Follow my blog with Bloglovin
interview with taylor herron september 2011 dana point ca.
To be talented in the art of photography is an explosive, rare gift. Taylor Herron, 28 years old, is one of my favorites. Not only does he have the pleasure of photographing icons, he is creating them.
I'm attracted to Taylor's photography because it's tangible. I can feel the humidity in his live band photography. Emotions from his portrait series transfer to the observer seamlessly. Taylor's fashion photos beautifully balance taste and provocation.
I wanted to know more about this young artist, and learn a few things along the way. I hope you enjoy our interview. xx jb
Q : What are some of the most common mistakes people make when posing for pictures? Any simple tips for guys and gals to mix up their standard camera pose?
A : I think everyone takes pictures a little bit differently and that’s what makes it so cool for me to watch. The most common mistake is the straight on pose. Some people can pull it off, but most people should never be shot straight on as it looks terribly wide. Turning your subjects face or shoulders usually really slims down the subject, and makes the over all picture more flattering. Less make up is better if you don’t have a professional make up artist.
I hate photos that look like we’re headed to the circus.
Q : Tell me about your first camera and those first images you captured with it.
A : My first camera was a Canon Rebel Digital. I had a few point and shoot cameras before that, but the Rebel was my first serious guy camera. The one-gig CF memory card was $ 100.00 in 2004, but it turned out to be a very wise investment. The first time I really threw myself into my photographic work was in college. I went to school for Graphic Design and took a few photo classes. We had a final project to shoot a series of anything we wanted. I was living in San Diego in Pacific Beach and there were always homeless guys cruising around so I wrote my creative thesis on being homeless. I just started walking around PB and OB photographing the homeless community, really diving into it. The whole cycle of their lifestyle intrigued me. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was sparking my photographic drive right then and there.
Q : Was there a particular moment that you realized you had a knack for photography, or would you consider yours an acquired skill?
A : Ever since I was a little kid, I have had a very creative personality. I seemed to have a natural eye for color, layout and composition. There are many moments in my life when I realized being creative was my greatest outlet. The possibilities for destinations are limitless. Shooting photos underneath the lights at the Roxy was not a bad way to spend a Friday night!
Q : I’ve seen your website, and had the pleasure of watching you work. It’s clear you’ve got some skills. Where did you receive your professional and non-professional training? (Photography and other related fields)
A : Thank you. After college my photography training started out at the Roxy in Los Angeles. I’m extremely blessed I got to learn photography by shooting bands like – TRAVIS Barker & DJ AM – The Ringers -Oh No Not Stereo- Mickey Avalon – Whitestarr – Cisco and Shwayze- and the Pricks. Nic and Cisco Adler totally helped me to get in the door and made the Roxy feel like a second home. I had a photography residency at the Viper Room for a few months – every Friday night I shot 4 or 5 bands - bands like – Ima Robot - Run, Run, Run-Wired All Wrong - Steffy - and Power Man 5000. Thanks, Dayle.
Lennon @ the viper room 2007
After a ton of trial and error (learning experiences) with bands and promoters, I met Dove Shore. Dove really has helped me grow as an artist and as an individual. He was well on his way when I started assisting him with his shoots in late 2008. Dove is great because not only does he teach me the art of photography, he shows me how to run the business side as well. It’s awesome to see someone fly forward with his or her dreams and see their art take flight. It’s really fun to work on sets and at professional studios.
The LA Photo School has also been a huge asset for me, shaping my skills and creative eye. I can’t do the 9 – 5 corporate- guy routine, I am wired differently. Footwork is the best work and will get you so much farther than whom you party with.
Q: Whom, if anyone, do you go to for an honest appraisal of your work? Could you tell me a little bit about this person and how you came to know him/her?
A: I have a (select few) people in my life that look at my work quite frequently. I shoot a lot and my job doesn’t end at 5pm. Alexanne has really been my creative consultant for the last 2 years. We met through my friend Bill and she will always tell me what she thinks is great and what she thinks is horrible. We think a lot alike so usually its just confirming my thoughts were on the money 95 % of the time. My close friends Juls and Andrew are always right down the street – Dove looks at my new work and encourages me to shoot more.
Q: In what way do you see our world, and the people in it differently through your lens?
