Meet Peter Martin | Photographer

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

Hi Peter, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I came down to south Florida in fall of 2000 for college, I had no clue what I wanted to be and over a decade spent in undergrad and working nightclubs proved that.
Now, as a photographer I travel to stunning locations with wonderful, interesting, artistic people and experience the beauty of our states fashion production, architecture and nature. The wealth of art deco, mid century modern, Spanish architecture and modern luxury real estate is a photographers dream . South Florida is a magnet for some of the top talent in the world, enabling a lens to stay busy and creative. Living out by the everglades; it is easy to have a work life balance. Nature has its own pace, and its not the chaos of the city or a production schedule. The Everglades are a constant source of inspiration and peace, bringing me balance through daily walks with my two best friends, my wife and my dog.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an artist you have one mind and one goal but it is vital not to be too ridged. Like Bruce Lee said “Empty your mind, be formless, be like water, flow”. That means when hardship comes, family troubles , covid, difficult shoots, or unworkable weather, you pivot through it. You take your skill set and you add to it. Education, in all its forms can never be overlooked, if you want to truly be free to create, you must master your tools and strive to understand how all things are connected. Don’t pigeonhole yourself into only one line of technology or methodology. If A.I. has taught me anything so far, it’s that everything is changing rapidly and a wide breadth of knowledge is vital to maintaining relevancy . Above all, stay humble, from a place of gratitude everything is a gift or opportunity to improve.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
After almost a quarter century in south Florida, it’s difficult to sum up a one weeks itinerary that even attempts to showcase all that we have down here. But a few points of interest, would definitely have to be sunrise on Seven Mile Bridge, lunch at Square Grouper in Cudjoe Key, a lazy afternoon at the old Spanish Monastery in Aventura, Vizcaya during the witching hour, sunset on the levees by Markham Park . Watching the tide go out at Bill Baggs State Park and the dolphins it carries with it, dancing in the waves. Mating season cant be missed in Shark Valley, it becomes the MET Gala of the everglades, literally any fashionable everglades critter shows up, it’s an impressive display of the diversity of our local ecosystem. The rooftop at Club 50 over the 4th of July is magical, nothing like being surrounded by fireworks and excellent tunes. No night life trip in South Florida would be complete without a 2 a.m. visit to Harold at E11EVEN or a 6 a.m. bodega run for empanadas and papa rellenas .

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I met my mentor and friend, Christian Alexander one fateful night behind the bar at a very crowded club on Miami Beach . Within a few years, our friendship began to spill into production sets and campaigns with major labels and magazines, places I would never have dreamed a hobby would take me. Which brings me to the point of valuable feedback and how you use it. Anyone can tell you that you’re great and pat you on the back, a true friend see’s something more in you, and has the ability to articulate it and bring it out in you. The value of constructive criticism is what elevates your interest from a hobby to a job. Christian saw in me things that made sense to him, that allowed him to open opportunities for me. It didn’t come right away, mentorship is a two-way street, you listen to constructive criticism; you grow from it and they see your growth. Those kinds of doors don’t open automatically but Christian was a huge inspiration and guiding force early on and I will forever be grateful.

Website: https://MangoParadiseProductions.com

Instagram: MangoParadiseProuctions

Image Credits
Sunset Silhouette = Johanna Chone, editorial Everglades
Mountaintop chair = Johanna Chone, made with adobe a.i
Aura Copeland = North Miami editorial
Green Floral Print Runway = Ivany Guzman ,Saks 5th ave for John Martinez Productions
Floral twirl, gray background = Harlan Drum, assisting Christian Alexander for Venice Magazine
Man in Tub = Mathew Doyle, Shot for Front Management
Man at Piano = Drew Hanley editorial, Venice Magazine, Front Management