has an opinion on how you should do things – but at the end of the day you need to trust yourself and as corny as it sounds you need to be bold, and that means step out of your comfort zone and ignore the doubt to take the scary steps to follow what you know you need to do in your heart. That’s where opportunity presents itself. One thing could lead to meeting new people, new work, networks and overseas opportunities. It’s not easy and it’s hard work and sometimes it all goes wrong – but you need to try whether you think it’s going to work or not.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

Growth for me has been huge especially because I live in a small town in NZ – it’s hard to make it or find people who connect with your work – especially when it is different.

So I had to find other ways to create opportunities for myself from where I live.
I had to prove I could make it work from where I was and make the best of my situation.
It meant I had to comfortable looking outside NZ.
By looking out you get more experiences and more opportunities.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

photo 1 Kayla
photo 2 Keneth parker
photo 3 Jakelyn Jimenez
photo 4 Diana Mupereri
photo 5 Cloe
photo 6 ellen
photo 7 mayer
photo 8 Mikayla rose

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Productivity
Perspectives on Staying Creative

We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists,

Confidence
Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move