The halls of Nance Street Studios are alive with creativity. The warehouse setting is home to the offices of some of Houston's finest artisans. It is there that I met with Diana Simonetta in Studio G, the home of LTL Photography.
There is a calmness about the gifted photographer. Her entire life she has seen the world in images and she works to frame those images for others. She found her love for capturing life in film and left her daily grind to follow her passion all the way to success. The charming studio space is divided into a bohemian inspired office area and the setting where a lot of the magic happens. Bright lights used in her work also spotlight pieces that adorn the wall.
Her landscapes caught while on travels around the world draw you in and takes you on location right along with her. It was on a trip to Venice while shooting the locals that she stepped into an internet cafe, discovering that her work "Elena Blue" had won a prestigious international art award. Her work "Dog Days" was taken in Rome when she spied the four legged members of a troupe belonging to a street performer. The time she spends with clients shows in her work. Simonetta is able to pull out the true essence of a subject and share it through the lens. Her portrait photography includes headshots for models, business professionals, and families.
Her decision to leave her full-time office position although she loved it was a tough choice. Feeling a lull in her life, she sought to fill it with her passion. Working for herself has been life changing. She says that walking into her studio each day makes her happy, as well as the camaraderie she has found within the Hardy and Nance Street Studios. Artists often stop by for coffee and a chat during the day. The studio is also the home base of Houston's annual Art Crawl where attendees can come through, check out the art, and purchase their favorite works.
To those considering entering the world of photography she says, "Go for it!" The market is right for new artists. "The world can never have too much art," Simonetta exclaims. She does, however, advise that going in with eyes wide open is the key. Although one may never be a millionaire in the field, for Simonetta "Life is about the joy you experience each day rather than monetary earnings."
To check out LTL Photography and Diana Simonetta visit www.houstonphotographer.com.
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