What does a week of life look like for you? What do you do each weekday? Every week is different! Usually, it’s spread between shooting, photo editing, and planning for the next shoot. If I’m on a shoot, then I’ll be on set in the studio. If I’m photo editing, I prefer to work outside at a local cafe like Swedish Hill or Mañana. If I’m planning for the next shoot, then I’ll be at various shops around town, ranging from an antique spot to Joann’s Fabrics.
" I love creating a shoot around a product that has a strong story—it allows me to pull out the details and create a scene around it and build on that story. "
What does a week of life look like for you? What do you do each weekday?
Every week is different! Usually, it’s spread between shooting, photo editing, and planning for the next shoot. If I’m on a shoot, then I’ll be on set in the studio. If I’m photo editing, I prefer to work outside at a local cafe like Swedish Hill or Mañana. If I’m planning for the next shoot, then I’ll be at various shops around town, ranging from an antique spot to Joann’s Fabrics.
How do you incorporate colors in your work? Do you work with the same colors all the time?
I rotate between colors seasonally—right now I’m really into golds and lilac. It also depends on the client’s color palette and cultivating peripheral hues around that. Overall I try to go with what feels right to me versus what is trendy.
How do you define/find pieces/props that work for your aesthetic?
I hunt for props that are very tailored to each set—I’ll buy a glitzy jigger for a luxe, modern beverage company versus a plaid scrunchie for a playful, pop skincare company. It totally depends on the business and product! Also, if I really fall in love with an item and/or think it might work as a peripheral cue for other brands, I’ll add it to my permanent prop library.
What is your favorite type of project to work on?
I love creating a shoot around a product that has a strong story—it allows me to pull out the details and create a scene around it and build on that story.
How do you incorporate Moodelier pieces and other props into your workflow? Can you show us some photo examples?
I think Moodelier is the best—playful, minimal, and modern. I use it in shoots that embody these qualities like a recent campaign with Kin Euphorics. More examples are coming soon!
" I love following fashion accounts for inspo like Eva Chen, Cara Cara, and Vogue. Also, people watching around the city are inspiring. "
What are your enneagram types?
I’ve never taken the quiz! My test results = TBD 🤓
Who and what are your inspirations currently?
I think fashion has a lot of overlap with commercial still life. I love following fashion accounts for inspo like Eva Chen, Cara Cara, and Vogue. Also, people watching around the city is inspiring. I love seeing what individuals versus brands pull together whether at a concert in Austin or on the subway in Brooklyn. I’ve alway loved Gather Journal—when I was starting out in photography I used to pore over their issues in McNally Jackson, hoping to create images like them one day. While they’re no longer making new issues, I still reference their funky originals for shoots and follow their funny Instagram. I’ve always found inspiration in nature—whether for striking color pairings or architectural arrangements. It sounds dorky, but one of my favorite side project shoots was inspired by a hike. I also find films very inspiring—one of my favorite recent ones is Sound of Metal. The sound design based on the storyline is so thoughtful. I think getting inspired sideways (by something besides art/photography/graphics) is helpful to creating something new.
Any fun fact about you that you’d like to share?
I taught myself photography through shooting recipes for my old food blog, which I started after getting inspired by a talk at an Apple store by Deb Perelman (Smitten Kitchen!).
We have recently collaborated with Julia with our New course Motion + Social Media Branding Course Bundle, you can check it out here.
All photos by @miachelpruett
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