A: This life is a definite gift for me, I feel very fortunate. Our world is a little crazy right now with summers in the winter and winter in the summers, but the people in our world are very beautiful. Over the last year, I have been mainly shooting a ton of portraits and really connecting with each subject I photograph. Every person I shoot helps me and teaches me how to pull creativity out of myself. Each person I shoot is a little different and the result gets better and better each time – really exciting D.I.Y.
Q: How do you choose your subject matter?
A: My life is very busy and I’m always working on something, a lot of my models / subjects first were friends of mine. Nicole Vaughn is a wonderful musician-friend of mine. We’ve taken some amazing portraits together. She’s not only a phenomenal songwriter, but she is incredibly easy on the eyes as well. I love collaborating with my friends. It’s more fun that way, and that’s what this whole thing is about for me – FUN. If I wanted to make a bunch of money, I would have been a lawyer. If it’s not fun, I’m probably not going to be into it, I love to make my life fun.
facebook.com/NicoleVaughnMusicPage
Q: Do you prefer shooting people or things? Please indulge me.
A : I love shooting it all. My main focus the last two years has been fashion and music, and trying to shoot all the time. I also love taking macro shots and making cool time-lapse images, it really just depends on the project I’m working on for the day. I want it all.
Q: When shooting people, what emotion do you find is the most difficult to capture? Do you have a favorite?
A: EMOTION is the total goal. Having your subject feel completely comfortable while shooting really helps me create honest emotion. I have to be comfortable as well; music really helps us loosen up. I try to always have a plan or concept ready before I shoot, organization of your creativity will go a long way I’ve found. Having friends that help out on shoots or on styling a wardrobe really helps me capture and bring to life what I have in my mind. My photo shoots involve a continually growing team of people who have fun making honest and exciting raw images for the world to see.
Q: What are the key elements that you feel are most important for a TH photo to turn out just right?
A: There is a ton of preparation that goes into shooting a TH photo. I’m on my email probably 12 hours out of the day. My IPhone is my savior. I like the idea of a different adventure every day. Each photo project is a totally different experience from the last and each photo has a whole story that went into making it. Today I’m really lucky to have a great team of people who work with me. Gabrielle Pascua is a very talented make up and hair artist who has dedicated a lot of her talents to the TH photo. Jade Christian hair and make up has also been with me since Day One. Alexanne assists me with styling and creative consulting, and Andrew is my on-site shoot assistant, and has been down for the cause since the beginning. They are all a huge help to my creative process and progression as an artist. Real friends are a big asset- people you can rely on no matter what. The shoot is a success when you can have fun and walk away with an image you really like. Having a good team that is reliable is crucial.
Q: What characteristics make a TH photo unique?
A: I have grown a lot as an artist and with my photos & design work over the last couple of years, I found my love for photography stomping the sidewalks of Sunset Blvd. Now I feel I’m really shaping and fine tuning my craft. I mainly shoot natural light if I can. Putting the camera on 1.8 every time, for every picture, does NOT really make much sense to me. It’s all about knowing your lighting and your environment and being able to adapt with what your given in the situation. It’s about finding a style and working on that style every day. I don’t really take days off from work; my mind is just usually thinking about my next creative project. I didn’t plan on being a photographer or a graphic artist; TH photo has just been evolving for a few years now. It’s exciting to see what can really happen when you really show up to your own life.
Q: If you ever find yourself burnt out or creatively blocked how do you do get a fresh perspective?
A: My art is almost a direct window into my life; I try and make my photos describe my day-to-day creative thoughts.
There are times when I feel frustrated-I think everyone has those moments, I just try and remember that art is a gift to give and to be given. What I get to show the rest of the world is a pretty cool responsibility to have. I’m sure in every profession there are rough days. When I get into a funk, I will go to dinner with some good friends and get some fun music for my headphones, and take a day and sketch up out new concepts and throw my self even further into the creative process. There definitely is a ton of emotion in what I do and it’s really rewarding to see something in your mind come into reality. Sometimes just stepping away from something for 24 hrs and coming back to it really helps me recharge overall and get the project done. I truly enjoy what I do so, if I stay organized and on top of projects, I always end up with a new and exciting image.
Q: What’s the longest time you’ve spent editing a batch of photos and why? The shortest? Please explain.
