Life & Work with Robert Martinez of East Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Martinez.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I had an ex who was a concert photographer (shouts out Bri) seeing them work to create art they were proud of and do what they love really inspired me to pick up a camera and just go for it. It’s sorta just been a hobby mostly until a few years ago when I was laid off from my old job as a runner trying to break into the VFX industry. I had some time to sit and really decide what it was I wanted to really pursue. Recently it meant sorta refining my skills and finding out what the photography scene in LA is. I also decided to go back to school specifically for photography. My networking skills are dog water. My photography really started out just wanting to capture some memories of concerts I was going to every week in my early 20’s, friends I’ve met and lost along the way, my family who were dying and getting older. It’s a little cliche, but I’m not any more complicated than a caveman putting a handprint on a wall. It’s just something to say ‘I was here, here’s what I saw’. Through that I found out I really love taking portraits of people. I try to say as much as I can with as little as possible. I don’t always succeed but I think I’m a little better than I was a year ago at executing a vision, and that’s enough for me.

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?
I’ve always found it a little difficult to find and keep my footing. My family was never the picture of stability, and as I get older I realize I’ve really been carrying a lot of that with me. I’ve been trying to let a lot of things go work on myself and just try to live my life for myself as much as I can. It feels silly to say out loud sometimes,

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Currently I’m a self taught portrait photographer. I do on set Behind the Scenes stills photography for indie movies to not pay the bills. I haven’t been doing it that long but I find each time I’m on set there’s a new challenge to overcome, or a different communication style I’m adapting to that I hope comes in handy on my next paid gig. I wouldn’t say anything about my work particularly sets me apart from anyone else, I’m starting school again soon to hopefully fix that. Finding your own voice is hard, turns out.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
This is probably a weird answer, bit of a two sides of the same coin situation I guess. I have a love hate relationship with the public transit in Los Angeles. I would be in a much worse spot if the gold line didn’t exist. I really appreciate that we live in a city where so many people advocate for the funding expanding and ease of access to public transit. Take me to the library, take me to the beach, take me to a protest, take me everywhere. On the other hand you learn the promise of expanding/funding public transit pisses some people off for whatever reason.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://robertmartinez.myportfolio.com/projects
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yucky_specialist/

Image Credits
Robert Martinez