“If you can still wake up and be super excited about what you’re doing, you’re probably doing the right thing.”
AJ Marino is a freelance photographer and the owner of AJ Marino LLC, where he loves to tell stories about the community he loves in his photos. His incredible work has provided him with opportunities to work for brands like ESPN and The Wall Street Journal, while also donating thousands of his earnings to local and national non-profit environmental organizations.
Congratulations to this week’s 40 under 40 honoree, AJ Marino!
Can you tell us a little about your responsibilities and accomplishments in your current position?
Well I get to tell stories about my community for a living so that is pretty damn cool. I am a freelance photographer that creates advertisements, executes editorial assignments, and captures moments of triumph and defeat. I try not to romanticize what I do too much, but I truly feel like it is my contribution to something greater than myself. I knew that if I committed myself wholeheartedly into photography that I could strike a balance where I was able to live in Tahoe, and not have to sacrifice my intentions on what type of work I wanted to do. Since committing to myself I have been able to work for some amazing brands including: ESPN, XGames, Bose, The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, The US Ski Team, and K2 Skis.
What has been your favorite professional moment in the last year?
I seriously believe that everyday a small business owner wakes up and doesn’t have to close their doors is an accomplishment. I think just being able to work freelance and make it work has been one of the greatest opportunities I could ask for. Especially in Tahoe, which has made me so much more willing to help out other small businesses. Specifically I walked into Roadrunner in Meyers last winter to see my photo on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle. I remember being totally caught off guard, like whoa… thats… thats my photo, and I bought 5 copies. Then it started happening a lot more, where I’d see my work somewhere and be surprised. I still get super gitty about it, and I think that’s the keystone to any successful career, If you can still wake up and be super excited about what you’re doing, you’re probably doing the right thing.
Do you have a professional/life mantra that you live by?
I suppose I have two that stay on my desk all the time to remind myself.
“Ships are safe in the harbor, but that is not what ships are for” I think about that one a lot. Ships are built to be beat and battered in the open sea, they’re built to weather storm after storm. So are we… but we can’t spend our entire lives in the harbor to avoid the storm. We have to be out there and open to getting beat up time after time. The storm is where growth happens, where ideas originate, and the magic happens. The harbor is just a bunch of gross, stale, and polluted water.
The second one taped to my deck is: “Simplicity is the keynote to all true elegance” If you do everything as simply as you can, you move in a sort of elegance. This especially translates to the images I create. Just a reminder to keep things simple, in and outside of work.
Who is your role model?
This is tough, I suppose first and foremost my Dad has played a pretty big role in what I look up to. He has this sort of forward thinking intelligence to him that really intrigues me. He also will out work anyone in this world if you let him. Since I was a little kid I really looked up to him, and I wouldn’t have been able to build my business without his critical thinking and creativity. My Mom also had a huge impact by teaching me compassion, respect, and some of the war tactics needed in business.
Some photographers that I really look up to are:
Tyler Mitchell
Corey Rich
Wynn Ruji
David Burnett
Platon
Robert Clark
Why choose Tahoe to make your home and career?
There is truly no other place like Tahoe! I love being able to catch a pow day in the morning and head to work, or an afternoon cruise on the boat after a long day. If you can make it happen in Tahoe, there is no better place to balance work and life.
Are you active in any volunteer roles or community groups?
As of 2020 my company has been a 1% for the planet member for 5 years! Over those five years I have been able to donate thousands of dollars to local and national non-profit environmental organizations. I believe that I should be in business for good, and anytime I can help reduce our carbon footprint or produce content for a local non-profit, I love to. This past year I was so excited to help the Meyers Community Foundation create a video for their mission, along with the League to Save Lake Tahoe.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Probably skiing… honestly sometimes skiing trumps work, and sometimes skiing is work. I love skiing, I love skiing pow, backcountry, park, groomers, I love all of skiing. In the summer I trade in the skis for my bikes. Either road or mountain, I try to ride everyday to keep me sane, plus it is a ton of fun. Climbing, Fly Fishing, and Thru Hiking are up there too, Tahoe is the best playground!
Where are your favorite South Shore stomping grounds?
Sierra at Tahoe, catch me there all winter long, I try to be there everyday but sometimes it rains. On a corned up spring ski day I like being on Tallac or some other steep peaks. After that it’s drinks at the Divided Sky or the Hangar. I love being at Blue Granite climbing gym whenever I can. In the summer, I love being in Desolation, Star Lake, or swimming in big blue.