Seizing Beauty: A Career as a Fine-Art Photographer

As a young girl, a love of antiques and collecting things—shells, old keys, dice, lobster claws, and ephemera—led to her first job at Sotheby’s auction house. Then a black-and-white darkroom class at Santa Fe Photographic Workshops in the early 1990s ignited a passion for making images of beautiful objects. Today, Paulette Tavormina stands proudly and humbly atop her chosen profession as a successful photographer who has melded the commercial and fine-art worlds. She has shot Gucci and GOOP fragrance campaigns; photographed recipes for The Del Posto Cookbook (Hachette) with chef Mark Ladner; photographed works of art for Sotheby’s; been commissioned by National Geographic Magazine and The New York Times; had her monograph Paulette Tavormina: Seizing Beauty published by Monacelli Press; was chosen to receive a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, established in 1985 at the bequest of Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock to recognize recipients of artistic merit; exhibited her work in Paris, London, Moscow, Lugano, Madrid, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Palm Beach, Boston, Palm Desert, and San Francisco; and collected by museums, corporations, and in private collections.

Over two evenings and four hours in early December, “Seizing Beauty” reveals the unfolding of Paulette’s artistic path as she follows her passion for fine-art photography in pursuit of an unexpected but never-the-less extraordinary career. She discusses her choices, sacrifices, goal setting, risk-taking, adventures, misadventures, successes, missteps, and the always capricious nature of making a living as an artist. Paulette also dives into her creative influences and the development of her singular style, as well as reviews her technical practice.

On the first evening, Paulette is joined by long-time friend Reid Callanan, director of Santa Fe Workshops, to converse about her career trajectory from the first workshop in Santa Fe to the rarified air of the New York City gallery and fashion worlds. Paulette shares an illustrated presentation of her evolution as a photographer and examines the decisions she made that led to growing a prosperous and satisfying career. It’s likely a template for anyone dreaming of a career as a fine-art photographer. Taking questions from the live audience brings this inspiring evening to a conclusion.

On Thursday evening, Paulette gets down to the essential details of how she executes her signature photographic style. She reviews her equipment choices, including her studio lighting gear and set-up. A live demo in her small home studio is illuminating. Post-processing techniques using Adobe Photoshop are examined as well. In addition to her technical prowess, Paulette also speaks about her commitment to research and its value to her success, as are cultivating working relationships with labs, printers, gallerists, and commercial clients. Seeking inspiration for future projects is an ongoing quest that she shares before taking a final round of questions from the live audience.

“Seizing Beauty” provides a fascinating, informative, and encouraging look into the life and career of a former Santa Fe Workshops student who made her dreams and vision a reality beyond her dreams. Join Paulette as she takes time to examine and share insights into her career as a fine-art photographer.