Meet Kyle Christy of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Christy.

Hi Kyle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My Professional Bio:
Based in Los Angeles, California for the last 20 years Kyle has enjoyed a prolific career as a still Photographer and more recently-Director. Working some of the biggest names in Sports, Entertainment, and Music, his work appearing all around the globe.

Kyle’s ability to go from still photographer to motion director on a single set puts him in a class of his own.

His attention to detail along with his eye for dynamic lighting and ability to quickly connect with his subjects is what sets him apart from others.

Some of Kyle’s clients are the NFL, NBA, NHL, Disney+, Netflix, Top Gear, ESPN, Pepsi, Audi, National Geographic, CNN and the Wu-Tang Clan.

Additional details about me… Growing up as an only child with a single Mom made me more creative, responsible and resilient in a time before the internet. I had to play by myself, make things by hand and dream up ideas rather than click and scroll to find my place in the world… this served me well in my life and career. Today I feel like I have a foot on both sides of the digital and analoge space as well as the old and young generations. I can work with someone like Will Smith one day and Jake Paul the next and vibe with them both equally. At my core Im a portrait Photographer… and capturing a special moment in a session doesnt just happen… for some people-having their picture taken is like going to the dentist so I typically have some hurtles. I do LOVE the moment where a shy subject opens up and then loves the images we create when they started out saying ” I hate having my picture taken”.

I feel very fourtunate to work in the areas I enjoy Sports,Music and Entertainment… Ive met some of my heros and NOT been disappointed and stood in rooms I would have never dreamed of… all because of my skills with the camera-amazing!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When breaking into a market like LA as a creative… nothing is smooth or a direct line… My first few yrs I just said yes to everything and made the most of every opportunity, I took jobs just for money, I took jobs just for creative freedom, I took jobs I didnt want to do at all… some of those turned into large scale projects and I met people who I still work with 20yrs later. Never underestimate the idea that you might meet someone whos a PA on set that turns into your biggest collaborator or client 5yrs later.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a Photographer coming up… I tried everything, experimented and found who I was as an artist. I was great at connecting with people and creating beautiful images. After many year of hustle and hard work I became a master of that craft… and started to get bored… even while working with the top people on high level projects-I just wasnt challeged like I was when coming up. That moment coincided with still cameras having video capibilities, so this opened my creative mind and created different opportunities as a “hybrid” Photographer. Clients asked for a little video here and there so it was a chance to learn more skills. This turned into Directing opportunities… where Id do the job of 2 people and it was very helpful in my business. From that Ive really embraced directing and thrived when given the chance. I love photography soo much-Its an actual piece of me but directing makes me feel “new” again because I dont know everything inside & out- I love that.

As a Photographer… Ive been able to work on a wide variety of truly amazing projects but the one(two) that stick out for me are the shows for National Geographic “Welcome to Earth and Pole to Pole. I was a city boy thrown into extreme conditions w/ Will Smith and charged with producing high level stills for marketing the show. We traveled the world doing some of the most incredible things for these shows that lead me to shoot some of the most meaningful images of my career -It was a dream come true. The 2nd is when I directed social content on the red carpet at the Oscars for the Academy. I helped design the set, the music -everything, was so fun to be a part of the Oscars!

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Im always searching for new creatives to work with… LA is a place where people find their squad and dont go outside that to often but at this point I get juiced up when working with new people. I can always learn something from someone and vice-versa.

I look for young photographers to mentor all the time and take great joy in helping them find themselves.

Pricing:

• I dont let budgets get in the way if I want to shoot something,Ill always make it work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://KyleChristy.com
• Instagram: @KyleChristy

Image Credits
all mine