The CreativeLive community is full of incredibly talented individuals, with inspirational stories of how they started doing what they’re doing. One of them is commercial photographer and digital artist Antti Karppinen, who’s one of our Honor Roll members, a group of photographers who we think really stand out. You can read about other Honor Roll members here.
“I love to tell stories with my images,” Antti explains, adding that he’s proud to “belong to a new generation of image artisans, to whom all things are possible.” Antti, who recently moved from Finland to Wales with his family, has written about his creative process and the images that interest him — high-concept and vivid, he says — on websites like PetaPixel and Wonderful Machine. His work runs the gamut, from a campaign for ending the stigma of mental health to shooting the fans (and some of the stars) Cardiff Comic Con. But we wanted to know a little more about him, so we asked him a few questions.
When did your passion become your day job?
I turned into full time photographer around 2008.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned so far?
It is all about networking and finding your own niche and style of doing things. Not to be afraid to fail, but to get up and try again. Sharing what you know to others. Be kind and help others, things will get back to you.
What is your biggest professional challenge?
At the moment by biggest challenge is to start from zero, in a new country/city. I´ve just moved to Cardiff, Wales with my family and I have to start my career here from zero.
When do you feel most creative?
I feel most creative in the mornings, I see lots of dreams and from those dreams I get lots of cool ideas.
What inspires you?
Images, movies, people, history, art .. everything inspires. You never know when you get inspired. You have to keep your eyes open at all times.
What’s your dream?
At the moment my goal/dream is to be the guy who makes Marvel Movie posters, from photography to retouching.
What’s your game plan?
I will try to make unique images, show them to people, network network network. Be open what I do, share all the information I have with others, help people and try to get better all the time.
