Getting to know Gabriele (luna)

I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking with Gabriele also known as Luna. Luna was born and raised in the DMV Area. From a face to face talk, I could tell how genuine and passionate they are about photography. By the end of this interview I was inspired by them to just do things with love. Luna stays in their own lane no matter what and that’s what I love the most

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Washington D.C. but I moved out Prince Georges County in elementary. Now I’m here in the Silver Spring area trying to move out soon.

-LUNA

Do you want to move out of the DMV area?

I was thinking of moving to Atlanta because it is my hot spot right now. I’m really thinking of moving to Atlanta.

-LUNA

What made you want to be a Photographer?

I would say since I was about 5 or 6 years old. When I was younger at family reunions and holidays I was always running around with the camera in my hands and everyone would be like “aye, Gabby come take my pics real quick”. Ever since then I just been involve with taking pictures and capturing moments and emotions. I got my first DSLR in 2017 and got a Nikon d3400 and been going ever since then.

-LUNA

Do you have specific things you like to photograph?

This might sound crazy. I walk around outside and when I’m looking around, I see pictures. I could be looking at buildings or people. I’m just like this is a beautiful picture to take. A lot of the time for other photos, I come up with an idea and I pitch it to someone. That’s how a lot of them came about.
My girlfriend as well her family members wanted to come to me for pictures.

-LUNA

When people come to you do you always pitch ideas or they have their own?

Both. for the most part, people come to me with an idea and I add whatever to bring their vision to life. I don’t want to take away too much from their ideas.

-LUNA

Do you have a specific camera that you like to shoot with?

With the new iPhones, you don’t need a camera, if you want to get into photography get started with your phone. I prefer to use my camera a lot, sometimes when I’m out and I want to take a picture with my phone, I’m like Nah I want to take this with my camera. I love using my Sony Alpha 6000.

-LUNA

Whats your style of editing? Do you edit a lot?

I try to do editing based on the mood or emotions that it’s invoking. A lot of times, I don’t really want to edit and ill just put pre-set edits and make it my own little thing.

-LUNA

What’s your favorite photoshoot you’ve done so far?

My favorite photoshoot so far is with this girl named Alaina, we followed each other on Instagram. She was posting her spiritual journey and, she took classes for it as well. So I pitched an idea to her to do a shoot at the Arboretum and she was like yeah, I’m down. From there, it went so smoothly for her first photoshoot. I didn’t have to direct her much because she already knew what to do. That was my favorite photo shoot that I’ve done.

-LUNA

What type of photography do you want to do? fashion?

I wanna do fashion/street photography, thats my thing. Of course starting off I had to do architecture still-life type of thing because I didn’t have anybody to model then eventually I hopped out of my box and started asking people to shoot.

-LUNA

Is it hard to find people to model for pictures?

Yes, a lot of the time this happens. I will pitch an idea the day before or the day of the photoshoot people would cancel. I’ve had only two installations like that but all of the other ideas I pitched went well. People that pitched their ideas that went well too.


Networking has become so difficult lately. I’ve been having a lot of issues with it and it’s kind of discouraging but eh. I don’t run into a lot of people that think the same as me so I haven’t been pitching. More so, I have been pitching ideas to multi-media studios so I can get the experience, it just hasn’t been working out so I’m going to continue to think of creative ideas and pitch them.

-LUNA

Do you feel like people dont want to pay the prices for work?

I would say im at a point where I feel like I dont want to charge a lot my target audience is my peers. I want to work with people around my age. Im not that type of person to charge a lot. It’s like when you have good quality of work people dont really give you that much slack. See with me im not charging that much but you’re still going to get quality work. I just care about building my portfolio and. networking. I just love taking pictures.

-LUNA

Is there someone that you really want to work with?

Back in 2017 when Carti was at his hype, his photographer Gunner Stahl. I wanted to work closely with him just because of his style. He uses film, I don’t use film. I love how it looks like he’s in the moment of everything. That’s how I want to be.

-LUNA

What are your top 3 Albums?

The Miseducation of Lauryn hill, Illmatic by Nas and Durand Bernarr album Dur&. I don’t really have one favorite artist.

-LUNA

What are your top 3 films?

Love Jones, Brown Sugar and Juice those my top 3. Then I was going to say Love & Basketball.

-LUNA

Do you have any music or films that inspire you in life?

Growing up I was always on Tumblr a lot. 2012-2013 if you were black on Tumblr the majority of the things you would see like Juice, a menace to society, and Love and Basketball. Those are films I grew up on, so seeing the cinematography of those types of films and the emotions captured.
Also, the way they used to dress back in the 90s I’m addicted to it. Going back and seeing the old shoes they used to wear and the type of clothes they used to wear. This inspires me as a photographer streetwear-wise.

-LUNA

Are you thinking of putting out a photography book or something like that soon?

One day! I was thinking about it. My thing is I don’t have one style yet. I don’t have a portfolio full of one niche cause I take pictures of pretty much everything. That’s a good thing maybe that should be why I do the book. So soon Maybe.

-LUNA

Are you working on any new projects?

I’m Thinking of some black and white self-portraits, some emotional photos. That’s one thing that I’m working on right now. Outside of working with anyone else, I haven’t thought of anything else. Lately, I’m just trying to get a studio space, so I can have creative control. Eventually, I want a studio with makeup artists, hairstylists, and photographers. People can come in for a make-over and take pictures. I want to be able to provide opportunities for the makeup artist and the nail artist to the network.

-LUNA

Would you do this in DC or Atlanta?

I was thinking of doing it in Atlanta just because of the networking. I’ve seen people move from the DMV area and expand their businesses in Atlanta. I’ve been in the DC and Maryland area my whole life I’m ready for something different. Even my old neighborhoods I don’t even recognize in D.C. It’s hard to get inspiration from that.

-LUNA

How did you get your picture on a BillBoard?

The LED Baltimore website had a submission for local photographers. I didn’t think I would get chosen but, I entered my work and information. I got an email saying my picture was chosen, to be on the Billboard. I went and saw it. It was amazing honestly. That let me know people see me, the right people see me.

-LUNA

What would you tell other photographers out there?

Stay down, remain ten toes. If you know that you’re good and you put the work in, keep going. Keep practicing. All the Instagram shit, the clout, the followers that don’t matter. Fuck the outside noise keep going. I tell myself that every day.

-LUNA

“Don’t Shrink for anyone. Never apologize for making room for yourself and standing for YOUR truth”

Luna can be found on Instagram:

@luna3three3

@fromlunaseyes