Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Burg.
Hi Gina, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story takes a lot of twists and turns, but from a young age, I was always a little obsessed with art and photography. I would carry around my Mom’s Art History books and devour the information held inside because I thought those huge textbooks made me look smart. Sometimes my Dad would let me use his camera to take photos, and I was always excited to see how the images would turn out after developing the film. They were usually images of my dog dressed in human clothes, but I was still creating!
I have always loved animals just as much as art and had decided around eight years old that I wanted to be a Veterinarian. I was in my third year of college with plans to move on to a Veterinary program after my undergrad when I started working in an animal hospital. There I discovered very quickly that I could not withstand the heartache required of me for that job. So, I pivoted towards my love of art and all things creative and now live a life creating and capturing moments that fill my heart with joy.
Luckily, it was the beginning of the semester and I was able to change all my classes to art, graphic design, and photography. After my first day experimenting in the darkroom. I was hooked and I have been creating art ever since.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been far from a smooth road. The creative industry pendulum swings are so wide that one day I can be so busy I can barely think, and the next it is absolute crickets. I cannot count the number of times during a slow period where I have been asked when I was going to give up the ‘whole art thing’ and consider it a hobby, and though statements like that put a chink in my armor, I also know that some don’t understand that I simply have to create. I cannot sit in a cubicle. I know, because I’ve tried and I was miserable! So, I have learned how to supplement my photography and mixed-media art with web and graphic design, as well as home improvement projects. I’ve painted some pretty fun murals for people! I am also currently working on a bathing suit line geared towards the active water woman that will keep all your girl parts in place and don’t resemble slingshots, and I just published the first book in a collection of mental health journals using my photography and mixed-media artworks. I am essentially always creating and have learned to not be afraid to speak up when I hear people tossing ideas around because my mind is always creating and absorbing my surroundings.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in capturing keepsake moments that tell a story. From newborns and maternity photos and also weddings, I capture the images that you can hold onto for a lifetime and hopefully pass on to your family. I especially love it when families include their four-legged babies in their photoshoots too. What sets me apart is that if it means I can get the shot, I am not afraid to get dirty. I will swim into the ocean (with my underwater housing of course) or lay down in the dirt to get capture the image. My all-time favorite subjects to capture are Moms-to-be and newborns. There is something so magical about that time in a person’s life and I love being able to use my many years of experience to calm a crying baby or pose a Mama that shows off her beautiful bump.
Beyond photographing people, I create mixed-media artworks that combine the real and surreal. I love using photographs I have captured underwater and combining those images with paintings/ drawings on canvas to create something fun. Sometimes the painting is an extension of the photograph itself, and sometimes it simply compliments the image. Although I work with many different mediums, all my works are based on photography. Each piece tells a different story, and where I take it all depends on how the mood strikes me and how the light moves in an image. I love to dive deep!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t know if luck has much to do with anything. I believe my will to push forward, keep trying and keep learning new things is what keeps me going. While I don’t believe luck has played much of a part in my career, I definitely believe in karma, plus I think it is best to always be kind to other people while keeping a sense of humor. You never know when someone you meet might open doors for you, or you might be able to open a door for someone else! The art world is a snarky business, but I make a very conscious effort to not be that way.
Pricing:
- Newborn Session $449
- Maternity Session $449
- Weddings start at $2800 for 8 hours of coverage
Contact Info:
- Email: gina@sunandsaltyair.com
- Website: www.sunandsaltyair.com
- Instagram: @sunandsaltyairphotos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginaburgphotos
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sunandsaltyair
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCorlhPXgqqgzvml6DeQVMPQ
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sun-and-salty-air-photography-by-gina-burg-boynton-beach?osq=sun+and+salty+air+photography
Image Credits
All images were captured and created by Gina Burg.
