Conversations with Jon Del Real

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Del Real.

Hi Jon, 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?
People had faith in me. They’ve taken chances with me, and it either paid off or burned them. From DIY shows to festivals, brand launches, and magazine features—someone took a risk betting the glorified memorializing of their curated experiences on someone who didn’t even graduate high school. It’s worked out for them so far.

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?
Art costs a lot. Being raised in poverty and not going to college where you’d have the chance to immerse yourself in it alongside peers on the same journey as you where you can grow alongside each other and push each other to greater heights—kinda starts you off a bit below the pack. I’ve made my way up though.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I do people photos. I mainly cover live music + artistic events, and portraiture (emphasis on editorial/lifestyle/fashion/nudity). I’ve been blessed to have done album covers, have had work featured on publications like i-D and The Washington Post, and so many other things that are too much to cover.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Get into it. No doubts. Just start making your art. Learn to love it at that moment because it’s what your capable of at that point in time, then grow to hate it because you’re growing as an artist and witness how far you’ve come. Make friends with people work with them. We are all on the same path, artists growing parallel—share these precious moments with them. We are coming of age.

Pricing:

• $400/2hr portraits (no retouching)
• $150/hr events
• $800 album/promo photos (indie)
• $2000 album/promo photos (signed)
• $2000 fashion/lifestyle brand projects

Contact Info:

• Website: jonnybaby.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jondelreal

Image Credits
Phillip Morton III, Jon Del Real