Meet Marina Eng

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marina Eng. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Marina , 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?

I am still looking for my way in art. When I was young, I never thought I will do something creative. But later, after I tried few office jobs – like manager, secretary, bank worker – I understand that I always feel pull to create something beautiful. Especially when I discover Photoshop.

Instead of boring office tasks, every free minute I was editing photos and learning by myself programs for retouch and design. And even at work they start to ask me to make advertising materials.

Later I decide to get second university degree in graphic design and I worked in advertising for 10 years. Same time I start to have more and more interest in photography, and step by step I found my purpose.

I wanted to create art that connect with inner world of people, invite to dialogue, to thinking, and stay in memory for long time. I want my works help people “switch on” inside, connect with their own inner world, with family memory, stop for a moment and think about their direction and inner growth.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

At first, photography was my hobby. Then I started taking different courses and kept learning by myself. Gradually, I began shooting for my own clients. I tried different directions: fashion, product photography, travel.

Later, I met an American photographer, Paul Eng. He moved to Moscow to work for magazines like Esquire, GQ, Men’s Health, and do commercial shoots. He offered me to be his assistant and translator, and that’s how I got into the world of “big” photography and learned the whole process from inside.

Our relationship grew from professional to personal, and after our first daughter was born, my husband decided to move back to New York, where he is from, hoping for better financial stability. But his photography career had to pause — the competition was very high! After several years of trying to return to the US photography market, my husband restarted a tofu and Asian desserts store called Fong On, which his grandfather founded in 1933. Based on childhood memories, he recreated all the recipes, taught me, and now we run this small family business together in Chinatown, New York.

Although I had to leave my design career, I never gave up my passion for photography and kept finding creative activities for myself. After moving to New York, while I was 8 months pregnant, I finished a commercial photography course at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). Then I focused on family photography, organized a children’s creative studio with Russian language lessons. But after the COVID pandemic started, I had to stop all this.

Then I shifted my focus to online learning and fully dedicated myself to art photography. Now I continue working in this direction, gradually increasing the number of exhibitions and contests where my works participate.

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?

Looking back, three things helped me most:

Curiosity and learning. I always try new things, take courses, and learn by myself. Now, when technology and AI change very fast, it’s very important to keep learning. If you don’t, you can be left behind.

Resilience and patience. The creative path is not easy or quick. There are problems and hard times. It’s important to be patient and keep going even when it’s difficult.

Connecting with people and communication. Making friends, finding mentors, and talking with clients helped me a lot. If you can share your ideas and listen to others, you get more chances and support.

My advice for beginners: be curious and open. Learn everything you can, even small things. Be patient with yourself — growing takes time. And don’t be afraid to ask for help and build your network. And keep trying!!

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The number one challenge I face right now is that, as an art photographer, I have to wear many hats and learn many skills at once. I need to be a videographer, promote my work on social media, collaborate with galleries and online platforms to sell my art. I also take part in portfolio reviews, and I became a copywriter to write texts about my works.

Besides that, I am the producer and organizer for my art shoots — finding models, sometimes doing makeup, hair, and even making costumes myself. It feels like a never-ending learning and growing process.

Because of all this, my progress might be slower than some of my colleagues who can focus on fewer things. But I often find more joy in the journey and in learning new skills than just in the final results. This process keeps me motivated and passionate about what I do every day.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All photos by Marina Eng

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