Nice to meet you Tina …. Kick us off and tell us in what part of First Coast do you reside in now and how long have you lived there?
I have been in Jax for 30 years next month and have resided in Arlington / Ft. Caroline area for the last 10.
Why did you get into photography?
By accident! Haha, I don’t have that story that so many others do about carrying a camera around when I was five years old, etc., but I have always been a creative. My teenage son wanted to take a beginner’s camera course and it was eight Sundays, two hours, and 45 min drive one-way. I decided I would take it too (and sit in the back so I didn’t crush his style). This way I didn’t have to go find something to do or just waste gas while he was there. The rest, as they say, is history! I literally fell in love with the tool of a camera and have never looked back.
What photographers are your biggest influences? How did they affect who you are and how you create?
Hanson Fong for portrait perfection. His work reminds me of the word “polished” every time I look at them and they make me feel. Photography is about sparking feeling. For editing and telling a story my favorite is Sandra Pierce. She brings fun into all her works and I love her storytelling creations.
How long have you been shooting? How do you feel you’ve evolved since you started?
Four years – which doesn’t sound very long, but when you have a deep burning passion for something that doesn’t go away, you can sure do a lot in four years. I evolve every day (we all should actually), but for me I have studied under some master photographers, practiced trial and error, and never stop learning or trying something new. One of my favorite sayings when I get a new idea is: “I’m not crazy, I’m just first!”
Tell us about your photographic identity. You know you as a person have an identity that fundamentally makes you who you are. Tell us about that as a photographer:
My photography identity is unique and that is special. I have always lived my life authentically and going against the grain. I always hear “niche down” or “find your niche”, but I am a storyteller at heart. How many stories would get missed if I just told one? I find significance in uncovering stories across all genres. I have a style all my own and I like to reference it as “When luxury and grit have a love child, this is what you get!”.
Tell us about the gear that you’re using. Please give us a list with reasons why you chose it. Please be descriptive. We want to know how it helps you translate your creative vision:
This is such a technical well-defined answer for me. I use Canon because…that’s the camera I learned on.
Natural light or artificial light? Why?
Natural every chance I get! I will dabble with artificial from time to time but for me it’s like coffee. I don’t drink coffee because it has too many accessories and options associated with it. I feel the same way about artificial lighting – it just starts to get out of control. Usually if you see me at a session it’s just me and my camera putting on a show!
Why is photography and shooting so important to you?
Oh oh oh – pick me pick me!!!! 🙋🏼♀️We all have a life to live, but also none of us get to stay forever! It is 100% true that the only thing left of us will be the memories and the photos! What if a photo sparks a memory that was long gone? What if your future family is telling an epic story of you and there are no photos to put a name to the face? What if you feel unseen, but that is only because you haven’t seen a photo of you from another person’s view? What if you have struggled with and conquered addiction/disease/loss and you came out on the other side healthy and smiling and it’s not documented? Photography is telling a story and leaving a legacy. You don’t have to be rich and famous to have a legacy, we ALL get one!
Do you feel that you’re more of a creator or a documenter? Why? How does the gear help you do this
I have always been a creative and my camera lets me create things in ways I never imagined possible. I get to show the world how I see things through my eyes. It is a blessing I am thankful for every single day!
What’s typically going through your mind when you create images? Tell us about your processes both mentally and mechanically?
The main thing I must do is TALK to my partner in creativity (otherwise known as a client). How are you going to really tell a story or capture a soul if you don’t know or listen to them? I imagine what they truly want these images for and what the final outcome should look like. I plan every session based on the client, nothing is ever scripted or boring. I need them to know sessions with me are safe-spaces where they can feel free to do anything (as long as the cops won’t be called) and the end result will be magical and emotional for them. I only have one rule really and that is all head-trash must be left at the house or in the car! Photography is FUN and will provide art that will last forever and beyond.
Please walk us through your processing techniques?
I am a self-taught photographer and the same came with editing. I have spent a lot of time learning how to do it. I do not outsource anything except final product prints/canvases/albums etc.
What made you want to get into your genre?
