Meet Andrea (Dre) Carbone

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea (Dre) Carbone.

Andrea, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Photography was something I never really thought about pursuing until recently. It started out as a simple way to document my memories while I was in college. I’ve never had the best memory so I would snap pictures of pretty much anything that would catch my eye; the stunning curve of a sports car, food that was to disappear only minutes later, the imperfect path of a trail winding through the woods, the sleek lines of a Skyscraper. But my pictures were just files on my phone that held value for only myself, I never really shared them with anyone else. I loved being able to keep memories even though I hardly posted anything online. It was my method of enjoying the moment while also having the ability of reliving it later.

Four years ago, when I moved here from New Hampshire, photography became a way to give my friends and family a glimpse of my new journey in Arizona. Phone cameras were progressively getting better and better, so I just took photos everywhere I went. By using only my phone’s camera and Instagram, I could share my new home without the burden of airfare. There were so many new sights that I wasn’t used to seeing. My normal drive around Londonderry, NH had consisted of local apple orchards, squirrels, curved roads, and winter potholes. These were quickly replaced with cacti and palm trees everywhere I went. Mountains now lined the horizon and the daily sunsets were more spectacular than some of the best sunsets I had ever witnessed previously. Pictures were the easiest way I could share that.

Over this past year, photography has played a completely different role in my life by providing me with a hobby and creative outlet in a time when I needed one the most. A little over a year ago, my life took a very unexpected turn and I lost my dad. Finding inspiration to leave the house during this time was admittedly, extremely difficult, especially on days I didn’t have work to distract myself with. I spent too many hours cooped up on the couch, watching TV to pass the time. Unfortunately, I had lost sight of all the wonderful things our world has to offer, the things I had been so excited about when first moving to Arizona. But I knew it was time for a change. So, this past November, I decided to occupy my time with something more productive. I finally upgraded to a real camera instead of relying on my phone. More importantly, I made a promise to myself that I would get outside of the house and out of my head. I began sharing my photos to the world more frequently and started using Instagram more seriously. Whether it was taking new pictures or sharing old ones, editing and sharing became more natural and more fun. I think that’s when I kind of realized that I wanted to do this for real. That, and seeing other people posting BEAUTIFUL pictures all the time on social media, it made me think, “Why can’t I do this, too?”

To keep myself accountable, I made it my new year’s resolution to post a picture on Instagram every day. Family and friends back home, and out here, have been messaging me about how they’re excited to see my next post and how happy they are to see me doing something I love. In a time where life had brought me down, photography has truly given me a new purpose. Taking pictures has brought me joy where it was hard to find any. But more importantly, if I can put a smile on someone’s face other than mine, I think that’s a pretty cool gift.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Besides the obvious, I think it’s been a relatively smooth road for me, but there have been a few hurdles.

The biggest obstacle when I first started, as I’m sure many would agree, was to be vulnerable and put myself out there without fear. It was hard to get past the insecurities that came with worrying about what other people might think. My photos mean a lot to me and I got nervous that others might not reciprocate them the way I’d like. But once I started posting things and getting so much positive feedback, this fear has subsided quite a bit.

Creating a brand for myself has also been a challenge. I’m interested in so many different photography styles, so choosing a niche or particular style for myself has been near impossible.

Another setback is transitioning between phone to camera. The sheer number of buttons and functions on a DSLR camera compared to a phone camera is quite overwhelming. It’s a learning process and I use “auto” mode a little more than I should, but I’ll get there!

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I just realized I never really introduced myself! My name is Andrea, but a lot of my friends call me Dre for short. Outside of photography, I graduated a few years ago with a doctorate of pharmacy and have spent my time in Arizona working as a retail pharmacist; technically I’m Dr. Dre. I’m known for my music.

Haha just kidding about the music part.

In regards to photography style, I tend to gravitate towards taking pictures from a perspective that many viewers may not have seen otherwise. I love when I can share things that cause people to think and question what exactly they’re looking at.

Overall though, I find that my most of my photos depict the smaller picture rather than, the bigger picture. For instance, you’ll probably see me focusing on a few windows, rather than an entire building. I also find close-ups that really let you see the texture of various objects absolutely fascinating. Life is so fast paced these days that not a lot of people stop to focus (pun intended) on the details.

As someone who’s fairly new to the photography world, I’m not sure exactly which path I’ll end up choosing, but I can’t wait to experiment and find new techniques and styles along the way!

Do you feel luck has played a role in your life?
I’m extremely fortunate to have such a supportive group of friends and family. Many of them encouraged me from all the way across the country to further pursue photography. I know that not everyone has this in their life and I’m beyond grateful for their persistence and constant support.

I’m also not sure how I got lucky enough to be chosen for this opportunity when there are many others who have been doing this longer or are more talented. I can only hope that I did my due diligence by taking this interview and being as honest and vulnerable as possible. This experience has forced me to examine my journey in a way that I probably never would have. Truly, I want to thank Voyage Phoenix Magazine for allowing me to have this platform for personal and professional growth. Is this an Oscar speech? Cue the music.

Jokes aside, thank you. I’m incredibly humbled.

Contact Info:

• Email: andreac1390@gmail.com
• Instagram: @itwasallandream

Image Credit:
Byron Mosley, IG: @shrunkenheadphotography

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