Have you ever seen a photograph on wood and wondered how it was made or what inspired the photographer to chose that particular photograph and pair it with maple and not oak? Tori of HolgaContessa shares with us how she started her unique and stunning artwork of combining wood and photography as well as gives new entrepreneurs some tips she wishes she knew when she first started and so much more!

Photography on Wood with HolgaContessa

By Michele of VAMICreations and Tori of HolgaContessa

Of note - This post contains affiliate links, which means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you, should you click through and make a purchase. Please note that I do not recommend products or websites unless I use them or would use them myself. I have spend countless hours on Etsy and love seeing all the small creative businesses on there. :)

What gave you the idea/inspiration to start HolgaContessa?

My first job out of college was at a photography supply company, mainly for film and analog customers. I still loved film and printing. And instead of the formal kind of styles you were taught in school, the employees here did a lot of experimental photography. So this was when I first decided to try out the Holga camera. It’s plastic, has vignetting at the photo corners, and can get light leaks or odd patterns on an image naturally. After taking it on a trip to the Sequoias, I was hooked on its effects, and that’s been my main mode of photography ever since.

How did you get started in photography on wood?

It came to me almost like a lightbulb moment. I’d let my art postings and online shops fall to the side for a few years; the only orders I was getting was for custom work, but working with other people’s requests wasn’t really my thing, since it had nothing to do with my own designs. I knew I’d seen photos or art prints on unconventional surfaces before, so I started researching what it entailed. With my subject focus on travel and nature, putting my photos on wood surfaces seemed like the best option.

How do you choose the wood you work with?

I started out with bulk slices on Amazon, but I soon realized the quality wasn’t always guaranteed, and the slices were thinner than I was comfortable with. They had the potential to crack way too easily. I’ve since found several sellers through Etsy with great quality wood, usually in an assortment: birch, cherry, maple, oak, etc.

How do you choose the designs you create – ie is there something that you take inspiration from when you start a design?

One thing about the Holga is that the end result surprises you, even when you know the subject you’ve framed in the shot, and kind of have an expectation of what you’ll get back when the film is developed. I primarily shoot natural areas, especially within National or State parks, and landmarks. So an interesting and rewarding part of shooting this way is capturing a scene from one of these spots, and then having the end result come out even more unique than it looked from the camera lens, because of the Holga effects.

What is your favorite design to create? Favorite wood to work with?

One of my favorite subjects are trees from recognizable places, like Joshua Trees from from Joshua Tree National Park or the Mojave Desert. I also love a good landscape or cityscape shot, and am starting to document lighthouses whenever I have the chance. I’d love to do a lighthouse series.
As for wood, maple is probably the best for me. That’s the only one I use for my coasters because it’s so durable, and has the lightest background for showing off smaller details.

What would you tell a new photographer for encouragement?

Any kind of creative business is incredibly hard to maintain, and then there are divisions within each creative path, whether it’s photography or painting or sculpture. I know for a fact I’d be in a much different place if I’d gone the route of wedding or portrait photography. They’re more sustainable venues of photography in general, but I would’ve been miserable doing either, and probably quit photography entirely. It’s completely OK to find what suits you best, and even if you have to struggle a bit getting there, in my opinion it’s better to do that than end up hating something you once loved.

What is something you are passionate about and why?

Both travel and nature, which really tie into each other, and both inspire the subjects I most enjoy shooting. I’m not the luxury vacation type, plus I live in a big city, which I need a break from sometimes. Some of my best trips involve just loading up the car with my tent and dog, and going to a new-to-me spot, having a few days under the stars to relax, and coming back with some new shots to develop.

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If you had one (or several) things to share with a woman entrepreneur, what would it be? What would you encourage them about?

I’d say it’s OK to take the time to figure out what merges your vision with a viable profession . I originally tried to sell straight prints and cards, but that’s a pretty oversaturated market. Don’t get discouraged, just keep brainstorming until you have something that’s both enjoyable and brings in viewers and business. Sometimes it can take a few trials to get it down.

What is a lesson learned for being a woman entrepreneur that you wish someone had told you when you first started?

It’s best to get started early. Clarify your idea and direction, and go for it. Have a day job as long as you need while working on your passion, but never get complacent and discouraged. It’s really hard to come out of that.

How has COVID changed or impacted your vision/strategy?

I didn’t feel comfortable selling in person over the pandemic, but taking in-person events out of the equation allowed me to spend more time focusing on the images that were doing well (and so should be making more items with those photos), and sprucing up my Etsy and Amazon shopfronts. They were very disjointed before, but now have a more clean, uniform look. I’ve also started posting to my photography IG account more, to hold followers’ interest.

What is something that has helped you get through during this global pandemic? Something encouraging or positive?

I loved that several creative venues were offering their services in distracting people, especially at the beginning of the pandemic. For example, I have an LA Opera membership, and once in-person events were shut down—and half the season was canceled—they were sending out recordings from previous years, or safely filmed, small scale productions. And I find classical and opera music really relaxing, so that was nice.
I also grew my plant collection, and started learning how to better care for them beyond watering. I had a few prior to the shutdown, but I think I have about 60+ now—all in a 2 bedroom apartment. So my roommate probably wouldn’t see it as positive, but I love all my succulents, cacti, and snake plants!

Fun question – if you could meet one person in history or present, who would it be and why?

Probably Frida Kahlo. She’s one of my favorite painters, and I’d love to speak to another WOC artist. During her lifetime, it was difficult to be any one of a minority, woman, or artist, and she had each factor work for her, even with great hardship. I think she’d be fascinating to talk to.

What is your dream for HolgaContessa to be (where do you see HolgaContessa in 5+ years)?

I’d love for my efforts with The Holga Contessa to occupy a larger part of my life: the ability to spruce up my online storefronts, expand to larger in-person markets, and increase my audience. It would be a dream come true to solely be able to focus on what’s currently my creative side gig, and turn it into a fulltime endeavor.

How can I and my readers help you with your dream for HolgaContessa? ☺

Well, sales are always great :D But even if people can’t buy anything, I really appreciate shares on social media, plus recommending my work to others that would enjoy seeing more of it. I’d love to grow my audience. And if you DO buy anything, reviews are amazing!

Thank you for joining us for this interview with HolgaContessa! And thank you, Tori, for giving us the opportunity to interview you and for sharing your beautiful work!! What have you gotten from HolgaContessa? We’d love to see and share it! Comment below, email us, or tag us on social media and we’ll share it as well!

Have a wonderful and safe week my friend!