I started out with pets because I had gotten a Doberman puppy (Dapper Craig is 4 yrs old now). I learned how to get action shots at the dog park and started to build a clientele with pet portraits. From there I started adding pets with their parents/families which eventually led me into portraits all around. If it has a heartbeat, then I love to photograph it.
What do you think is the most important component to producing great results? (camera, lens, light, editing, location, artistic vision, etc.)?
For me it’s artistic vision all day every day. I believe the artistic vision is what connects the technical aspects to the emotional impact and stirs up those warm and fuzzy feelings.
What outside (non-photographic) influences (if any) shape your photography?
One of the most significant influences on my photography has been losing my best friend of 35 years to cancer. I could only find solace in the photos we had taken together over the years. They became a way to hold onto memories and moments that were no longer accessible. This experience deeply impacted how I view photography—it taught me how powerful an image can be in preserving emotions and memories.
Because of this, my approach to photography is often rooted in capturing moments that matter, moments that can tell a story or preserve an emotion for someone. It’s not just about taking pictures—it’s about creating something lasting, something that helps people hold on to the people and moments that mean the most to them. That experience with loss shapes every frame I capture, knowing that the photos I create can have that kind of significance for others too.
What is the goal of your photography? (A business, just to share on social media, gateway to adventure, etc.)?
I want to have a successful business that impacts all walks of life. I want people to see that I really am a unique photographer and person. I am not here to photograph the masses like a directory of some kind, but I am here to help people see that life is meant to be lived sometimes outside of the box and document it as you go!
What is the best way for photographers to network?
Join your local photography groups and go to those meetings/events knowing that everyone there has something they can teach you!
Do you shoot with your editing style in mind, or do you edit based on the shot that you got?
I edit to the shot! One session can produce so many different types of edits. Some are bright and airy, some are moody, some are beyond gorgeous in classic black and white. I find zero fun in one edit style across the board.
Do you enjoy books? If so, any specific genre?
I love audio books and podcasts while in my truck. I listen to self-help books that make me laugh, true crime, and a splash of non-fiction that are based in the 50s, 60s, or 70s are fun!
What is your favorite photographic accomplishment?
I have been published and won awards in a short time and those things feel great, but my favorite accomplishment is when a complete stranger saw my work just in passing and said to me “You were born to be a photographer!” That is what stays with me every time I pick up my camera.
What advice would you give someone who just picked up their new camera on how to get started?
Play with it like it’s Christmas morning every day. Push the buttons. Practice and don’t give up. If you have a passion deep inside of you, feed it. And remember – there is no wrong in art!
If you had a question you would like to ask another photographer, what would it be?
There will never be just one. Everyone in the photography circle knows I am going to have a ton of follow-up questions!
What’s the best thing for you about living on the First Coast?
The day to day grind is real and it’s easy to unsee things, but truly the First Coast has so many things here, especially in terms of backdrops. We have the beaches, the greenery, gardens, urban, and historical architecture. It really is a photographer’s dream location if you just stop and look around.
Is there anything else that you want to tell everyone?
Yes. Sometimes people ask me what I can’t live without on a shoot besides my camera and the answer is: a foot stool or step ladder. I am 4’9″ (often looking like I am missing a parent) and some sessions need me to be at least average height so I come prepared. 😂
How can we see your work?
https://www.tinabrayphotography.com
https://www.instagram.com/tinabrayphoto/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/498268849421016
Do you offer anything that others don’t on the First Coast?
Yes! I provide an all-inclusive flying dress session. I stock various colors and sizes of these dresses so the client doesn’t have to spend hundreds of dollars for a dress they wear one time for a 30-minute session. They can just use one of mine (sometimes for a couple of hours) and the options are limitless of what we can create. You don’t have to be famous or live in Italy to wear a gorgeous gown that blows in the wind like magic. Playing “dress up” with me is an experience like no other!
- About the Author
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Glenn is the founder and publisher of First Coast Life. He is also a wonderful storyteller. Born on the 4th of July, he spends his spare time taking his camera and exploring everything beautiful this region offers with his rescue dog Callie by his side. He loves meeting new people and capturing the many beautiful moments and amazing local stories that showcase the true spirit of the area.
