Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Monick.
Hi Dan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Its a pretty long and winding road but it started with finding Nan Goldin’s The Ballad Of Sexual Dependency in a bookstore when I was 18, to getting kicked out of a writing class and getting accepted into Carrie Mae Weems’ Photo 1 class, to meeting and shooting with Sean Daley from Atmosphere in 98 to going to a meeting at Interscope and the creative director being a woman who had worked at a bar I used to basically live at in Boston to always loving all night newsstands and neon to realizing our world and creativity and so much of our ways of attempting intimacy and connection are washed in an undercurrent of shame that I would love to help any artist cut through. Now I focus on running my press, supporting trans and queer artists, especially those in the SWer and SWer adjacent community, taking up as little space as possible and shooting what I love. I’ve been super lucky and have a ton of privilege. I try to use that to others advantage whenever possible.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I currently drive a pick up truck. One of my favorite parts about it is, because of the suspension and height, I don’t really have to slow down when I go over speed bumps. They are kind of exhilarating. The faster I go over them the smoother it is. I look forward to speed bumps now.
Any time of my life that has seemed dark has always provided the greatest light at the end of the day. I look back at some phenomenally horrible times with what is close to joy now as I made it through, I learned something about myself and how to treat others and I gained a lot of perspectives. So in a way, those rough spots can seem very smooth in hindsight. Long story longer, I’ve had very little formal training. And what opportunities I had for training in my youth, I had a tendency to cast aside as I grew up with the whole fake it till you make it school. Now there are aspects of that which are very helpful but if I give anyone any advice it’s to ask questions, make mistakes with glee, own up to them and know that it will most likely make you better at what you do, find the truest way to be yourself. Pretending you know something that you don’t is the quickest way to shut out true communication. I try not to be scared, I try to be curious.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer and a publisher. I have worked commercially and with a lot with musicians over the years. My “career” happened basically cause I locked in with an artist that blew up and they were pretty cool about taking me along with them. Then it was just all about finding my voice, a bunch of lucky circumstances and a ton of work. It was also about coming to terms with the fact that I would shoot and make books no matter what. That is the driving force. I will always do this. I don’t really know how to communicate any other way. Books are how I discovered photography and zines were how I discovered a lot of music so after a while I started a small zine press. That grew into doing some books, participating in fairs, and the press just became an art form in itself. The process of making a book or any printed matter is a huge joy.
I have played many rolls with my work over the years, some of it kinda dumb and just attempts at making money but a few years ago I really truly found my shooting voice and also my purpose with the press. And these days my biggest service photography wise is you are not going to get anything but a POV that you will only get from me. I shoot the way I shoot. Thats it. It may lead to fewer “clients” in a lot of ways but it has also led me to working with certain folks for decades now. It took me forever to feel confident in my voice and my biggest regret is not having the courage to find it sooner because I feel I would have been way more successful had that happened TBH.
With my press, I really love helping people break down the barrier between having an idea and making it a physical object. I love books but these days I mostly try to help people find a unique frame up for their work that gives it a bit more character and emotional response. Books are dope and there are a lot of people out there who will make them way better than me, but I will help an artist create an object with their work. Something that supports it versus just presenting it. My work with the press along with my life experience has led to a lot of involvement with the sex worker community. I have never experienced more creativity, tenacity and self empowerment in any other group of people. Helping pave pathways for the immense artistry, fighting back against deep stigma this community faces and having really frank conversations with civilian friends about it has been rewarding beyond belief. And in turn I hope that I can return that reward by supporting and promoting the work and the artists involved.
What makes you happy?
Cracking the right people up. Making someone laugh is the best feeling in the world
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dmonick.com and www.cashmachine.la
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cashmachinela/ and https://www.instagram.com/danmonick/
Image Credits
Ant Minneapolis 2020
VHEX at Teaze 2025
Yuki Yamauchi Los Angeles 2025
Rayne at Teaze 2025
Coyotes Los Angeles 2024
Cash Machine 2025
Japandroids 2024
Yuki Balenciaga Milan 2025
Bangkok 2025
All photos by Dan Monick
