October 15, 2016

Meet Hermosa Beach Photographer: Kurt Lindner

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kurt Lindner.

Kurt, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Originally heading advertising, I took a black and white photo course with a friend on a lark in 2003 and immediately knew I would be changing course. After a handful of photography courses at El Camino, I realized I needed to seek out more advanced tutelage. In 2005 I decided to focus on fashion and commercial work for its balance of technical and creative sides. Through a wardrobe stylist friend, I started assisting Giuliano Bekor, a top tier fashion and celebrity photographer. I quickly learned the higher level aspects of the business through him and was fortunate to work with clients such as Harper’s Bazaar, BEBE, and Emporio Armani; as well as travel to the likes of Guatemala, Miami, and Las Vegas many times. In 2009 I started reaching out and getting my own clients and strengthening my own network. In 2016 my goals are to build a celebrity portfolio, add more editorial work, start a fine art series in pre-production for 2 years, and expand on another fine art series in-process for the last 3 years.

Has it been a smooth road?
I’ve definitely experienced my bumps in the road. Freelance is tough by itself, and that is compounded when you’re a creative doing seriously uncreative marketing and legwork just to get jobs, and pre-production is rarely fun. All in all, though, it’s worth it -at the end of the day you get to make money for making something beautiful, hanging out with fun attractive people, while playing dress-up -and craft services is always nice.

What role has luck had in your life and career?
It has without a doubt shaped where I am now. Thankfully, all the bad luck yielded benefits in the end; through crossing paths with a few unscrupulous people I walked away with some of the strongest and most talented friends to show for it.

Do you feel like there are certain traits that increase the likelihood of success?
I’d like to say skill is the most quality one can have, but honestly, I’d have to say tenacity is key; without a doubt constant perseverance is necessary.

What do you love about our city and what do you dislike?
I love Hermosa, my family has lived here for 3 generations. I love the people, practically everyone is 2 or 3 degrees of separation from knowing everyone else. Whenever walking my dog, or jogging, it’s a unique, nice, experience to pass by similar people each day, some who I know no more than by face, but you still feel very attached to everybody.

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