In Her Mid-40s Meredith Zinner Turned Her Hobby Into Her Second Full-Fledged Career
The photographer shares her Park Slope recommendations, plus vegan lipstick and gorgeous linen dresses.
Hi, I’m Kelley MacDonald, and each week, I interview a fun Park Sloper about their life and favorite things to see, eat, and do around the neighborhood. If you'd like to read these interviews, please upgrade to paid. If you stick with a free subscription, you'll get my monthly emails and occasional free emails. Thank you so much for being here!
Hi! How was your week? We drove up to New England to play in the snow for the last time this year. I have whiplash going from a very springy Park Slope to a foot of snow. But, anyway! Today, I’m excited to feature photographer Meredith Zinner, who lives in Park Slope with her husband and two rescue Shih Tzus.
“One of the things I love most about living in Park Slope is I'll be walking down the street and all of a sudden get massively ambushed by a hug from one of the kids I know. That's the best thing in the world. Having my clients become my friends makes me really happy,” says Meredith.
In this week’s issue, Meredith reveals how her photography hobby turned into her second career, and how she made the move from Los Angeles to Park Slope. She also shares her neighborhood favorites, including a protein shake, vegan deli, and dog rescue organization.
Kelley MacDonald: Hi Meredith! It’s funny because when I interviewed Suzi Shelton we used some photos you took of her, and she said, “Oh, Meredith! You have to interview Meredith!” And here we are, a few months later!
Meredith Zinner: Aw, I love Suzi. There was an elephant exhibit at the Museum of Natural History, where her husband works, and she was like, We can go together! Because elephants are my passion, and whenever I see them, I just weep. So, we went together and it was so much fun. KM: I noticed the giving back section on your website and how you support elephant sanctuaries. MZ: Yes! Actually, I helped rescue an elephant out of logging slavery in Laos, and now she’s safe and living in a sanctuary! KM: Wow, that’s amazing!
So, where did you grow up?
I spent the first 10-ish years just outside of Boston. Then, I moved to Belgium for two years, and I went to a French school there. And I came back and went to high school at Milton Academy in Massachusetts.
Why Belgium?
When my dad was in high school, the story goes, he went on a class trip to Europe, and he saw how important it is to experience other cultures and other languages — to see that America isn't the only place. He said, When I grow up, I want my kids to experience living in another country and learn another language. So, he got a sabbatical in Belgium for a year, and we enjoyed it so much that we stayed an extra year. I learned French, and I used to be fluent. Whenever I go back to Belgium it comes back, fortunately.
How did you land in Park Slope?
My brother lives in New York, so I would be here at least once a year to visit him, and I loved it. I never thought I could live in New York though. But I was living in Los Angeles and decided to spend a summer in Brooklyn to see what it would be like to live there, and one of the families that I was photographing in Los Angeles heard that I was going to Brooklyn. That client’s parents had a brownstone on St. John’s Place with the entire top floor fully furnished and empty. They were looking for someone to live there for part of the year and asked if I would be interested. I stayed there for a couple months initially, and then my apartment in Los Angeles was vandalized and my car died. It was time for me to go.
As all my boxes were coming to New York, the family of the brownstone told me they got an offer to sell their place. I had nowhere to go! But thankfully, I found another apartment. KM: It seems like everyone has at least one wild NYC apartment story. We moved into our current place sight unseen. Our friend had us on FaceTime to see it. MZ: It’s crazy, but I've been here for 20 years!
Did your passion for photography start at a young age?
Photography was my hobby, and that hobby started my senior year in high school for a senior project. But my dad always had a camera and always took pictures, especially when we were traveling. Also, we hired a professional family photographer back in the 70s, and those are some of my favorite photos we have.
I did a little bit of photography in college, but I was very much leaning toward acting in college. After college, in between shows, I tried to refine a skill that I wouldn't otherwise have time for, and photography was one of them, along with starting a rock band and learning how to ice skate [laughs] — you know, a whole myriad of things to be as well rounded as possible.
How did you decide to leave acting to pursue photography?
Oh, it was a total second career. I was probably already 45 when I fully made the switch. But, when I was 30 and living in Los Angeles,