I’m Natalie Amrossi, Photographer, and This Is How I Work
Natalie Amrossi’s future is in doubt. She left her growing career in finance to pursue her interest in photography and now spends most of her time photographing city skylines from rooftops and helicopters.
Her photographs often depict cityscapes from above, revealing order and organization in architectural landscapes that only become apparent from afar. Living in New York City, Manhattan is her most frequent subject; she has a lot of social media followers under the name Misshattan . This is a classic, albeit rare, story of how to quit a stable career in pursuit of passion and actually succeed. We spoke with Amrossi to find out how she works.
Location: New York. Current Job: Photographer, currently photographing various public spaces for Instagram’s marketing team. One word that best describes the way you work: Ebullience. Current mobile device: iPhone 7 Plus. Current computer: iMac.
Tell us a little about how you became a photographer. You’ve worked in finance before, haven’t you?
I graduated from college in 2011 with a degree in finance. I was lucky enough to get a great job at JP Morgan and soon after that I moved to Manhattan. While I did not always have the highest quality equipment, I have always had a deep interest and curiosity in photography. My first DSLR was the Canon T3i, and in the beginning it was just a passion – something to distract myself from. When I started getting followers on Instagram , I started getting messages from brands to do more professional work. It slowly increased with each job, and before I knew it, I was doing a prime time gig for a major car manufacturer.
I photographed one of the cars all night, and when the sun came up, I was dragging my ass to work. I could not concentrate on my work; all I could think of was how the photos came out a few hours before. This was probably the defining moment when I realized that I could no longer deal with finances. I felt like I had enough craving for my freelance photography that I could make it work. I spoke with several family members and friends and they were careful but supportive. I sent in two weeks’ notice and this was the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I couldn’t be happier, despite the difficulties that freelance photography faces.
What apps, software or tools can’t you live without?
Oh god, where to start. If we’re talking about completely irreplaceable software, that’s Adobe Lightroom . I am constantly editing photos, and even if I am not, I have to. I must have about 20,000 photos that I haven’t even looked at yet. If you catch me on the computer, chances are I have Lightroom open.
Other apps I usually rely on come to mind: Moleskine Calendar (iOS), Dropbox, Google Drive, Hootsuite, and Spotify. I also rely heavily on the basics: Mail, Pages, Safari, Notes; I’m deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem and really enjoy the synergy between apps. I sometimes use Google Docs when collaborating with someone. I also just bought a Philips Hue starter kit so I can make my room look like a Hotline Bling music video and scold Siri for turning on my light before she gets sane.
How is your workplace arranged?
In my home office (where I do most of my work), I have an iMac, a tiny aloe plant, a USB hub, a notebook with tasks written / crossed out in Sharpie, a Western Digital My Book Duo (12TB), and a candle with a nice scent to cheer up. On the road, I use my MacBook Air, which I plan to update as soon as Apple updates its line of laptops.
What’s your best time-saving shortcut or life hack?
My biggest time-saver only concerns photographers. I’ve created my own presets to suit my photography style to help me cut my editing time. I have noticed that beginners and seasoned photographers are intimidated to create their own presets, but that is priceless. You may not have a set of settings overnight, they take time to evolve (pun intended) when you find your style. As far as a life hack that anyone can use is Stephen Covey’s (author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People ) Time Management Table [also known as the Eisenhower Matrix]. Keep doing important, but not urgent, tasks to avoid spinning wheels or repairing damage.
What are the settings for your custom presets?
For those who don’t know, custom presets are essentially like more sophisticated Instagram filters. They are a template for different levels of contrast, saturation, histogram / light curves, shadows, highlights, and more. By using custom presets, you can more easily capture a specific style and aesthetics for your photos.
What’s your favorite to-do list manager?
Pen and paper; There is nothing better than crossing things off my to-do list!
Besides your phone and computer, what device or tool can’t you live without and why? Except for your camera!
