Check Out Ana Gibert’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Gibert.

Hi Ana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began shooting in black and white film, with Canon. At first it was a personal passion, that evolved. One day I went to see a band perform ( it was one of the older venues in Silver Lake), called the Shys. I decided to photography them, as they reminded me of the Rolling Stones and after the show, I approached the band and asked if they were interested in the images. They were excited I was shooting in film and black and white, and hence a friendship commenced.
Once I delivered the images they posted them online, and then my journey in photography began in earnest. That relationship took me to SXSW festival, a collaboration on the Sunset Strip(my idea for a shoot), which led to a Billboard Grand Prize contest win for photography series. On my trip to SXSW festival, while getting ready to shoot I was approached by a publisher (Suzanne Cadgene, Elmore Magazine) who said ” send me your images and I will publish them”! It’s honestly a miracle the card wasn’t lost, but when I made it back I followed through and thus began a 20 year relationship. I have been fortunate and had opportunities that I am not sure would exist today, however I also took risks and almost never took no to be an answer.
Before going to the SXSW festival, I decided I needed to be competitive as a concert photographer and invested in both the lenses and the brand new Canon MK I digital. It was the first of it’s kind and the beginning of the DSLR,
I learned on the job, and just gave it my best. From then forward my career evolved from live concert photography( Coachella, Bonnarroo, Outside Lands, Stagecoach etc), to editorial photography, commercial photography, and portraiture. At that time, there were very few women in the pit and it was a super competitive environment where the first three songs were it. The pit was a coveted place with credentials, and you needed to be quick and accurate to get the usable photos. I always had my own esthetic, which involved manual shooting for light and also perspective.
As I did live in Los Angeles for many years, I handled the middle US to the west coast. I love Los Angeles, and still have clients there. As my career has evolved, so have the needs. I have expanded to do productions, hire crews and of course include video. In addition, I consult as well. My goals is to grow and evolve and use all technologies.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The struggles were always there, the editing technology does not always keep up with the demands of the equipment.
The demands of clients is delivery, and the speed at which you are able to process images. As the file sizes and video files get larger your equipment and programs must keep up with that demand.
As a creator I never settle for what I can improve, and over time those tools have exponentially changed.
I am very excited to be collaborating on a system that will exponentially help with my current archive which spans 20 years.
On the other side it’s also growing as an artist out in the field, and getting comfortable asking and directing.
I remember my mentor telling me, “you are there, do something with it”! It was an eye opener because it is one thing to shoot someone performing, it’s another to ask, direct look for a good spot and execute in the moment.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have always been known for my work through concert photography. However, that has evolved over the years, to incorporate production, video, events, portraits and commercial brand. I am most proud of how I am able to capture artists, and connect with them. What sets me apart from others is that I have experience in 360 degrees of the artistic fields. I began as a performer on stage, evolved into a photographer and also experienced both artist management and tour management. Those experiences give me a unique and personal perspective when working with clients and artists. I feel it is important to guide through all different aspects of the behind the scenes journey to achieve what the artist and client has as a vision for themselves. The elevation of content, and curation of vision has become exceedingly important. So it is no longer just one arena that one must consider but all areas that enter the public realm. I believe I offer a unique and comprehensive perspective, with a clear creative and elevated execution.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters to me the most is integrity. As. I work with clients at all stages of their careers, it is very important for me to honor their vision and be sensitive to the challenges as they put themselves forward.
Creating a vision that aligns with who the client is, and allowing that to be fluid as we move through the process.
I have always felt that being onstage or in front of a camera is not a natural state. So I feel the responsibility of guiding them though it and creating something special.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.anagibert.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anagibertphoto1/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anagibert/

Image Credits
All images are mine.
Janelle Monet, Cage The Elephant, Monarch, Mike D(Beastie Boys)