Today we’d like to introduce you to Kilo Alexander.
Kilo, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started about 11 years ago. got my first point and shoot camera and just started taking random pictures of everything and anything. sometimes I’d post stuff on my myspace which was the “it” social media at the time. people would then comment on my photos saying really inspiring things…which got me thinking. hey, maybe this could be something. so I went out and bought a 400 dollar DSLR with and actual lens. started going out and doing scenic photography. then the comments and messages starting to pour in. people wanted me to do their photos and offering me money. after a year of experimenting with all that and teaching myself editing using photoshop. I dropped about 9k on some professional gear. New body, 5 lenses and everything. from then on I started paying my bills with doing photography for clients and businesses.
Has it been a smooth road?
It actually hasn’t. There have been times I would give up so it would seem. I would put my gear in my closet and there it would sit for 2-6 months at a time. overall it would be the clients that would upset me the most… Canceling on a shoot or just not following through. that was the hardest part. being good at something and actually enjoying it and not being able to do it can really let you down. You just have to be patient, network and keep moving forward.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I would love to stay busy with photography, acting and writing. as of now, I’m a representative for Prada but my passion is anything of the arts. nothing fills my soul with joy than doing a photo shoot for a client, sitting home and editing the pictures in my office.
Let’s go backward a bit – can you tell us about the most trying time in your career?
I would have to say it was clients that were unsure of wanting pictures done that would bring me down. they’d contact me excited to work, their excitement would get me energized to shoot and edit… the day of they would cancel. it’s like waiting in line all day for a specific ride at universal studios and right when you get your chance to board the ride, they shut it down and turn you away. it hurts, it really does. not being able to do something you love and find was your forte in life…best thing to do is just shake it off and move forward. that small moment in time does not define your character, abilities or stature.
Are there days when you feel like you’ve done everything you wanted to, careerwise – the “I’ve made it” kind of moments?
Well, it was about my second year into photography and I got a call from a friend that was doing an event for the actress Glenn Close. her daughter was getting married and I got selected to do the photos at her wedding. I was floored, shocked and ecstatic. after I did that I found I was busier than I had ever been with clients asking me to do photo work for them. another side thing that boosted my status of a photographer was that I was in movies. in the year of 2011, I did 3 films back to back, that got me recognition in my hometown of Portland Maine. I was in “What’s your number. Here comes the Boom and Ted”. when word traveled back to my city that I was in those films more people seemed to want to work with me for probably that reason. from then on I did more films and tv shows but once I moved out of Maine my photography slowed down and I took on other artistic projects.
Pricing:
- 5 shots fully edited and retouched. $200
- 12 shots fully edited and retouched. $400
- 25 shots fully edited and retouched. $700
Contact Info:
- Website: https://500px.com/kiloalexander
- Phone: 818-720-8592
- Email: [email protected]