Oddly enough to say: “My car.” I became a Cadillac representative last year and drove a new CT6 . When I first moved to Manhattan, I was forced to sell my car, but Cadillac was kind enough to provide me with a car for the duration of my contract (I was still pondering it myself) and that was a game changer. Often times I need to travel to remote areas of the city with a suitcase full of gear, and public transport just doesn’t work. The car also has massage chairs, which is a fantastic way to end a long day of hauling equipment.
Tell me about your camera. What is your camera? What lenses do you usually use?
I work strictly with Canon hardware (even lenses). My favorite camera is the Canon 5D Mark III , although I appreciate the new Mark IV very positively. I mainly use the 24-70mm lens because of its versatility. When I go to shoot, it is very important for me to travel light. There is usually little space in the helicopter, and if I’m on the rooftops, there is usually a lot of walking and climbing. If it was up to me, I would take my entire arsenal of gear with me, but minimalism is usually necessary.
I am really interested in purchasing the new DJI Mavic Drone . These things have really come a long way in such a short time. And I was flirting with the idea of doing a YouTube video blog, so I have to invest in a decent stabilizer.
It looks like you spend a lot of time in a helicopter. Tell me about it.
I like looking at the city from above. My passion first started from the rooftops, and then the local helicopter company saw my photos and asked me to fly over. I was very excited but had no idea how much more I would fall in love with the city if I simply changed my point of view. After the first flight, I was hooked. The adrenaline rush when looking at New York from the sky cannot be explained, you can only survive. The rise in the air instilled in me an unwavering passion for aerial photography and changed the way I view photography as an art.
Do you happen to know which helicopter is usually used for such work?
Depending on the location, I fly TwinStar , R-44 , and sometimes R-22 – of course, all planes must be without doors.
What are some of your best everyday activities? What’s your secret?
Oh, it’s hard. I may not be the best at this, but I realize how grateful I am for doing what I love. Regardless of the concert, I will never forget the luxury that I can wake up every day and indulge in my passion. It’s a truly liberating feeling, and I’m not going to let it fade away. I must add to avoid clichés: just because I follow my passion doesn’t mean I don’t have bad days, it’s just part of life.
You have become very popular on social media. Do you see this as a means to an end – that is, focus will also be on new performances – or is it fun and purposeful regardless of the job?
I would not call it a means to an end. I would say that this is a necessary means of influence. This exposure could lead to a different social media platform, it could lead to a different way of displaying my photos, or it could fail and force me to turn around. While most of my exposure comes from Instagram , it keeps me from fulfilling all my dreams. This, of course, can help in the process of achieving the goal, but it is not enough, despite the need. I think all artists rely on social media as a platform to be successful in one way or another. We live in a digital world, and this is an important tool, but by no means is it enough.
As for making it fun and purposeful regardless of work, yes and no. I always smile when my followers comment and tell me I inspired them, but keeping track of my account and tracking metrics is definitely more exhausting than the average Instagram user who just wants to show their friends a cool photo they took. … I will always enjoy it, but there are times when it seems that I am in control of something, and not the free expression of my photo without consequences.
What do you listen to while you work?
I love music almost as much as I love photography. Together – I am one happy girl. I love to listen to everything while I’m editing. I listen to almost everything from old 1950s songs to explosive Kanye. If memorization of obscene texts was a superpower, I would have signed a contract with Marvel for three films.
What are you reading now?
I’m not reading anything at the moment, but I recently reread The Alchemist . Coelho touches on the topic of pursuing your dream, and it really resonates with me. It seems to me that I live according to the mantra of the book, and everyone should try to experience it at least once in their life. I believe that following your dreams is an endless process. Once you’ve reached a certain goal, it’s easy to relax or stop. “Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” It’s kind of a cliché, but it’s true nonetheless.
How do you replenish?
Homemade food, a good movie (I am a lover of movies that can make me feel emotional) and an uninterrupted night’s rest. This last piece has been revolutionized thanks to the blackout curtains I recently installed in my apartment. Do yourself a favor and get them for catching the matchless Zs (though make sure you have a loud alarm).
What is your sleep pattern?
To be honest, I miss having a regular sleep schedule as I am constantly traveling in different time zones. I prefer to get up early and have a good start to the day, but I tend to be a night owl.