They say great photographers are made, not born. While there is always a select few who seem to effortlessly master the medium, for most, it requires dedication, work, and education. Photographers learn the process—and the industry—through a variety of means, whether that’s YouTube, a formal university, or a professional mentor.
Nat Polizzi is a fine example of a creative born with a fierce drive to become a great photographer.
Much like a band who’s ready to drop their first single or book their first gig, Nat was already armed with the most important asset a creative needs; interest. Discovering a passion for the art of photography in high school, thanks to the birth of an adorable, photogenic cousin, it wasn’t long before she decided to dive in and navigate the seas of entrepreneurship by starting up her business, Polizzi Photography, in 2013.
“I originally started my business when I was 16 and I was still studying at secondary college,” Nat explains. “Being 16 at the time, there were so many people telling me that I couldn’t do it, that ‘you can’t run a business’, which I completely understand, but it was a lot of my drive that made me want to persist; the more people that told me I couldn’t do it, I wanted to do it. So I started photographing parties and events and whatever I could get my hands on, and then it eventually led on to paid gigs which was amazing.”
Polizzi Photography, which just celebrated six years, has become the local go-to for newborn photography, maternity photography, food photography and special occasions – a milestone which Nat partly credits to her path in refining her skills with the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography) degree at Deakin University.
“In considering studying and learning more about the art of photography – learning the techniques, and the finer details – I really wanted to change the way that people would perceive the business and myself, so ‘hey look, I actually studied this, I’m qualified and I know what I’m doing’,” Nat explains. “While I was running the business two years I had before I started uni, I realised there was so much more to learn.
“The course was about refining those skills and everything from there, and then that helped elevate my business more so that when I did finish university, the work that I could target was greater. I could move away from event photography, and I could refine that and work with kids and capturing them growing up, newborn and maternity, cake smashes to food photography and starting to really refine my work.”
Enrolling in Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography), Nat was able to reach her full potential with the support of multi-disciplinary teaching staff, while diving into the theoretical, historical and the contemporary fine art and cultural dimensions of the medium through a combination of lectures, practical workshops and demonstrations, class tutorials and critique sessions, gallery visits, solo and collaborative based projects.
Alongside taking a myriad of electives, there is a major focus on project-based learning within Deakin’s Bachelor of Creative Arts course, where students learn how to organise, manage and deliver a festival of exhibitions and performances of work.
“It was a phenomenal experience been able to showcase your artwork at Deakin’s Project Space Gallery,” Nat shares. “We got to experience that whole process of actually putting your art on the wall, and getting it eye level and understanding how everything within a gallery can affect and impact your artwork.
“Having your artwork displayed for everyone, whether it’s the public or Deakin students or teachers, to come and have a look at was really exciting because it’s an experience you don’t really get, or you would have to pay a fortune to do in the hope you sell your artwork. But for us, it was just to display our artwork and showcase every student and their individual talent. Not many people get that opportunity.”
Alongside the amazing teachers, who “were with you every step of the way” through the course, Nat also reflects on the benefit of immersing yourself in a community of photography peers, all going through the same course, learning the same ideas and practices.
“Everyone [in the course] has their own style and interpretation of art,” Nat explains. “There’s a different way that they will all understand and read photographs; somebody might look at a photograph of a portrait and be able to really emotionally connect to it, and other people won’t. When you’re working with so many different people, it really opens up your eyes to so many different avenues within photography; each student interprets the course in a different way.
“So, when you’re doubting yourself and if something didn’t turn out how you hoped, they are the best people to help look at it from a different perspective and give you the support and guidance and encouragement that you might need. I developed so many good relationships and friendships that I still have now.”
Since graduating from Deakin University, Nat has spent the last few years working as an Account Manager utilising her transferable skills and experience, and running her flourishing photography business, which currently has her booked out until early next year, a clear testament to her hard work, determination, and skill set behind the camera lens.
For budding photographers out there, Nat has some gems of sage advice. “Just persist and don’t give up, especially when things get a bit challenging and when you’re doubting yourself or when you’re doubting your quality of work. Just persist; find what you enjoy, and explore the type of photographs you enjoy and use that as inspiration to then go out and capture moments like that.
“If it’s something you really want to do, you’ll follow through with it. Always put one foot in front of the other because it’s such a rewarding experience; capturing people’s lives and journeys.”
Unleash your creativity by studying Deakin’s Bachelor of Creative Arts.
Visit Deakin.edu.au/create
If you’d like to connect with Nat about capturing those unforgettable moments, visit www.facebook.com/PolizziPhotography/