Exploring Life & Business with Gina Palmeri of Nash Bash Experiences

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Palmeri.

Hi Gina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello!  I’m Gina Palmeri and I am a Nashville Photographer, Videographer, Entrepreneur and Creative.  I went to Emerson College, majoring in media production, where I specialized in writing for TV and wrote for and produced several shows on campus before moving out to LA, where I interned for the Conan O’Brien Show. I was immersed in Hollywood, working on the Warner Brothers lot and living the LA life, but I realized it wasn’t the place for me. I then took a job living on board a luxury river cruise where I managed all of the excursions and got to travel for a few years all around the country. I loved getting to wake up in a new place every day and see the world, but after a few seasons, I decided to settle down and get married to my high school sweetheart.

I started my photography business in early 2019, living in Cleveland Oh. Photography was a natural path after working in the TV production space and I quickly fell in love with creating art again. We ended up moving to Nashville that summer and I started shooting weddings, seniors and branding as my main focuses. I then came across the world of Airbnb Experiences, where I saw I could marry my photography business and tourism industry background to offer Photowalk tours in Nashville and I was hooked! Getting to do two of my passions combined has been such a blessing. My experience morphed into its own business called Nash Bash Experiences and although having a rough start in 2020, this year I am busier than ever taking guests on fun mural tours while I take professional photos of them and their group. I get to meet people from all around the world and show them all the amazing things about Nashville. It’s been a blast. I’m still continuing to photograph weddings, seniors, branding for local businesses and also run Nash Bash Experiences full time and also work with my business partner Christy Hunter running Photowalk Nashville- I definitely stay busy!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I really wrestled a lot with the whole “What am I going to do with my life?” question. I think we all put a lot of pressure on ourselves that we need to find the ‘right’ career right away and stick with it. For me, I think every experience has given me the skills and experiences needed for the next thing and I truly believe this is the path I have been meant to take. For me, the unknown has always been the hardest, but now I just live day by day and enjoy the journey- the good, the bad, the hard. The fact is every problem I face is a blessing in the way that I only have the struggle because I get to do what I love. I try to look at every problem as a positive. I ‘get’ to struggle because I get to own my own business and have the impact I do on my clients.

Of course, 2020 was tough as we were shut down and unable to host tours or have weddings for a little bit, but honestly, I just stayed positive and thankfully, everything bounced back.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Nash Bash Experiences was really born out of my two passions of photography and the tourism industry. My family has always been in the tourism industry and luckily, I grew up traveling all around the world on a regular basis. When working for my family business, I developed and managed tours for luxury river cruises. Owning a tour company of my own has been ‘surprisingly inevitable,’ I like to say to myself, haha. It’s in my blood, but I’m enjoying the one face-to-face with the guests more than anything.

I offer fun Photowalk Experiences that combine a professional photoshoot and a tour in one. I take guests around a the 12 South neighborhood taking photos of them and their group in front of the famous murals. I solve the problem of asking a stranger to take a photo of you on vacation. You’re either afraid to ask, there is no one around, or you end up with their thumb in it. With me, you’ll not only get professional photos that are completely edited but also posing guidance that really makes it fun, even for those husbands and kids who aren’t the most cooperative for taking photos. At the end, I get a lot of husbands saying, ‘wow that was actually fun.’ That’s when I know I do my job well haha.

Because we are called “Nash Bash” I advertise that this experience is the perfect way to celebate something, whether its a birthday with my “Birthday Bash” a Bachelorette Party with my “Bachelorette Bash” or an anniversary/engagement with my Couples Experience. I have also had guests celebrating their wedding, move to town, and divorce. It’s also great for corporate team building and branding photos. A lot of MLMs or network marketers coming to town will want content for their social media and this is the perfect team activity as well. We get a lot of locals- teen birthday parties, family members of locals, birthday parties… it’s really such a great activity for everyone.

I think what sets me apart brand wise is that this isn’t just a photoshoot taking boring photos- this is an interactive experience where you really get to spend an hour with a local hearing about all the best places to eat, things to do, and gain some first hand knowledge about Nashville. I’m a big believer in personal branding and so I try to let my guests know this is a small business. I host most of the tours as well as my 2 co-hosts and we are doing this because we truly love it- this is a small intimate experience. I know we did our job when a guest leaves a review before even getting their photos. That to me is giving them so much more than just pictures, but a memorable experience. I want everyone leaving their Nash Bash to feel empowered and like a million bucks. If anyone is self conscious I try to remind them that this isn’t for a magazine cover, these are photos to remember a fun trip and time in their life and to look at the big picture and the fun they’re having, not the flaws only they see.

The experiences start at $69 a person for a group tour, but you do have the option to have a private tour starting at $550. Everyone receives a digital online gallery of edited, high resolution photos (50+ depending on the group size) delivered within a week. You can book at www.nashbashexperiences.com. Branding Photography, Senior Portrait and Wedding Packages can be found at www.ginacophotography.com

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is that I have a positive impact on everyone I see and that I represent Nashville well. My friendliness could have a huge impact on their trip and how they perceive the city as a whole and I take that very seriously. I also want everyone to feel amazing as I know we are all critical of how we look. It’s my goal at every session to make everyone feel relaxed and empowered.

 

Pricing:

• Nash Bash Experiences starting at $69

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.nashbashexperiences.com www.ginacophotography.com
• Instagram: @nashbashexperiences @ginacophotography

Image Credit:
Sara Grace Photography and Emily Green Creative