SOULDEGA: What inspired you to get into the art of photography?
LUNA SOLISTO: Growing up I didn’t have much exposure to fine art or photography outside of visiting museums; but in 2002 I was given the opportunity to join a Photography Club through Rochester Community Darkroom to learn how to shoot & develop film, I jumped on it but it wasn’t until after the birth of my daughter that I really began to dive into the ART of photography, she’s my inspiration!
SOULDEGA: What keeps you feeling inspired and motivated?
LUNA SOLISTO: Definitely the company I keep! Having close friends & family members that pursue their art unapologetically on a day to day. My mom is a poet and painter and I’ve always had a creative niche but never delved into it 100% until recently. Every time I finish & edit a shoot I am proud of the outcomes & can see improvements in my technique and how my many random ideas can flourish and that motivates me to challenge myself to see what I can create next.
SOULDEGA: How does nature play a role in your photography?
LUNA SOLISTO: Nature plays a huge role in my photography, I don’t want to spend hundreds on backdrops so it’s much cheaper and more of a challenge/adventure for me to explore and seek out creative places to shoot. Living in Virginia there isn’t much architecture which I viewed as a negative at first but it allowed me to embrace the environment I currently live in. Now I actively seek out how I can incorporate it in my ideas and also I prefer to shoot in natural light!
SOULDEGA: Which cameras do you like to shoot with?
LUNA SOLISTO: Currently I’m using a Canon Rebel T6 with a 50mm 1.4 lens! I also like to shoot with the Instax mini, its fun and also provides a sense of nostalgia!
SOULDEGA: Have you set forth any goals in your photography? If so what are they?
LUNA SOLISTO: Well, currently a short-term goal of mine is to make time to shoot creatively 1-3 times a week outside of full-time work! I’ve been at it since January and I’m proud of my consistency thus far but my long-term goals are to build a thriving+ creative photography business where people come to me specifically for my Je ne sai quoi and my vision. I would love to shoot Editorial and Avante’ Garde portraits and build fantastic fantasy inspired sets which is a step up from my dollar store props I use as inspiration. I’m not really after too much mainstream recognition because when I create for me I get the ultimate feeling of catharsis and nothing beats that!