Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Jason Sean Weiss of Hollywood

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jason Sean Weiss. Check out our conversation below.

Jason, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Anyone who knows me knows that I have a passion for food, restaurants, and to a lesser and more unsuccessful extent, cooking. I am really, really good at blowing all of my disposable income on dining. Recently, I started a very un-serious talk show with my dear friend Chris Alvarez-Jett, who is a Chef de Partie at Seline in Santa Monica. It’s called Like a Ritual, and you can find it on Apple and Spotify Podcasts. We talk about our recent dining experiences, things going on in the restaurant world, and even recommend some albums at the end of each episode.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am currently a Principal Photographer for BFA, a global photo agency based in NYC that specializes in high fashion, entertainment, art, and culture events. You can find me photographing fashion shows, red carpets, art fairs, exclusive dinners, after parties, and really anything in-between. I’m eternally grateful to have the opportunity to meet some far-out people, travel the country, and document some fun, unique, and special moments. I’ve been published by institutions such as Vogue, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal, and even the MICHELIN Guide. And, I have a budding, personal client base that extends my reach into editorial, portraiture, food, and even wedding photography.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I’ve lived a fair number of lives before the world decided I should be a photographer. My first job was at my local Yogurtland. I worked there for nearly 3 years, on-and-off. I rose through the sticky ranks and messy toppings to become a Shift Manager, and generally enjoyed my time. It was there that I found my love for washing dishes—a highly underrated form of catharsis. And, I had so much fun playing and dancing to my favorite, NSFW music in the back with my co-workers, and handing out free yogurt to my friends.

I worked at Mitsuwa, a Japanese-American grocery store chain, for a few months. I worked at Smashbox Studios, a media studio and equipment rental facility, for maybe a month. I photographed and videographed weddings, on-and-off for about five years, for a great team called Prince Weddings out in Orange County. And, just before I got into shooting events, I worked as a Marketing Manager and Content Creator for a third-wave coffee shop mini-chain called GREENDOOR Powered by Intelligentsia. Very odd time in my life, but I learned a lot about things that have nothing to do with where I’m at now, professionally.

But, outside of my professional life, I was an avid concertgoer, and just an average dude who had no real skill or passion for anything besides hanging out with his friends, and going through the motions of life.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
It’ll all work out in the end. But, if you follow your heart more than you follow what you think the “right” thing is to do, maybe things will work out even better than you imagined.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Enjoying the time you have now, ’cause tomorrow ain’t guaranteed. And, good food.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Saving money. It’s cliché, but I kinda live my life in this way currently. I don’t save as much as I should. I do things that make me happy today, because nothing in this life is guaranteed. I travel as much as I can. I dine out as much as I can, and when I’m not, I try to make fun, seasonal meals at home with quality ingredients. I buy clothes from my favorite designers. I just buy things that make me happy. I spend time with my friends as much as possible and tell them I love them. I see my favorite artists perform. I see my favorite films in old theaters, or watch the classics at home with my partner. And, I spend maybe too much on rent because living in a beautiful place is important to me. So, even if I knew I had a decade left to live… I wouldn’t really change a thing. Unless, of course, I was given more money. Then I would travel and dine out every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jasonseanweiss.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonseanweiss

Image Credits
Jason Sean Weiss/BFA.com