Adrian Nina

MDC Member Since: June 2007
View Adrian Nina Portfolio
Location: New York, NY - USA

What type of photography do you do?
Whatever captures the true spirit of a human being. Also, I love discovering and capturing dramatic, surprising beauty.

What is your medium (digital or film)?
Both - it depends on the situations. Sometimes I shoot with 7 cameras at the same time! Every camera has its own look – it’s like an artist with their paintbrush, each one unique with its own distinct brush stroke.

What kind of camera do you use?
My favorite is my Hasselblad, but sometimes I just reach for the first camera I can grab out of my collection! I love spontaneous moments!

How long have you been in the industry?
I was born into a family of photographers - My father, stepfather and grandfather were all in the industry (way to go mom). Ironically, I never liked it as a kid – all the messy chemicals and nasty smells! Then I fell in love with capturing the essence of my subjects – being able to bring out hidden beauty in things is what motivates me. I feel like I’ve been given a gift when the true nature of a person or object is revealed to me.

Who/Where do you look to for inspiration?
Irvine Penn and New York City streets. I like to people watch a lot – Manhattan is one big stage show and its people are the stars – like Warhol said, ‘everyone deserves their 15 minutes of fame.’

How did you get your start?
I just began shooting what I loved, and capturing what I thought was beautiful. I also worked really hard for the past few years! Believe me, I’ve put in the hours and done favors for people, but I am so passionate about my work it’s almost an obsession. Photography is like telling a story. Thankfully, people are responding well to my stories – little pieces of love, life and the hidden inherent beauty of everyday things.

What do you look for in a model?
Sass, self confidence, and tons of personality

What was your most memorable shoot?
Having a brick wall collapse with me while shooting on a industrial location. The first thing I did when I got up was look at the lens of my camera to see if it cracked, then later after the shoot was over I realized I had fractured my arm :). I kept shooting like that until I ran out of film.