New York native photographer Rocco Basile has a plethora of experience over his young career in the photography field. His work as a photojournalist has garnered him world renowned recognition. Unique to his style is the focus on telling a story even from a single photo. He has developed a keen eye to know when to capture at just the right moment to enhance the emotion and immerse the observer into the photo.

After a relocation to California, he graduated from the California Institute of the Arts. It is in Southern California where he launched his studio, Rocco Basile Photography where he frequently hosts exhibits.

Aside from his work as a photographer, Rocco Basile also spends his free time working on painting landscapes that mirror his landscape photographs.

1. What do you (or your business) do?

I do photography for a living. I mainly do photojournalism, but I have experience in portrait, wildlife, landscape, and fine art photography. I also have my own studio based in Southern California where I invite other photographers to showcase their work alongside my own.

2. How long have you been in business?

I have been in business for about 10 years now.

3. Are there any unique challenges in your industry?

I would not call it a unique challenge, but there is always competition in the photography field. With the rise of digital cameras meeting professional quality at a cheaper price, it has become more accessible for the average person to take wonderful shots. Most of the time these are masked by filter heavy editing. It is a quick shortcut to looking experienced, but I feel it has taken out the learning curve of mastering proper camera techniques. As such, the photography field has become cluttered with photographers who have little training in foundation.

4. Do you have any particular challenges that you personally address?

I am community member of a few photography related websites. I often try to educate anyone willing to learn more about photography. Whether it is from lighting to composition, I try to give them a rundown of the basics. I believe this will deter their reliance on frequent use of photo editing software, and they will hone their skills on working with a camera early on. I am aware it may seem discouraging and boring at first, but it is essential knowledge to have in the long run. It helps separate the good photos from the great photos.

5. Is your industry growing, shrinking or remaining the same?

As I mentioned earlier, the industry has been growing due to the increasing accessibility of digital cameras. People are using their smartphone cameras, GoPros, and even DSLRs to capture moments anywhere in the world. It is a great sight to see a new generation of eager photographers. However, for those using DSLRs, some neglect learning any key knowledge such as aperture and ISO speed.

6. How does technology impact your company?

Technology greatly impacts my company. As a photographer, it is amazing to see how fast camera technology advances. The camera I use and have grown to love for years seems to quickly become outdated. New camera related gear such as lenses also have an impact on the finished product. Although it may seem I have berated the use of photo editing software, it is an asset even professionals rely on. New updates or upgrades to the software are pushed out with added or tweaked features to aid editing.

7. Have you ever been to Miami?

Yes, I have been to Miami. I went there in my childhood on a family vacation. I vividly remember spending a lot of time at Miami Beach. As a city boy at the time, it was definitely a new experience.

Would you come back?

I would love to go back to Miami now that I am in my adulthood. I have seen some very beautiful scenic photos coming out from there. Additionally, there are also quite a number of art galleries and museums that I am hopeful to visit someday. I wish my family had taken me to those when we visited. Perhaps it would have ignited my passion for photography even earlier since it was the galleries and museums in New York that sparked my interest.

8. Where do you see yourself or business in 5 years?

I hope that my studio is still successful in 5 years. If by any chance it isn’t, I know that even 5 years from now, I will still be a photographer. I have an unbridled passion for photography that shows no signs of faltering.