Pixiq

I'm often asked how I started photographing celebrities.  The truth is it just landed in my lap.  I never thought about pursuing celebrity but I had a strong interest in photographing fashion and beauty.  I was drawn to the fashion industry because I loved the process of creating images based off of my ideas.  Having the opportunity to see fashion and give my opinion visually was exciting and opened a door to express my views in  a visual manner.  As I learned more about the fashion industry I was drawn more to the beauty side, by beauty I mean cosmetic and hair.  The very first ad I ever shot was an advertisment for an eyeglass company who hired me because they loved my beauty work.  You can make an entire career concentrating on shooting cosmetics and hair.  From lipstick to mascara, body lotion to all the zillions of hair products available throughout the world the beauty industry can open doors to a wonderful career in photography.  Once you learn how to master shooting for beauty clients other clients will become drawn to your photography.

I was concentrating on beauty work when my first call came to photograph a celebrity for a magazine cover.  My client had actually hired another photographer but this photographer canceled on the magazine because he landed a big advertising shoot.  My client offered the assignment to me even though I had never photographed a celebrity before.  He said "I want you to shoot this because you are great at shooting beauty and if you just shoot this celebrity like your beauty work you will be fine". 

My first celebrity shoot was with Halle Berry.  I remember this day like it was yesterday because we had so much fun shooting.  At one point I had Halle on a beautiful sofa but it was elevated and too high for her to reach. She turned to me and said "can you give me a hand getting up here".  I smiled and joked with her and then she jumped in my arms and I carried her up on the platform.  I guess I was hooked after that!  

The client loved the shoot and a month after that assignment I was hired to photograph Vanessa Williams for the first time, then I was assigned Oprah and the rest is photo history.

To shoot Halle I used a light source that is still one of my favorite lights tody.  Constant light.  What I love about using constant light weather its a hot light or HMI light is that you see exactly what you get.  With the naked eye we adjust for shadows but the camera doesn't have the same range.  Once we learn to see situations the way the camera reads light we can make adjustments and create amazing images.

To learn more about lighting check out these two videos:  Ten Ways to Use One Light Source and How to Master Complex Lighting Situations.  Both are available at The Gallery Store.

Always believe in your work and shoot what you love.  When you shoot what you love the work will come to you instead of you chasing the work.

Always Dream Big,

Matthew Jordan Smith

website:  www.MatthewJordanSmith.com

Educational Videos: www.Gallery.MatthewJordanSmith.com