Minted x PBteen

Catherine Everett Christina Flowers Tommy Kwak Eliane Lamb Summer Strauch Lisa Sundin
Summer Strauch

What's your story in a nutshell?

I grew up on the beaches of Honolulu, Hawaii, and started my career in New York City. As the executive producer behind projects such as The MTV Video Music Awards, New Year's Eves in Times Square and live specials for Miley Cyrus, Gwen Stefani, and Coldplay, my career has always been rooted in music. A few years ago, I combined my love of music with my love of the ocean through my photography. I capture an image based on lyrics I just can't get out of my head. It's those musically inspired images that help tell my story and express the way I see the world.

How did you become an artist?

I always had a love for photography, although I spent the majority of my career deep in the television and film industry. For me, it's all about the details. I remember shooting MTV's House of Style with Bar Refaeli. It was the middle of winter in New York City—about 15 degrees—and we were doing a segment on bathing suits in the Botanical Gardens. I wanted the viewer to believe we were in the desert, so we lit sternos under the camera, so it looked like heat was rising. Every time I yelled "cut," I wrapped heating blankets around Bar and promised my staff it was all worth the shot. I never had time to explore my own photography, until a few years ago. I decided to really get out there, take photographs, and sell my work. I remember asking myself, "What took you so long?" But you know what? It's better late than never.

What's the story behind "If You Wanna Go + Take A Ride With Me"?

I was walking on the beach with my camera one morning in Santa Barbara. On the ocean's edge, there was a cute surf lesson stand with a bunch of soft-top surfboards all lined up. The morning light was hitting them so gently, I remember thinking how peaceful and beautiful it was. All of a sudden a surf instructor yelled, "Hey, you wanna take a ride?" at the top of his lungs. At that moment, it may sound funny, but Nelly's "Ride Wit Me" lyrics popped in my head. So I quickly grabbed my camera and started taking pictures before he took the boards out of the stand.

What is your advice for artists who are just getting started?

I think everyone who has a dream of being an artist needs to know that you can do it! Your vision matters, the way you see things is so unique to who you are, and people want to see your story—I promise. I think the biggest step you can take is to start creating your art. For me, it was all about printing my photographs and printing them big. Once you see your work in front of you, you start to feel it's real, and more importantly, you start to own the fact that you are an artist.