Meet Anthony Romano

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anthony Romano. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anthony below.

Anthony, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I think that I’ve gotten my resilience from … life. No one has it easy. Whether they are vocal about it or not. We all have ups and downs, plateaus, etc. Being a full time freelancer, and owning your own business, you’re going to hit rough patches its inevitable. Being resilient isn’t just about bouncing back and pushing forward. I think it’s also about being accepting and being honest. I’ve struggled a lot in my career of finding my path (and I’m still working on it) but by being open to change, continuing to learn and grow, all of those things help make me resilient and what to push forward to get to that next step in my career.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a creative portrait photographer based in Nashville, TN. I work primarily with individuals who are looking to have a welcoming experience and a really unique outcome. Each client is taken care of from start to finish. From hearing their story, to planning their shoot, every step of the way they are reminded of what makes them unique! Each photo shoot is catered to everyone’s specific wants and needs. Being able to photograph someone and present that image and hear their ‘Oh wow! Is that really me?!” is what gets me excited. I love being able to bring out the best in someone and allow them to see themselves as the world sees them.

I recently competed in Behind the Shutter’s Creator Series Season 2. This is a 7-episode web series launching in October 2023, that features some of the best up and coming photographers in the country. I’m excited to share my experience on the show and where this opportunity will take me and my career.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the three most impactful qualities that have helped me on my journey are communication, resourcefulness, and creativity.

Communication is key, along with setting expectations. I would rather over communicate with my client regarding the process, pricing, etc., then to have either of us feel surprised at some point in the process. Communicating goals, instructions, and workflow, all play a large role in having a successful client experience.

Resourcefulness has allowed me to adapt to A LOT of different scenarios. Whether it’s on set during a shoot and needing to pivot because something (location, wardrobe, lighting, etc.) just isn’t working right … or with my business in general. I purposefully build in time in case there is an ‘oh sh*t’ moment anywhere in the process.

Creativity is key. As an artist we all have our own unique process and point of view. Highlighting what makes me and my work different from someone else is something I like to embrace. Sure, we all compare ourselves to others, that’s just how humans operate … but finding inspiration from someone (or some thing) is a great way to showcase your own creativity and to make something your own.

I think a great way to develop this skills is by listening and learning. None of us have this all figured out (and if someone says they do … run haha). So keeping up on current trends, developing your own creative style, and being open and honest with your clients will help alleviate some stressors and help you set yourself up for success.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
A particular challenge that I’m currently facing, and working through, is niching down my services and my client base. At the end of the day, I love taking photos … plain and simple. But to be profitable as a business I need to make sure I’m servicing the right client/market. Finding ways to adapt my skillset and appeal to my ideal client is something I’m really trying to hone in on. It’s great to be well versed in a lot of different things, but I’ve come to realize being so open creatively can provide some confusion to prospective clients and even to me. Stepping back and evaluating your goals as a business and individual is important and a necessary part of growth.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Anthony Romano photographed by Tausha Dickinson

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