Seeing Long Beach Through A Lens

Many artists are drawn to Long Beach for its inspiring views of the ocean, the calm crash of the waves and the fresh sea air. Local photographer Christina Tisi-Kramer couldn’t understand why a book of photos showcasing the barrier island was never created, so she published one herself. 

“I have been shooting Long Beach for years and decided to go to the book store to see what was out there on Long Beach for inspiration,” Tisi-Kramer said.

She soon found that despite the number of Long Beach photographers, none had published their work in a book. “So, I decided to make it my project,” she said.

In 2008, she made Long Beach scenery her project and self-published “Visions of Long Beach,” a coffee table book of images she captured throughout the city, from the boardwalk and beach to Park Avenue and the train station. She printed 2,000 copies of the book, which she sells on her website, Amazon.com and at fairs, such as the West School Vendor Fair on April 29 and at Carleton & Dayne, a gift store on East Park Avenue.

“I love them,” said Eleanor Blasi, manager of Carleton & Dayne. “I like the fact that she catches a particular site by chance and it’s beautiful.”

Blasi said that the books sell well in her store, and reorders at least twice a year. She recommends the book to local real estate agents as a closing gift to their clients. The store also sells Tisi-Kramer’s Long Beach postcards and wall images.

As a graduate digital photography student at FIT’s School of Visual Arts, Tisi-Kramer’s professor challenged students to shoot outside of their normal subject matter. She had typically focused her camera on jewelry, makeup and other consumer products before turning her lens on Long Beach.

Much of her work can be see on street banners that line the boardwalk, and today she teaches at FIT. She also keeps busy with her freelance work, primarily with Schachter Diamonds, and plans to display her photography at craft fairs throughout the city this summer and fall.

With half of her inventory still left to sell, Tisi-Kramer advises against self-publishing. “It was a very expensive endeavor, and without a publisher and a marketing team, it is difficult to liquefy the inventory,” she said, noting that her strength is in photography, not marketing.

While the book didn’t catapult Tisi-Kramer to fame, publishing it did help to promote her name and photography business. The book gained her new clients for wall art, like Long Beach Multi Medicine, Gino’s Pizza and Go Green Cleaners, and for jewelry photography.

“I may never strike it big, but I keep shoes on my boys’ feet,” she said.