Small Business Owner Spotlight: Matt Dutile Creative

One of my favorite parts about writing for WHA is learning about inspiring business owners in our neighborhood. Today’s Small Business Owner Spotlight is on photographer Matt Dutile. Matt’s work is featured in Volume VI of The Paper, make sure you pick up a copy and view his incredible work!

Name of Business:

Matt Dutile Creative

Owned by:

Matt Dutile

Year Created:

2010

What are you known for?

Travel, lifestyle, food, and portrait photography

Do you also live in Queens? If so, where? How did you end up here?

What made you decide to start a business in Astoria?

My work is mostly location based, so the natural studio base for me is right at home. I’ve toyed around with opening another location, but the overhead makes far more sense for me to work from home.

@ilbambinonyc

What’s your favorite place to grab food when you’re working?

I’m definitely a regular at Create on 30th Ave. There’s not too many days that go by without me dropping in to grab an LIC wrap for lunch. I’ll switch it up with a panini from Il Bambino here and there when I feel like an extra splurge for a craving.

What’s a hidden Astoria secret you feel like people don’t know about that you absolutely love?

What’s your favorite place to grab a drink?

My fiance and I love sitting down for a cheese spread and a flight at Astoria Bier & Cheese on Broadway. We’ll head in on a Saturday afternoon and usually tap all the IPA selections – perhaps mix a porter or two in there. Pretty much anything from Finback is our favorite. I don’t know what magical juice they put in their brews, but it’s some voodoo deliciousness.

If you have friends or family visiting Astoria, where do you take them?

How have you seen Astoria change since you’ve been here?

The neighborhood is really in a transition state. Beyond the regular closing and opening of restaurants every year or two, a lot more five story apartment buildings are going in where cute homes used to be. So some of the charm is vanishing, but then you get cool new spots that open with a younger crowd moving in. Is that good or bad? Hard to say, but change is inevitable and I like fresh energy equally as I enjoy historic neighborhood charm.

What’s your favorite part of owning a business in Queens?

For a travel photographer, what better home could there be than Queens? The diversity of the borough is a literal photographer’s playground for the amazing faces and culture here. Anywhere I travel in the world I know I can find a slice of it back at home. It’s the people and the energy and the diversity they bring that makes Queens the best borough in New York hands down.

Matt Dutile Creative
mattdutile.com|Instagram

About Emily Rios

Emily Rios manages special events, sponsored content and advertising clients as WHA's Business Development Director. She is a passionate and dedicated youth developer with a strong background in non-profit management, and works as Senior Manager of Youth Leadership at generationOn.