Unpacking Human Behavior: Meet Rina Mintz
Written by Daphne Bryant
Image courtesy of Taryn Segal
Introducing RINA MINTZ, a New York photographer whose intimate photos simultaneously shock and soothe. Her pictures are a vibrant vessel for storytelling, and though she got her start in photography fairly recently, her passion projects expertly touch on the complexities of growing up as a young woman. READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH RINA BELOW!
Q1: Hi Rina! I’m sooo excited about this interview because I’ve been following your work for a long time. First things first: how did you get into photography?
A; Yay, Im so excited too, hi! I got into photography around two, almost three(wow I just realized it's almost three) years ago when my friend got me a $30 Canon PowerShot off of eBay. I still used that PowerShot up until April of this year actually. Since I was a kid, art has always been a huge part of my life. My mom’s an artist and I always wanted to be like her. I'm scared of birds because she's scared of birds. I went from drawing to painting, then back to drawing during COVID, but since I would always draw faces and couldn't see faces anymore (because of quarantine), I was super uninspired and took a big break from art until an interest in photography sparked.
Image courtesy of Rina Mintz
Q2: Wow! You’re crazy talented (like I’m actually begging for you to do a DWG shoot one day)! How has your distinctly introspective photography style evolved over the years?
A: First of all...I would be beyond honored to shoot for DWG just say the word and we WILL make it happen. Second, I think my intentions with photography over the years have stayed the same. I've always tried to capture people how they want to be captured. I let people wear what they want (with the exception of black and white for editing reasons), where they want, with who, etc. Naturally, over the years I have become more comfortable in shooting and working with people. I have always been more introverted but working with people so intimately and so often has brought me out of my shell a lot. Because of that I am way better at being decisive when it comes to shooting. What's good, what's not working, when to move on, what type of lighting to use, what poses work, and what doesn't.
Q3: What three words would you use to describe your art?
A; Intimate, tender, and young.
Q4: What exactly is it about human portraits that you’re so drawn to?
A: It can be so intimate and vulnerable. I love it. One time somebody told me that it looks like I'm friends with everyone I photograph because of the comfort and ease that comes through in the result and I've held onto it ever since. That's my goal. People are so complex and beautiful; I'm honored to be the one to document them and make these beautiful people feel beautiful. It makes me happy giving people tangible real memories of themselves in this way.
Q5: Out of all the photography projects you’ve done, which one is your favorite and why is that?
A: #OfAnAge is easily my favorite photography project that I have ever done. In 2023 I watched the Australian film Of An Age on the plane ride back home from a trip and cried so much. The movie was a story about a teenager having an unexpected and hyper intense one day romance with his friend's older brother. It inspired me to start this photo series called #OfAnAge. This“ age” that has no assigned number is filled with lust, innocence, curiosity, confidence, change, sex, maturity, friendship, and firsts of all kinds. Here's a little bit about it.
“ Starting back in August of 2023, this project revolves around the idea of young intimacy, as well as that pressure to do the most, a sensation synonymous with the theme of this project, and a feeling that can be observed throughout the series, this is about lust and the sexual tension that comes with being young and“ in love”—whatever your‘ in love' may look like— however the photos showcased in this series also draw attention to that soft spot and sincerity present in all of us, that comes with your first's experiences during adolescence” from Rambler Magazine.
“It inspired me to start this photo series called #OfAnAge. This ‘age’ that has no assigned number is filled with lust, innocence, curiosity, confidence, change, sex, maturity, friendship, and firsts of all kinds.”
Image courtesy of Rina Mintz
Q6: Love that. Do you feel, as an artist, that there’s still growing to do?
A: Oh totally. I've only been doing this for about two years now and there are so many more years I want. I'm still young in this and in general, I know there's so much to learn and I'm looking forward to all of it.
Q7: As someone who loves tangible media, I think it’s so cool that you published a photo book/zine. What was that process like? Did you distribute it?
A: Thank you so much! The story is that two summers ago I met my friend, Benjamin. We both were into photography pretty casually I'd say, and both wanted to do photo books so we started parallel working on our zines, raising them like kids together. I went through so many drafts, so many different titles and soooo, so many different concepts. I landed on Homesick. Home is scattered in pieces across people and places all over the world for me. After a year of working on it I had a magazine release with a friend AND great photographer- Noam Oster. I sold out that day.
Q8: Congratulations! I know that photos aren’t your only passion; I did some stalking and discovered that you wrote and directed a short film called Desire?! What’s the premise?
A: YES! Desire is a film that sprouted from a dream I had back in September. It takes place over winter break and it's about two girls that meet at a CVS looking to buy vibrators, and to break the awkwardness they start up a conversation. From there starts a rollercoaster of confusing feelings, attachment, friendship but also a little more, and independence. We shot it back in January over the course of a very intensive two weeks. Oh and it actually might be getting released soon...stay tuned for more on that though!
Q9: Seems like you’re always creating work about the human experience. Let’s talk about the Deisre screening in June of this year! That event looked amazing online, how did it go?
A: Yes! It went great. Everyone was so sweet and had such kind things to say about the film. This was the first time I wasn’t transporting and setting up everything completely alone. I had my friends Taylor and Jalissa to help, so shout out to them. It was a very overwhelming process and of course there were inevitably a few hiccups, but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
Image courtesy of Taryn Segal
Q10: How is your photo and video work intertwined, if at all?
A: I think I’d definitely say my photo and video work are intertwined. I’d like to think I tell stories through photos, and the video work I do does that but in a more direct and in your face kind of way.
Q11: What artistic accomplishment would you say you’re most proud of?
A: I think I'm the proudest of Desire. It isn't perfect but it's a product of hard, long work from such a beautiful team. We are all great friends now and from a professional perspective, I am so proud of everyone involved. Although stressful, seeing a script that I wrote come to life the way it did made the stress feel so small in it all. It was also the first time I really shot something, I was involved in so many aspects of it so it just feels extremely personal watching back.
Q12: Finally, what advice would you give to other young women hoping to start their own passion projects?
A: Do what you want. And do the things you think you kind of maybe like until you figure out what you want. Make the most out of everything, and if you're going to do something, do it fully.
