Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Ayers.
Justin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I began taking photographs for fun when I was an early teenager, and I mostly wandered my neighborhood in Los Angeles with friends and played with an old point-and-shoot camera. I received my first DSLR camera on my 15th birthday, and that’s when I began to see the power photography held. I took some courses at my high school, where my fantastic teacher graciously showed me the ropes and basics of studio lighting. This was when I began to use photography as an outlet of expression instead of just a means of having fun.
Upon graduating high school, I studied photography & video at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the central coast, and wow, what a fantastic experience that was. I chose to go to a state school over an arts school because I wanted my years in college to be surrounded by people interested in a wide array of subjects. I knew this would open my mind to different experiences than mine while also fostering a space where I could hone in on my craft. Thankfully, my thoughts were correct. I had friends who studied photography with me, but I also had many friends who had no interest in art beyond the fact that they found it pretty. The landscapes of the central coast also provided some of the most beautiful locations to explore photography. The central coast allowed me to escape Los Angeles and find a calmness that led to personal exploration and growth that I struggled to achieve in LA.
Through my years in college, I worked towards rediscovering and reopening the part of my mind where my “inner child” lives—attempting to push myself both creatively and mentally, challenging myself to push the boundaries of what I see as possible, and collaborating with others to make my visions come to life. I worked closely with a local magazine that highlighted the underground music and arts scene in San Luis Obispo. Here I began forming relationships with brands and bands in the area.
Upon graduating and moving back to Los Angeles about six months ago, I began sharing my work on social media to reach a broader client base. I feel so grateful to have found many amazing people to work with within the Los Angeles area through social media. Today, I am working full-time as a freelance photographer in Los Angeles. My work blends historical fashion and artistic movements with contemporary trends to create highly stylized and fantastical imagery.
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?
It has been a challenging road, but I also consider myself very lucky to have the ability to pursue my passion.
When I initially began to dive into photography, it was an outlet to express myself before I knew how to do so correctly. It took years of exploring what I enjoyed photographing and who I am to discover the style I have today. I am constantly doing this and don’t believe this will ever end.
As artists and people, if we ever stop pushing ourselves, we will never continue to grow and learn more. However, with this comes a lot of difficult choices. You have to leave certain relationships behind, change habits you’ve had your whole life, and unlearn lessons taught to me at a very young age. However, with changes that were sometimes extremely difficult and taxing came many fantastic opportunities and experiences. Closing old doors that had been holding me back allowed new doors to open, which led me to meet some of the most unique and influential people I have known.
I have also struggled with imposter syndrome and feeling that my work will never be good enough. When I experience bouts of these emotions, I allow myself to feel them and understand why I’m experiencing this and where it’s stemming from. This allows me to see it as another opportunity for growth and learning more about who I am and who I want to become. The strange thing is, for years now, I have not been affected by someone not liking my artwork. In college, I discovered that my photographs would not be loved by everyone, and that’s okay. I don’t create imagery for everyone on the planet, I make it for myself, and if people enjoy it, then all the better, but at the end of the day, what I think is most important, and I have also proved to be my own harshest critic.
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’m a full-time freelance photographer and art director based on the West Side of Los Angeles, CA. I have developed a unique eye that draws inspiration from contemporary trends and blends these with historical fashion and artistic movements to create highly stylized and fantastical photographic works. I work closely with each of my clients to assist in bringing their vision to life.
I am known for working with bands, brands, influencers, and businesses. I like to approach every project with the mindset that it’s just as important to me as it is to them. I meet with each client for an initial phone call to discuss who they are as an entity and what they hope to get from the photoshoot. Once I understand their preferred aesthetics, I begin conceptualizing a few concepts for them to review. Sometimes clients have a starting point; other times, I go off the energy I feel from the call. After that initial call, we stay in communication up until the date of their photoshoot.
I am incredibly proud of how far I’ve come, from taking photos on benches in my neighborhood to shooting in studios bigger than I could’ve dreamed.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
First, I feel like I am just starting. That said, if you are picking up a camera for the first time, take photos of everything and anything you can. If you are inspired by it, capture it, explore it, and learn from it. Eventually, you’ll discover what speaks to you. People speak to me; for others it’s food or architecture.
If you’re pursuing photography as a career, put yourself out there. That’s all I have to say. Post your work, email modeling agencies, brands you admire, and magazines you’re inspired by. You may get one response for every ten emails into the void, but that’s all it takes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jayersphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinnayers/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinayerss/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jayersphoto
Image Credits
Personal photo: Cristina Golubovich
