Meet Downtown LA Photographic Artist: Michael R. Moore

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael R. Moore.

Michael R., please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
At the age of six. There was a gentleman Mr. Johnson (his son was in my class) he came to our elementary school and take photographs of us kids. One day I asked him how he did them. He said magic. He said for me to get permission to come to his darkroom. I asked my mother to get me a camera. I did and when I saw the image come up in the developer it was Magic. By the age of seven, I was in the darkroom learning how to mix chemicals, develop film and how to print iPhotos. Mr. Johnson taught me valuable lessons. How to See and Feel it. Feel and shoot it. How to Feel It as I was developing the film, How to See It and Feel It as I was printing the photo. A fifteen I I attended Skyline Magnet school. Where I started a very technical photography. I really didn’t like it. Wanted to quit. When I told my mother she encouraged me to stick with. I was glad that I had. Because it allowed me to Break the Rules and push my limits to create the images that I saw in my mind’s eye. At eighteen Kim Dawson of the Dawson Agency saw some photos that I’d shot of fellow models. She asked me “Michael why I didn’t tell her that I took photos.?” I told that it was something that I always did. She made a phone call and a feel later. Which was the beginning of my professional photography career. At the same time, I attended El Centro Junior College studying Creative Photography. Where the instructor Sharon Leeber told me that I had an Incredible eye. She encouraged me to show my photographs to a local gallery (Allen Street Gallery) that had group exhibitions called Third Sundays. One of my photographs was chosen for an upcoming show. That start me showing ing other group and sold exhibitions. I started volunteering at the Photographic Center. Which rented darkroom and studio space to photographers. They also held workshops and exhibitions from some of the great photographers. Who got to assist when they came to conduct their workshops. We as volunteers also had group exhibitions too. We as volunteers had a weekly critique group. Which help me to broaden my vision. One the day owner of the Center (Rick Elers) said thought that I should conduct my on workshop. I agreed to. It was called Fashion on location with Michael Moore. which I conducted for seven years. Also during this time I became an Artist in residence at the Starck Club. Where created photos for various Special events. One day the hair and makeup artist that I created with came to the iCenter with two guys who were starting Detour magazine. I ending up shooting the Premiere cover and 31 pages of editorial and ads inside. I shot the second issue cover and they did a profile on me. Which garnered more work. I started to travel to New York and Los Angeles to work. I had a solo exhibition at Rizzoli Bookstore. Where some of my male figure studies were shown. Which were shown to some publishers in London who were interested in publishing them. I went to London for two weeks which turned into two months. Where I worked. I returned to Dallas. Where I met Daria Retian who was the vice president of creative services for Neiman Marcus. She took me under her wing. I got to shoot some Special things for the store. All this was happening in the early to late eighties. August of 89′ I woke up one day after reading that Los Angeles was having a burgeoning photography community. I weighed the Pros and Cons of Los Angeles and New York. NYC Cold Gray and Dirty. LA Warm Bright and Dirty. Even as a kid I’d Loved the light in LA. LA won out. One week later I was living in LA. It was a rough go at first. I was living in a loft in Downtown. I ended with my first job outside of photography. Working as the assistant to the Director of Marketing for Los Angeles Theater Center for 2 1/2 years. Then Pasadena Musical Theater for four months. Then we moved to the Los Angeles Philharmonic/Hollywood Bowl for another 2 1/2 years. One I came to the realization that I truly missed photography even though I shoot head shots for actors tht were working in telemarketing. So I typed up my letter of resignation. The next morning the guy that I day working with for almost six years came into my office and said that they closing our department in two months. I never gave him my letter of resignation. The day I had booked my first shoot. Was the day of 94′ earthquake. I eventually open a studio on one of Hollywood’s main arteries. Where I stayed just short of six years, I closed my door because of the rise in my rent. While in the studio, I was hearing about photoshop and at that time. I either didn’t have the time or finances to study. Once I left my studio. I took ten monotones of Soul searching. and the Universe put things into motion. I met a someone who told that there was trade school in downtown Los Angeles where I could learn the whole Adobe Suite for 43.00. I went for an interview with the instructor (Gayle Brodie) with my portfolio in hand. I told her that I wanted to learn on computer what all I’d been doing by hand. She asked me “Can you create a file … Transport a file …Save a file?” I lied and said yes. She accepted me into the class. The first day of class I sat in front of my computer for twenty minutes before I got up the courage to ask the aide how to turn the computer on. It was another rough couple of months. My hand-eye coordination was not good. But I had learned from my mother not to give up and the instructor kept encouraging me to keep trying. One day it clicked. Then came the challenge go shooting with a digital camera. No not me. Then the instructor gave me a digital camera. It was as if I was a kid again. Shooting any and everything. my MAC became my darkroom on my desk. One day my instructor asked me to be her aide. I said no. I was a photographer. This went on for some months. I finally said I would. Only if I could take off when I got photography gigs. We went to the principle and she explained my term and he agreed. So I became her aide. I also started shoot for the school and LAUSD. I thought I’d do it for a couple of years. I did it for nine. I got attend Photoshop World in Vegas three years I a row. I still attend the one-day seminars Photoshop and Lightroom conduct at LA Convention Center. In 2012 LAUSD did a mass layoff. I took it as a sign from God that it was my time to Fly. This past June I celebrated 43 years doing what I Love to do and it’s still Magic.

Have you ever wanted to stop doing what you do and just start over?
Nope! Creating is my Life’s Blood. Yes, there have been tough times. I prayed. I believe in my Gift. Kept the Faith and I have Amazing people in my Life that kept me focus.

What would you tell someone who is just starting out?
Know your History of the Art you’re Creating, Put Love and a piece of you Soul into what you’re Creating. Don’t be concerned or worry about what others are doing Focus on your Art. Believe in You!

What are you looking forward to?
I’m most Excited about the Growth in my Art personally and professionally.

Contact Info:

• Website: iammoore.com
• Phone: 214.215.3446
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @michaelrmoore616/@mrmmoore_studios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelrmoore616 … https://www.facebook.com/MICHAELRMOORE.STUDIOS/
• Other: Twitter: @ MichaelMoore616/@ MRMSTUDIOS

Image Credit:
Top Left: EMMA MERIOBIAN Choreographer/Actress MUA: Blanche LeBeau

Top Right: KADIE LYNN Country Western Singer Semi-Finalist America Got Talent

Middle Left: NOBI CHIDI Documentary Director “Master No!” MUA: Miki Ali

MIddle Right: STANLEY KENNETH ETOTY Acto/Model “Prisoner of My Love” MUA: MIKI

Middle Left BRYSHERE “YAZZ” GRAY Actor/MC “EMPIRE” TV Show

Middle Right: ADAM BRYANT Actor/Model

Bottom Left: IX-CHEL SANDIVEL Artist/Model and SIMBA ZINDOGA MC/Artist Simba Zindoga Hairstylists: Joslyn Beard and Vee Prince Beard MUA: Melissa Hibbert

Bottom Right: LUCY LOMURO Hairstylist/Model “Afro Child is Golden” MAU: Miki Ali