Meet North Hollywood Photographer and Entrepreneur: Orada Jusatayanond

Today we’d like to introduce you to Orada Jusatayanond.

Orada, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always loved photography as a child since my grandfather loved taking photos, capturing every moment with me and my Grandma. I received my first camera when I was 15 and it became just a fun hobby at the time. When I turned 19, I came to America to study music and sound design at Berklee College of Music. After graduation, I moved to LA and worked at a post production house doing sound effects for film. We worked on everything from comedies to meaningful documentaries. One, in particular, was very special to me. It was a film about a famous photographer, William Eggleston. He is a truly amazing artist and I was reminded of this incredible art form and reignited my passion for photography. I bought my first digital 2-megapixel camera and started taking photos of everything, street garbage, broken glass window, things people take for granted everyday. All this was still a hobby until 2008, after having worked on a featured film trailer, I got a bit of money to buy my first used Nikon DSLR, the D70, and a few lens. I bought one light and went to the Burbank library and borrowed a bunch of old photography books. I studied them and experimented with mannequins or friends. At the time, my boss also got less sound jobs coming in so eventually I got laid off my sound job of 10 years. A friend advised me to start my own business. Since I love vintage things, she suggested a vintage clothing business. I went into it not knowing where it was going to lead me. I began hiring models to model some clothes for my store and learned to photograph people with the clothes. Soon, it became so much fun and I started putting up photos I took on Model Mayhem (a fashion industry networking website for models), and more and more people sent me messages telling me how much they loved my photographs. I was really surprised. In 2010, I officially began my business and have worked with some amazing boutiques, advertising campaigns for real estate companies, various modeling agencies doing headshots, model portfolios, musicians and bands, plus worked with a few famous designers since. My work has also been published via my stock photo agency, Alamy (a very well established UK based stock photo agency), all over the world via magazines, book covers. I am constantly looking for new ideas, locations to create new bodies of work so more of my photographs get more licensed in the near future. Recently I have also taken up learning video and planning to direct short fashion film projects.

Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been easy at all switching careers doing something you’ve never done or gone to school for. I had to start from scratch and learn to take risks and believe in myself.

When you look back, what are you most proud of?
The proudest moment for me was when I took photos of this old man who sells Thai barbecue chicken on the street in the rural part of Thailand. I told my Dad to pull over to help buy chicken from him. I took snapshots of him and his barbecue chicken on a grill. He asked if I would mind sending him these photos. I told him absolutely I would send him these photos. They were digital of course and that would mean I’d have to print them out and send it to him. After I came back to LA, I sent him these photos as promised of course. My Dad brought it to him and he told me how happy I made him that I remember. He admitted to my Dad that as old as he was, he’s never been photographed before in his life!!! He loves the barbecue chicken photo that I took as well and asked if he could take it to be made into a sign for his shop, hence increasing visibility as cars pass by. At that moment, I couldn’t feel prouder as a photographer. Even though those were mere snapshots! The difference I made in his life was tremendous. I can’t imagine anyone not being photographed. It reminded me how fortunate we are to have phone cameras and digital cameras and buy things we want. The things we take for granted. There are still people in this world who don’t have even the basic necessities, let alone be photographed! This experience really moved me. I told the Chicken man if he ever needs a proper food photography done, or want his portraits done, he can count on me anytime. No charge!!! I would love to do more of this, serving others in need with my gift in the future. Right now, I am still in need of income to pay my bills so I am not able to volunteer as much. I have had the past opportunities to photograph some products for a friend’s nonprofit organization (The Spiral Foundation) that helps children with illnesses and provide jobs in Nepal and Vietnam. Recently, I just help photograph my friend’s nonprofit bracelet logo, #vagatala, a nonprofit organization in Sweden that helps children and adults cope with their past sexual abuse, raises society’s awareness and prevention of sexual abuse.

Were there moments when you had to struggle?
I had lots to struggle and I am still struggling. I’ve been constantly asked by some magazines to do front covers and spreads, or photograph for a Billboard, major fashion week events with no pay or little pay. I, of course, refused those jobs. I take pride in my work so this is why I only take on clients who are fair to me. It’s a very competitive market and I think many artists out there cannot pay their bills, so they give in to these low paying clients and work for peanuts. This brings down the whole industry’s standards! I wish all artists would for once stand up for themselves take pride in their work and refuse to work for such companies and demand more respect for how much they are worth. Don’t be afraid to walk away from a bad deal. Another door will always open if you respect yourself and your art.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
LA is a great place with many cool locations to shoot, filled with many talented artists so I feel it is good for me to be here career wise since I do a lot of stock photography. It’s easy for me to network with models, make-up artists, hair stylists, and designers. For someone who’s just starting out, though, I feel it’s very important for them to start just where they are, become the master of their craft, test as much as possible. Ask yourself, can you move people’s emotions with your photographs? Does your art make you feel something? Are they telling stories? Build a solid portfolio and never stop learning. Your body of work will be your resume. It will speak for itself when you move to LA. I also highly recommend learning how to market yourself online and offline (something I am still learning myself…lol). A network as much as possible, carry business cards with your best photos on them! Talent alone is not enough. But I truly believe when you do something out of pure love and passion, people will take notice. Persevere and never give up. Keep learning, be that kid that’s full of curiosity and wonder. Be in constant motion, it’s all about taking action. When you work hard, the right people will appear in your life to take you places. I truly believe in synchronicity and trusting the force!

I think our city need to be more generous to artists. I think it’s not only our city, though, it’s the whole country, and the whole world in general. Artists get exploited. Budgets get cut. I wish people would realize they can’t take money with them when they die, so they might as well be kind and generous to others. Without art, and creativity, our soul wither away and die. Look at people like Walt Disney! There wouldn’t be Disneyland or Mickey Mouse without him and his love for animations and the arts. It’s truly inspiring!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oradajphotography.com
• Phone: 818-859-6969
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @oradajphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/oradajphotography

Image Credit:
Photo 1: Model: Sebastian Lysen, Stylist: Alannah Jones, Hair & Make Up: Timothy Willy
Photo 2: Model : Sam Ferrier Make-Up & Hair: Joel Sebastian
Photo 3: Model: Sebastian Lysen, Stylist: Alannah Jones, Hair & Make Up: Timothy Willy
Photo 4 & 5: Model: Lindsay Rae, Designer: Gary Allen, Hair & Make-Up: Joel Sebastian,
Assistant Make-up: Rowena Cuenca
Photo 6: Model: Julian Foster Make-Up & Hair: Joel Sebastian
Photo 7: Model: Eden Muse, Make-Up & Hair: Eden Muse
Photo 8: Model : Sam Ferrier Make-Up & Hair: Joel Sebastian