Meet Tricia Meteer | EQX photo Fine Art , Wedding and Portrait Photographer

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

Hi Tricia, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks has been the single most rewarding aspect and driving force of my career as a
Photographer and entrepreneur.
During the Covid shut downs I was forced to stop shooting weddings and pivot. It was challenging financially because I had 20 animals to feed. During that time I added more Airbnb rentals to my small farm and grew my home products division for EQX LUXE and fine art. It gave me a break from shooting people and I focused solely on animals.

I LOVE telling love stories, however horses were always my 1st love. Suddenly when a buyer came in and offered to buy my farm and rental business, I took a huge risk and sold it! I took a year and a half off to travel Texas and shoot a menagerie of animals, including zebras, horses, kangaroos, giraffes and a herd of very rare white buffalo. It was a remarkable experience and one of the best risks I ever took.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I originally studied film photography but then took a 10 year detour and became an executive in the cosmetics industry. After the company downsized and I was laid off, I used my acquired business knowledge, a portion of my severance and 401k to buy the right equipment and build the brand. I balanced between shooting horses and weddings which is an unusual combination but I absolutely loved the adventures it took me on.

Throughout my career I have always dedicated a portion of my proceeds to horse and dog rescue. In 2013 Wanda Goldberg and I started a t-shirt company called Cowgirls for a Cause. We used my photography to create a collection of apparel, gifts and greeting cards and donated a portion to horse and wild horse rescue. We were luckliy enough to sell barnd s after 3 years and it was such fun experience!

Then in 2020 the Covid mandatory shut down forced the stop of weddings and I realized I needed a creative break from the fast paced wedding industry. I spent that time down sizing my life and exploring Texas where I reunited with Wanda and her non profit, Wanda’s Wee Zoo. I was lucky enough to photograph some of the rarest and endangered exotic animals in the US. Some of my favorites were a Przewalski Horse, an endangered native horse once extinct and has ancestors 160,000 years old.
I also was incredibly lucky to shoot a few white buffalo, which are 1 in 12 million in the wild. The whole experience was truly life changing.

Now settled back on the California Coast and am so revitalized and plan to divide my time between weddings and animals. My goal for this year, is the opportunity to continue shooting wild horses while adding in wolves, bears and foxes. As always a portion of profits will continue to help horse rescue and bring awareness to endangered animals. The lesson I learned along the way was how important it is to combine your passions and art and continue to expand as an artist. While I was lucky enough to shoot 30 weddings a year it was causing burn out, I now know the importance of balance and never forgetting why you started shooting in the 1st place.

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?
Oh gosh! This is a hard one! As a photographer in one weekend I will sometimes travel total
300 miles on different shooting locations. Last weekend I was in Del Mar Beach- SanDiego, then Temecula wine country and ended on Sunday in Los Angeles. But.. ok. I got it!

Day one, we’d start out with a morning hike in Joshua Tree, then make our way south west with a stop in Idyllwild to see the giant pines and a MUST HAVE kiss from Max, the golden retriever Mayor! Next we will wind our way south to Temecula wine country for some nice wine tasting then dinner. Doffo, Akash and Somerset winery are some of my favs.

The next day would be a fun photoshoot on the beach in front of the Hotel Del, then make your way up the coast visiting La Jolla Wind and Sea beach for epic photos on their moss covered rocks, In the eve catch the sunset in Del Mar/Solana beach. I love Pacific Coast grill.

Day 4 is breweries in Vista then back to the coast to shop in Encinitas and Carlsbad. Ending the day at the Top Gun house at Oceanside Pier for more photos (of course) and finish up with drinks and food at the roof top bar at Mission Pacific Hotel . I also love Local Tap House as well! When you travel with me there are lots of photos and lots of eating!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My three girl friends have played such a pivotal role in my decisions over the last years my journey as a photographer changed and evolved. I could not do this job without my tribe. I have amazing friends and family who have supported my many moves and zip codes in the last 3 years.
First, Wanda Goldberg who had moved to Texas before me and gave me a soft place to land there. She had been with me on so many of my previous animals shoots in CA, and again in Texas. Being an ex stunt woman she often literally had my back if an animal charged or if things got dicey. She now has a non profit called Wanda’s Wee Zoo in Boerne Texas, where she helps rehabilitate endangered and exotic animals.

Christy Loiacono , Wanda and I have been going on adventures together now since 2012 and I am so grateful for their support and fellow love of all things adventurous and furry. Christy has helped me with all my websites, SEO and all things nerdy I just can’t wrap my head around! She is a genius in that department!

Lindsay Manfredi is my soul sister and shares my love of all things, motivational, spiritual and creative. A fellow artist, she helps keep me motivated and centered with our weekly check ins. She is a very talented author, coach and the bass player for the band COLD.

Website: http://www.eqxphoto.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eqxphoto

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eqxphoto

Other:
https://fineartamerica.com/art/tricia+meteer

ETSY https://eqxfineart.etsy.com