“Art, creativity and imagination. I have a lot of wacky pictures rolling around in my head and I need to let them out.”
PAST
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: In high school, were you involved in the yearbook ? What sparked your interest for photography? Do you recommend all the weekend photographers out there to initially stick with the subjects they know and build from there? Do you have any suggestions on how to build that progression? How did you progress to where you are today?
BRADLEY LAURENT: I was not involved in the yearbook, my interest in photography came later, after I was married. Although I’ve always had an interest in photography, I really started taking pictures “regularly” after my son was born, almost eight years ago. Having a child made me more open to sharing my emotions and that made me want to take more pictures. I don’t think weekend photographers necessarily need to stick with the subjects they know, I think they should shoot things that they are passionate about or things that they find compelling. For me, people are compelling and I’ve focused on improving the skills required for photographing people. I read a lot about lighting and composition. There are some terrific books and websites that focus on fashion and portraiture and I would really recommend reading and digesting as much as you can.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Do you still have photos taken from the early years when it all started? What were your subjects? Are the pictures online to share with everyone to compare with your work today?
BRADLEY LAURENT: I do have pictures from my early period online, but you need to be listed as a “Friend” on Flickr.com to view them. 
My first subjects were friends, family and believe it or not, wildfires. I take pictures of the wildfires that chase my family out of our home every year. I’ve gotten more publicity from the wildfire pictures than from my portrait and alternative model work. I’ve had fire pictures on CNN television, Reuters, Yahoo and a few others. That’s what I get for living in Southern California.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What books did you read when you first got into photography? Title of book, author and price of book please…just messing around, the title of the books should be fine thanks to google search. Do you recall any other resources that you referred to heavily to help you grow as an amateur photographer?
BRADLEY LAURENT: The 3 books I read and re-read constantly are Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson, Photographing People by Steve Luck and Portrait Photography by Mark Cleghorn.
A photographer friend of mine; John Mulligan was my “go to” resource when I got my first DSLR. John taught me the basics about exposure, white balance, lighting, etc. as well as camera basics. His advice was and still is invaluable.
And remember, Google and YouTube are your friends.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Have you made some money from your photography as an amateur? What was your first photo sale? How long was it after that first sale you sold your next photo? If you haven’t sold a photo, do you have any plans to do so?
BRADLEY LAURENT: Yes, I’ve been paid for promotional and headshots which is funny, because I don’t particularly enjoy headshot photography and try to avoid it if possible. I’ve turned down more offers for paid headshots gigs than I’ve accepted. My first paid job was a basic headshot. I do plan on selling more work, but as part of my larger art projects that are addressed later in this interview.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What tools do you recommend that are a must have that helped you get to where you are present day?
BRADLEY LAURENT: I assume you mean other than a camera.
First on my must have list are the books listed earlier in this interview. Second would be photo editing software whether or not it’s Photoshop or some other less robust program. Third (for my style of work) is lighting and light modifiers. For the weekend photographer, I highly recommend Alien Bees from Paul C, Buff.
PRESENT
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What is your present motivation to continue with your photography?
BRADLEY LAURENT: Art, creativity and imagination. I have a lot of wacky pictures rolling around in my head and I need to let them out. People seem to like my more creative work. and their positive feedback provides a lot of motivation.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What are you doing now to set yourself apart from other photographers? What is your niche?
BRADLEY LAURENT: My work is colorful, creative (I hope) and sometimes strange. I’ll steal this next bit from my website, GladPlanet.com, “I am currently focused on capturing the creative Hollywood subculture, in unique and different ways. I love working with creative, artistic, alternative; models, musicians & Actors and prefer shooting them outside of their normal “space”.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Do you have a studio? If so, why? What are the benefits of having a studio as a weekend photographer?
BRADLEY LAURENT: Yes, I have a studio that I rent for part of each month. It’s owned by two other really nice photographers. I don’t think all weekend photographers need a studio, but most of my projects require controlled lighting, props, seamless backdrops, etc. I work primarily with models, and usually have a makeup artist and hairstylist working with me. Having a studio makes it a lot easier for them to work their magic.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What photography resources do you consistently refer to date ? Can you name at least 5 websites you refer to religiously for your photography?
BRADLEY LAURENT: As I mentioned earlier, the 3 books I read and re-read constantly are Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson, Photographing People by Steve Luck and Portrait Photography by Mark Cleghorn.
The only photography website I refer to “religiously” is ModelMayhem.com. I aslo visit the Strobist (strobist.blogspot.com) regularly. Other than that, I view alot of photography videos on YouTube.com, but that’s about it.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Do you have any photography projects? If so, what is it and why? If not, why not?
BRADLEY LAURENT: I have a lot of photography projects in the works. I make a lot of outfits for my photoshoots. I’ve made dresses out of Popsicle sticks, sheet metal and paper just to name a few. I’m putting the finishing touches on a gown made out of drinking straws. Some of the outfits are part of a larger theme/project, other times they are the primary focus of the image.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What are your immediate goals as a photographer and artist? Are you planning on releasing any how-to books? What are your recommendations to people thinking about starting a photography book as a weekend photographer/ part time photographer?
BRADLEY LAURENT: My immediate goal is to have Gallery show, and to continue experimenting with different paper and substrates when I print. Also, as I mentioned, I make wardrobe for some of my shoots. I’m currently growing a dress, it’s made out of burlap and seeds. It should be fully grown in two weeks. I need to shoot that dress before it grows out of control, so I guess shooting it is my most immediate goal.
No, I’m not planning on writing any how to books. Anyone can self publish these days, so if someone wanted to publish a photography book I would recommend focusing on distribution and marketing.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Would you ever consider doing a workshop and share your knowledge on the weekends? If not, how do you plan to contribute to the photography community?
BRADLEY LAURENT: Yes, I would consider doing a workshop, but I’m not at the point in my career where anyone would want to listen to me talk about photography….yet.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: I am sure you’ve read many articles discussing how in the future videography and photography will be one? What are your thoughts on that and how will you evolve to the new morphed medium?
BRADLEY LAURENT: Good question. I don’t think the two mediums need to merge, some people will naturally mix the two and others will want to keep them separate. I didn’t give it much thought until I saw Video Installation Performance Artist, Tiffany Trenda at the Photo L.A.exhibit in January. She really got me thinking about video. I don’t know what I’ll do with video, but I’m sure it will be fun.
You can check out Tiffany here: www.tiffanytrenda.com
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Where do you plan to take your photography passion? Are you planning on going pro one day? If so, which area of photography are you planning on getting into professionally? If you don’t plan to go professional one day, what are you aspiring to as an amateur photographer?
BRADLEY LAURENT: I want to continue to grow creatively, I love it when people look at my work and say “Wow, where did you get that idea?”. I don’t aspire to go pro, but I do want to exhibit my work. I’ll continue to work on my creative art projects, making wardrobe and sets, the more creative, the better.
LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Thank you again for your time and giving back to the photography community. What would you like to leave for us photographers to think about when moving forward with photography for the future? If you have any words of wisdom will be appreciated.
BRADLEY LAURENT: Shoot as often as you can, and when you do, shoot the things that inspire you. Ask for advice when you need it, and except constructive criticism graciously.
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