Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Fontana.
Hi Gina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
While attending the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale I did an internship with The Miami Herald. While doing my internship I became more interested in photojournalism and documentary photography. After graduating from the Art Institute, I was hired as a photographer for a large group of community newspapers located in South Palm Beach County. Where I worked for five years. While working for the newspapers, I was assigned to travel with a local charity to Jamaica to see the work they were doing in that country. I was very moved by the humanitarian work and later joined the organization as their staff photographer. I worked with them for 10 years as a documentary humanitarian photographer. I traveled all over the Caribbean and Central America documenting the organization’s work.
I started a freelance photography business in 2003 and have worked with a diverse client base including the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Lynn University, FAU, Camillus House, Boca Life Magazine, Best Foot Forward, The George Snow Scholarship fund, Cross International, the Broward Hospital District, and many others.
I also film and editing video for about three years. Working in video has opened the door to a new creative outlet expanding my scope of work. I love the way video brings storytelling to life.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I don’t think there is such a thing as a smooth road. Hurricanes, recessions, and now COVID-19 have all present challenges.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I feel my photojournalism background sets me apart from the others. Working with newspapers exposes a photographer to every possible situation and type of photography. A newspaper photographer can be sent at a moment’s notice to a news event or be assigned a food photograph. I love photography and getting the best image no matter the situation. It’s a thrill capturing an exciting moment in sports, or the tear in a bird’s eye
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I loved sport especially tennis and biking. I grew up in Florida and we were always playing in our pool going to the beach with my mom or outside playing.
Contact Info:
- Email: ginafontana365@gmail.com
- Website: www.ginafontana.com
Image Credits
The photo was not taken by a professional photographer but by a co-worker Bonnie Vanak
