January 8, 2017

Meet Joe Schmelzer

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Schmelzer.

He might have taken an entirely different career path had it not been for Mohammad Ali.

While the bedrooms of his junior-high classmates were plastered with posters of Big Hair Bands and bigger-haired babes, not so Joe’s walls. Commanding the space above his twin beds hung only a framed black-and-white portrait of the history-making heavyweight — one of a limited edition signed by photographer Yousuf Karsh. Placed there by Joe’s father because (though “a solid investment”) it absolutely did not go with the downstairs decor, the photo would impact Joe’s life more than anyone could have imagined: Under the shadow of The Greatest, Joe says, “Something just clicked.”

Nearly two decades later, Joe is an editorial and commercial photographer specializing in hotel, food, environmental and celebrity portraits. Recognized for the natural window light quality of his images — and a knack for making even the prickliest subjects feel at ease — Joe is a familiar presence in the travel, shelter, and entertainment markets. His work has appeared in every major interiors-centric magazine, website and blog, and is regularly featured in the editorial pages of Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Vogue UK, Sunset and Travel + Leisure. Joe also contributed the images (and lots of inspiration) to The First Apartment Book: Cool Design for Small Spaces (Clarkson Potter, 2012), a collaboration with interior-stylist-to-the-stars Kyle Schuneman and style writer Heather Summerville.

Joe’s ability to help clients achieve their own creative visions has made him a sought-after commercial photographer, as well, for high-profile brands including Dorchester Hotel Collection, Sub-Zero/Wolf Appliances, O’ahu Visitors Bureau, and Pottery Barn. An added bonus: His capacity to be productive at any hour. By the time everyone stumbles in for an 8 a.m. shoot, Joe’s had three coffees, washed his car, bought jeans on eBay and marinated a brisket.

Holding a BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and MFA from California Institute of the Arts, Joe strives in his work to both maintain the artistic perspectives and characteristics of traditional photography as well as incorporate innovative technology. This is reflected throughout all of his projects, professional and personal; reflected also is Joe’s desire to capture the extraordinary in seemingly mundane moments. Recent gallery exhibitions — displayed as puzzle-like, autobiographical narratives — explore everything from rural roadhouses to random flatware to burnt-out beach bonfires. Also: masculine beauty and attraction, dogs and bacon. “Never enough pictures of bacon,” explains Joe.

Originally from suburban Cleveland (yes, Shaker Heights), Joe and longtime canine sidekick Parker now make their home-office in Silver Lake, a ridiculously popular section of Los Angeles. (Even though he’ll always root for the Indians over the Dodgers/Angels, L.A.’s power brokers recently named Joe an Ambassador of Good Will for his “exemplary efforts” to make the city a better place.) Never far from a vintage boutique, fair trade/organic coffee outlet or mumbling hipster, Joe oversees all aspects of photo/video projects through his independently owned company, Treasurbite Studio, Inc.

When not doing something photography-related, Joe can be found listening to indie Britpop band James, debating the virtues of each Clue ending, or CrossFitting himself into a human machine.

About Trasurbite
Treasurbite Studio is not just a clever euphemism for Joe’s home-office.

Yes, it shares the same address and phone number. But Treasurbite Studio is a full-service image-production boutique, launched in 1999 to help clients most effectively streamline and accomplish their visual content endeavors.

A natural (and much-needed) extension of his commercial photography work — assignments rarely begin and end on location — Joe initially founded the quirkily spelled studio to assist clients who needed more consistent, reliable production resources. Since then, Treasurbite has evolved into what Joe, the studio’s owner, and president, calls “a one-stop shop for image production.” Its mission — to make every project easier for the client — applies to jobs of almost any kind, corporate to catalogs, editorial to e-commerce. No matter how ambitious.

Though physically based in L.A.’s hipster-strewn Silver Lake neighborhood, there are few geographical limits to Treasurbite Studio’s reach. From concept consultation to post-processing, Treasurbite can provide production and creative services almost anywhere in the U.S., New York to Hawaii, Texas to Tennessee, Ohio (of course) — and overseas, as well. These include pre-shoot prep, location scouting, lighting-scheme/prop design, creative resources, casting, stylists, hair and make-up, designers, art directors, videographers, catering, digital/software techs, social media, photo/production assistants, retouchers, videographers, producers, travel logistics, equipment/vehicle rental, permits, processing, custom digital/traditional darkroom printing … and more. (Yes, Treasurbite hoodies are available.)

With the same meticulous attention to detail he displays behind the camera, Joe oversees and coordinates each Treasurbite photo/video project, carefully bringing together exactly the right team of professionals for the assignment at hand. And while Joe firmly believes there are benefits to working with “a talented, fun, creative crew,” he also expects them to share and uphold his work ethic: to meet aggressive deadlines, stick to the budget, handle tough situations with professionalism, humor, and grace — and deliver outstanding results.

As for the studio’s name? It does have a slightly risque ring to it but actually originated with fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. “Treasurbite: That’s the best part of the cookie,” explains Joe. “And just like with cookies, when you bring the right ingredients together and mix them the right way, the result is something that can’t get any better.”

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