A: The longest sets of photos I have ever edited were probably my images for Travis Barker and DJ AM. They played 2 shows 2 months in a row @ the ROXY in Los Angeles. Kevin Wolff @ Shoot To Kill Music has always helped me to get in shows to get the shots. Thanks, Kev. It took such a long time because I just spent hours LOOKING at each photo – it was a dream come true to shoot Travis and DJ AM and all the Famous Stars & Straps family. I got some great shots. Dj AM rest in peace
The shortest edits that I do are model tests. I shoot for agencies some days and usually I just batch process my shots, then send them small resolutions to create selects. Then, I send them one or two edited images for their models to use. That’s a lot of fun to do too.
Q: Do you currently, or have you ever had a muse? If so, can you tell me about this person and how they impacted your work?
A: Ha, I didn’t get into shooting photos to shoot beautiful women / half-truth. It has just kinda turned out that way, I started shooting bands and I started supporting music. Music definitely was my first and longest lasting muse. Listening to music and writing concepts still is one of my favorite parts of the job. Alexanne really stepped up and helped me to learn a lot about shooting fashion. We just started making it up as we went along and we got some really solid shots. She really helped me to find my direction in shooting portraits.
Q: Who are 3 photographers that you enjoy right off the top of your head, and why?
A: 1) Glen E Friedman – is the iconic band photographer of my time. His work with film is extremely important, shooting the original Dog Town and Z boyz, and bands like FUGAZI – MINOR THREAT – THE MISFITS. He also shot artists like Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys all on 35mm. His work has legendary importance and that’s an understatement.
2) Dove Shore – is my personal mentor and is a very talented photographer Dove Shore is constantly pushing his work and style to the next level. Dove has mastered the magic of DIY photography and transformed his skills into a bright future – recently shooting portraits of artist: Lenny Kravitz, MGMT, OK-GO, Perry Farrell, to list just a few.
3) Brantley Gutierrez – I truly enjoy all of Brantley’s work and style, continually pushing the medium format and film efforts. Brantley has shot most of my favorite artists like: Sir Paul McCartney, Arcade Fire, and Dinosaur Jr. The Foo Fighters, the Band of Horses, Matt Costa and so many more.
Q: 3 of your all time favorite images… and the story behind them if you will. How many cameras do you own? Film/ Digital. Which do you prefer and why.
A: Ah, this is a very hard question .All of my images are important to me. Each photo holds a story at a time in my life. Each photos shows growth from where I was to where I’m headed but I will pick these three as my personal favorite moments so far in my career:
THe Exit - 35mm
The Exit - 35mm- this photo was taken exiting the 10fwy in Los Angeles. I saw the shot, grabbed my camera off my seat and set my exposer and shot it. This photo is extremely important to me because it reminds me that photo is about those seconds of life that are so perfect and real. If you don’t pay attention, you might miss them. Every second in life is so important.
THe Transition
The Transition – Digital Photo –This self-portrait was taken on March 19, 2009. This photo helps me remember that life isn’t always going to be easy and that where we came from is important to remember or we just might forget and repeat the past – memory is an incredible tool for me.
THe Crowd Controller
The Crowd Controller – This photo of Mickey Avalon was taken @ The Roxy in 2006. The next day when I saw this image on my computer I got the exciting thought that maybe my dream was totally livable and that, with enough foot work, I could keep creating images as powerful as this.
Q: Do you, Taylor, like having your picture taken?
A: I have a default go-to-Taylor camera face, it’s my “blue steel”. I enjoy it when someone makes something really meaningful. You can take my picture that would be fun…. (and so i did, see below)
Q: What projects are you currently working on?
A: Well, currently I’m working on a lot. The last year I’ve been working on rebranding my website TaylorHerronphotography.com and of course working on my portfolio. Basically, I am working on working for myself, which is a very exciting time. I’m currently working on a blog swim story that will feature Tavik swimwear. I love Nicole; she is so ahead of the pack, it’s great to watch. I am working on signing some new clients for my design company and am in the process of designing a skateboard deck for ASE Boardshop.I’m also toying around with the idea of a coffee table book, the design and name. I am just trying to shoot more concerts, people and fashion stories. I just photographed a child hood favorite band of mine , weezer was awesome live.
Q: Are there images in your mind you would like to create but don’t for fear of a negative reaction?
A: I want to make tasteful, creative images that impact the viewer. There’s a huge difference between porn and tastefully nude, one’s smart and the other is trash. I hope my art will grow into avenues I’ve never entered; I just want to keep shooting and keep progressing. Shock value can only go so far.
To view TH’s complete portfolio or contact him directly visit:
taylorherronphotography.com
brokenoutline@gmail.com
