Welcome to the Website of Rich Messina. As a professional photographer, videographer, photo editor, senior manager of visuals, and adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut, I have been fortunate to receive numerous national and regional awards for documentary photography, videography, design, and visual editing. During my time at The Hartford Courant, I worked in a dynamic and fast-paced news environment, where we set the standard for outstanding photojournalism, visual storytelling, and newspaper design. I was also part of an extraordinary photography staff that earned international recognition for excellence in visual storytelling and was nominated by my news organization for a Pulitzer Prize for impactful journalism.

Beyond journalism, I have embraced an entrepreneurial approach to media and technology. As an early adopter of disruptive innovations in the media space, I co-founded a company that received a six-figure Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation to develop new ways for independent creatives to market their work and collaborate online. Additionally, I have designed and hosted numerous rich-media websites for professional creatives, nonprofits, and commercial clients, helping them build compelling digital presences.

Core Values and Beliefs

Strive to Innovate

Success in any industry requires embracing new technology while staying true to the core values that define your work. Innovation can be daunting and costly, but strategic adaptation of new tools, processes, and platforms benefits both the creator and the audience. With a background in computer science and an innate curiosity, I’ve never feared new technology—I’ve adapted to it. Throughout my career, I’ve been the person who learns the next big thing first and then shares that knowledge to train and empower others.

Embrace an Entrepreneurial Mindset and an Experimental Spirit

There is always room for improvement, new solutions, and better ways to add value. I believe in setting ambitious goals and refining solutions through iteration and experimentation to achieve—and often surpass—those goals.

Collaboration and Brainstorming Fuel Creativity

Great ideas emerge when multiple perspectives are welcomed and respected. Everyone has something unique to contribute to the creative and problem-solving process. Brainstorming generates ideas, ideas build vision, and agile execution—meeting hard deadlines—turns vision into reality. The process is exhilarating, and sometimes, it even succeeds!

Integrity is Everything—Tell the Truth

At the foundation of all meaningful work are ethics, integrity, and truth. Without them, nothing else holds value.

Thank You for Visiting. I appreciate you stopping by Richard Messina Photography | Video | Design. Feel free to explore my work, and don’t hesitate to reach out!