Today we’d like to introduce you to Spencer Klein.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Spencer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Griffith Park with my younger brother and parents. My love for photography comes from my late grandparents’ enthusiasm for it. They bought me my first camera when I was a kid. It was a small digital camera that also had a video function. I used to run around with it, photographing everything from my family to random little things that caught my eye. From there, I developed a love for the art. Fast forward to 2018, when my grandfather passed away at the age of 80. I was a junior at Skidmore College pursuing a Business degree & a career in film/television production and felt a bit lost. So, after scoring higher on an exam than I had dreamed of, I decided to purchase a film camera. This reinvigorated my passion for photography. That summer, my family took a trip to Israel to celebrate my grandfather’s life. I’m not sure what happened after that trip but I ended up fully throwing myself into portrait photography as a side hustle. Now, I work with brands of all kinds as I look to build my following and name as a photographer (even though it’s a side hustle of mine).
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been mostly smooth but there have been some struggles. For one, I’ve been flaked on, ghosted, ripped off, and disrespected by some people I had tried to work with. Last year, when I lived in Georgia, I didn’t get to shoot with anyone because every person I tried to work with ended up flaking on me. Also, as someone who has never taken a formal photography class, learning the technical side of photography was a challenge at times. Also, because I prefer to use 35mm film whenever possible, learning exactly how to meter and shoot on film to get the best possible images has been a challenge, but a fun one.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Spencer Klein Photography covers my photographic ventures. I specialize in portraits but love to shoot landscapes in my free time. If you ask those that I’ve worked with, they’d say that what sets me apart from the rest is my expediency, dependability, and flexibility. Whether it’s making sure they get their photos ASAP, being open to in the moment ideas, volunteering to drive out somewhere on an adventure, or offering to treat someone to lunch or dinner if I cannot afford to pay them for their time, I always want to make sure I treat the people I work with with the utmost respect, as if I were in their shoes. It’s all part of my brand.
My main business is named “Wild Oak Productions.” It’s named after the street I grew up on. Long term, my business will be for my future film/television productions but for now, it’s all-encompassing.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
LA is definitely a great place to be for an aspiring photographer. Lots of semi-professional models out there (non-agency too) and fun places to explore. LA is so multi-dimensional that you can achieve any look you desire. I mean, within LA County, you have everything from the desert to snow capped mountains nature wise. Sure, because we’re in a major city, there is more competition, but the sheer amount of people you have access to is really helpful when you’re first starting out.
Pricing:
- $150/2hr session
- $25/roll for 35mm photography
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spencerkleinphoto.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: spencerjklein13
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spencerjklein1313
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/spencerjklein13
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