We had a really great time on location this past Saturday with the dream team, Logan, Kendall, Weston and for the first time, my lovely girl. We started our shoot at the Beverly Hills hotel which they kindly only let us shoot at for a few minutes since they have a very strict “no camera” policy and then we moved locations to this extremely charming courtyard right next to Rodeo Drive. This is the first time my girlfriend assisted me at a shoot which was extremely interesting. We documented the experience and will have the video ready for you this week on our channel.
It’s insane how much work and effort we’re putting into the Greymrkt® to make sure everything is coming out the way we want. From photographing looks, to product shots to taking everything to get professionally cleaned to folding and packing the pieces. This is truly a labor of love and somewhere in all of the chaos, it’s bringing us closer as a team.
I asked if I should create a Lightroom® Preset Pack yesterday via Instagram and the votes are in. I’ll be adding an SS-Editing Pack for sale soon so you can get those moody snapshot type images with just one click.
I’m not really someone who fans-out when a company or brand likes my photos or follows me. Over the years it just sort of becomes “normal”. I don’t know how else to describe it without sounding like a prick but that’s just how it goes when you’ve been creating content for over a decade. Now that I’m on this new chapter, trying to garner new content and really just working with my head down without any expectations, it’s really cool to see the brands and establishments that I admire take notice. I really feel like I’m starting all over again. Starting from scratch, rebranding, re-creating and rebuilding a better version of myself and my work. I’ve been giving so much of myself lately through all of the content I’m producing and haven’t really had a chance to check in with myself and acknowledge the fact that I’ve done more over the past three months than I have in the last two years when it comes to engagement through social outlets. This is by far the most exposed and vulnerable I’ve ever allowed myself to be; so when I get little hints from the universe that I’m on the right path, it just confirms my beliefs that I need to be true to myself and true to what it is that I want to create in this life. I refuse to work on projects or create work that only serves as a vessel for financial gain. From here on out, it’s all about spiritual gain and tapping into powers that allow me to add beauty and purpose to this world. If you live true and do good, everything else will follow.
A lot of you guys asked me to do a “what’s in my camera bag” video so here it is. These are the tools that I’ve collected along my journey and I hope they help you unlock some of your creativity or give a better understanding on how to get the shots I get. Have fun and never stop creating.
We’re officially adding our own personal pieces to the Greymrkt® which will go live at some point next week. Expect to find carefully curated pieces from designer brands to extremely rare vintage items from the 80’s and 90’s. All items are available on a first-come-first-serve bases and you’ll need a private access code to shop. I’ll be posting the release on my IG Story so be sure to follow for more info.
There’s nothing better than exploring a neighboring area over multiple trips to make sure you didn’t miss any gems that were undiscovered prior, which is usually the case. We hit the canyon to do a bit of shopping but mostly just to get some fresh air and spend time outside together. We started at a very cute shop with an even cuter name, Pebbles, where I purchased a book for myself and a necklace for the lady. The shop owner was an amazingly kind soul that kept complimenting C and I. Next we went to a hat shop that just opened up named Busto. The owner recently brought his artisanship from Italy to the canyon and I’m sure glad he did because I can’t wait for him to make me a handmade hat. I’m honestly obsessed with the craftsmanship and love that you can see and feel through his creations. From there we went to Hidden Treasures, a very eccentric thrift store with an even funkier vibe and festive exterior that reflects the treasures one might find inside. This seems to be the most popular of the bunch with the younger crowd so expect a line if you plan to visit. We also stopped by a few more stores that I forgot to document because I was simply trying my hardest to not place my hand anywhere near my wallet or else I would have done some serious damage. It’s s fine, there’s always next time. Lastly, there’s a really interesting gentleman that parks his van on the side of the canyon and sells everything from vintage clothes to rugs and furs to used hair removal machines and video games. If you’re a re-seller, expect to pay top dollar and upscaling prices. If you’re into fashion and vintage, he will surely have something for you. Not only is exploring your area a great way for you to learn what it has to offer but it’s also an opportunity to introduce yourself and build relationships with like-minded individuals. It’s the foundation for a creative relationship that allows you to extend your services all while supporting local establishments.
One of the biggest questions I get is how to make money from taking photographs? I would say my perspective on this has always been the same, which prepared me for the climate that we’re experiencing at the moment and has allowed me to consistently bring in photo income. Since the beginning of my journey into poaching clients, my motto has always been, “they can’t pay me unless I make them pay attention first”. I’ve always been someone who takes initiative by visiting stores that I like or buys products that I’m into, then captures content the way I see fit and emails it to the companies/brands. I think of it as “the first one’s on me, the next one will cost you”. So, that’s my secret and it’s worked for me over the past ten years and I now extend it to you. It’s all part of the ecosystem, you support the companies that you like, take the initiative and reach out to them with content that you captured in your own unique way and then ask if they would like to work together in a creative capacity. Even if they don’t have the budget to hire you, chances are they’ll repost your image(s) which enhances your chances of someone who does have the budget seeing your work. You have to think of everything as an investment all while supporting the system that feeds your creativity and the local businesses surrounding you.
Reflecting on 2020 as a whole I can honestly say it was a wild ride. There were so many negatives (some that we as a society are still feeling the impact of) but I forced myself to mentally guide the challenges into a positive outlook and it drastically changed the course of where my energy flowed. I only paid attention to the things that I could control and the outlooks that I had power over and it lead me to one of the happiest places in my life with one of the most amazing and beautiful humans that I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing life with. Let’s face it, 2020 could have easily gone down as one of the worst chapters in the book of my life but I knew I had to stay strong and navigate the waters with caution. I knew that I had to mentally and physically build myself into someone that can endure the hardships and be powerful enough to change the trajectory of how these events would unfold within the spectrum of my own world. Doing so, opened the door to a magical place. A place where the best version of myself was waiting for me to find and the place where my human that I was always meant to travel this journey with just so happened to stumble upon as well. Talk about the universe steering the course of our destiny. Two strangers, getting gas at the same time, at the same desolate place and in the same mental and emotional space. If you don’t believe in a higher power that is greater than us, I don’t know how else the creator could prove their heartbeat.
So, this is how we spent our NYE. I bought a tuxedo and the lady put on her dress as we got dolled up for each other and rang in the new year with a bottle of Martinelli’s apple cider, one of our special occasion cigarettes and hearts full of gratitude and optimism. We hope this year brings you nothing but happiness and self belief because you truly are so powerful and can create everything that you desire.
Take a little tour of the desk setup that we did at my girlfriends place. She was kind enough to give me my own dedicated space to work from when I’m at her apartment so I figured I would show you around. This just goes to show that you don’t need much and you don’t need anything fancy to start off. Keep it simple and keep it creative.
