Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanzi Propst.
Hi Tanzi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always loved photography. Ever since I was little, growing up in rural Nebraska, you could catch me running around with a disposable film camera. I was always the kid that brought two or three to sleep-away camp. I had to capture every moment! It was no surprise that I was interested in documenting the world around me as my dad was a freelance photographer. I grew up with film canisters in the refrigerator and prints lying around the house of the Nebraska football games.
Fast-forward to high school. I’m sitting in College Counseling. My teacher encouraged us all to choose a career path. I felt totally stuck… I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life! My parents decided to give my passion for photography a nudge – they signed me up for a student ambassador trip to Europe through People to People International. The experience offered the opportunity to take college-level classes and receive credit. I signed up for a photography and writing course and purchased my very first DSLR camera.
Little did I know it was the start of something huge. I returned from my time in Europe with a whole new direction for my future – I was going to be a photojournalist. I submitted an application to the Journalism School at the University of Missouri – Columbia and was accepted. Throughout my time at Mizzou, I worked for Mizzou Creative, the University’s communications department. I photographed everything from an autism awareness 5K to Concerned Student 1950 protests in the wake of Ferguson to collegiate sporting events and everything in between.
I graduated with my photojournalism degree and accepted a job in Park City, Utah at The Park Record newspaper as their sole photographer. It was a dream come true. As The Park Record’s photographer, I came to know and love an amazing community that embraced me and my talents. I expanded my freelance career and began photographing families, high school seniors, local nonprofit events, and weddings.
After more than five years with the paper, I have moved on to work with the Park City Municipal Corporation where I produce photography, videography, and graphic design, manage newsletter blasts and oversee social media all while continuing my freelance career and living in Park City. A dream!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Nothing worth having comes easy.” I would say this rings true for journalism and photography. I’ve had my fair share of folks saying that “Journalism is a dying career.” I was stuffed away in my high school journalism class and overshadowed by the golden student who could seemingly do everything from writing and editing to photography.
It felt like I could never have a chance to have my passion and my work seen. Looking back, I see it was only fuel to the fire. These naysayers propelled me to work harder at my craft and to believe in myself when no one else would. In recent years, it’s seemed rather dim…the public is losing trust in the news media, more and more people are claiming to be “photographers” with the aid of the newest iPhone, TikTok is taking over and algorithms are pushing static visual artists off the table.
I think for many journalists and photographers we feel like we’re drowning. Pushed to the brink of our creativity. But perhaps it’s a new opportunity. I’ve worked long hours… as early as 3:00 a.m. and as late as 1:00 a.m. to get the job done. I’ve put myself in uncomfortable positions and have put my work out there for criticism.
Was it all worth it? Absolutely. I’d love to talk with high school Tanzi and tell her to keep her chin up because it gets better. You will make it!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In my career as a photographer, I’ve always prided myself on doing a little bit of everything. In my role at The Park Record, I was able to really perfect my “everything” skills as I was tasked with taking portraits of our elected officials, photographing community events, and covering the Olympic Trials.
This quality, I think, sets me apart from other photographers because I don’t really tend to shy away from a subject matter. I have my weak points, sure, but I’m game and confident for anything. While being able to do a little bit of this and a little bit of that is great, my biggest loves are sports photography and landscape photography.
I’m most proud of my drive and my passion for what I do. It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning and propels me to keep improving.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk, in 2022, can mean many things. For me, risk most recently means shifting my career path. I took a leap of faith out of the strict world of journalism into the world of government communications. It was scary, but I know it was right. You will grow where you are planted. Risk in 2020, for me, looked like continuing my normal life.
I was thrust into the world as a photojournalist at the height of a global pandemic. I was without PPE and the world was large without any information about how to keep ourselves safe. It was very risky and very scary. The thought of contracting COVID-19 and not being able to do my job, leaving the paper photographer-less, was too much to bear some days.
Risk in the “before times” looked like putting myself in situations I had never been in before. Photographing a new subject manner, using flash in a different way and hoping it would turn out. Looking back on this now, it seems like no risk at all.
Pricing:
- I offer 1-hour family sessions in the Park City area starting at $400. Mini-sessions start at $250.
- I photograph small weddings and engagements. Email me for pricing and details!
- I offer a 2022 mini calendar for $20.
- I offer prints of my work. Please email for pricing details.
Contact Info:
- Email: iznatimages@gmail.com
- Website: tanziphoto.com
- Instagram: @iznat_images
- Facebook: facebook.com/iznatimages
- Twitter: twitter.com/_TheTanz
- Other: iznatimages.wordpress.com
Image Credits
iZnat Images Photography
