Meet Dominick Gatto | Professional Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dominick Gatto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dominick, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve been an avid hunter and outdoorsman since I was a child. Growing up, my father would take me on hikes and hunting trips – I loved every minute spent in the wilderness. I eventually went to college, studied photography and marketing, and started my own local photography business. For years it was a successful business, however when the COVID-19 pandemic started business slowed down considerably. With more free time, I started taking my camera gear with me on hikes and scouting runs for hunting season. For fun, I started an Instagram page to share some of my whitetail deer photographs, and the reception was incredible. One particular day, someone sent me a message asking to purchase a print of one of my photographs. “Can you make me a 16×24 canvas?” they asked, and I said “Of course!”, not exactly knowing how I would price or deliver it. That being said, I started researching print labs and ordering expedited samples until I was satisfied with the quality. The client asked me how much it would cost, and I threw out a number I thought was reasonable for the time spent capturing the photograph as well as the material costs: $450. To my surprise, the client immediately agreed and sent the funds, and I shipped the canvas. That’s when I realized I didn’t just have a hobby, I had a business..

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What really set me apart from other people is my editing style. Instead of bright and vibrant photographs of nature, I had a different idea: why not show the moody, impactful, and seldom seen side of nature? I started by taking photographs in dense forests during the early morning or late evening, so the light was just enough to capture a photograph but smooth enough to give me a more dynamic depth. I then edited the photographs to make the subjects stand out – separating them from everyday snapshots. My background in hunting has taught me about how hunters view nature, and my work seemed to resonate with that particular group. It wasn’t easy editing thousands of photographs only to pick a handful, but each time I started at square one with the intention of learning something new along the way. Over time, organizing and editing photographs became as easy as flipping pages in a book. It is now to the point where I can take a photograph and immediately know what steps I’m going to take to turn it into a piece of artwork.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Abstain from this question – I can’t say I’m much of a city guide! I’d end up directing my friends to the side of a campfire with a glass of whiskey and a good cigar.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate this shout-out to Matt and Gus from Whiskey and Whitetails, who have been part of my business since the beginning. They had me as a guest on their podcast, brainstormed products, and have introduced me to networking contacts within the hunting and outdoors industry. There are many others that have been a large part of my work, but Matt and Gus have helped me grow my business more than any others.

Website: www.DomGattoPhoto.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Dom.iwc

Twitter: DomGattoPhoto

Facebook: DomGattoWildlife