EP 96 - FASHION and editorial photography: a chat with rita busa
This week on Summer School, I got to sit down with the insanely talented Rita - a photographer with a style that’s bold, vibrant, and completely her own. Beyond her success, what really stands out is how grounded she is in the idea of experimenting, growing, and trusting the process.
Her Not-So-Typical Start
Rita didn’t follow the “usual” photography path. She’s originally from Latvia and moved to Norway without much of a plan. She bought a camera to capture the mountains, thinking she’d become a nature influencer - but it wasn’t long before photographing friends and working with models in the fashion world pulled her in a totally different direction.
Finding Your Style
Rita’s style is instantly recognizable, but it didn’t happen overnight. She credits a lot of it to her eye for color, which she developed by studying film photography (even though she’s never actually shot film herself). Her advice? Train your taste - look closely at work you admire, pull inspiration from unexpected places, and never stop experimenting.
Harsh Light, Flash, and Making It Work
If you’ve seen Rita’s work, you know she loves playing with bright sun and flash. In Norway, sunny days are rare, so she celebrates them instead of shying away. She’s all about turning what most would see as a challenge into a creative advantage - whether that’s mixing flash with daylight or leaning into rainy-day textures.
Cropping Like an Artist
In her Summer School class, Rita dives deep into the art of cropping - not just what you cut out, but what you intentionally leave in. It’s all about telling a stronger story and sharpening your visual eye through thoughtful framing.
The Power of Test Shoots
One of her biggest creative tools is the test shoot - those self-planned, just-for-you projects with no client expectations. It’s where she experiments, tries new ideas, and plays with concepts that often end up shaping her paid work down the road.
Balancing Business and Passion
Rita’s advice for photographers starting out: don’t feel like you have to quit your day job right away. Build your business and your craft at the same time so you’re not creating under financial stress. Your mental health matters just as much as your portfolio.
Trusting the Process
At the end of the day, Rita’s biggest message is to trust your journey. Keep watching, learning, and pushing yourself - whether that’s through real-life moments, art, film, or any other source of inspiration.
Rita’s story is such a good reminder that there’s no one “right” way to be a photographer. Your path is yours - lean into it, take risks, and enjoy where it takes you.
If you want to hear more from her, check out her Summer School class and our deeper dive in the exclusive *Recess* episode.
Connect with Rita:
Instagram: @ps_ritabusa
Website: www.ritabusa.com
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