West LA_10.18.16

Ashley Kucich

I originally thought I would go into psychology, as I have always had a fascination with understanding and helping people. However, I was equally passionate about the arts. I didn’t know when I chose it, but being a makeup artist would end up fulfilling both of my passions. Read More>>

Kay Anchante

I am originally from Lima, Peru, but I have been living in the U.S. for 14 years now. I fell in love with photography when I was in Journalism school. Although it wasn’t bare reality in the streets what caught my attention – and what I was supposed to photograph – but more intimate portraits of woman, mostly dancers, and artists. I started to make a living photographing actors, dancers, and rock bands on stage. That was probably the most bohemian time of my life, and I loved it. Read More>>

Karen Huitsing

When Karen Huitsing arrived in the L.A. film scene nine years ago, she quickly developed a reputation for unblemished makeup application. She is an accomplished professional whose attention to detail has awarded her numerous accolades while building a clientele of highly talented creative professionals. Read More>>

Katelynn Tilley

Looking back now I see I was destined to work in entertainment. One of my favorite things to do as a child was to sneak into my grandmother and mother’s closets and try on all their fabulous bedazzled nighties, pair them with heels and vintage jewelry, then make my poor sister and her friends walk in my imaginary runway shows. Read More>>

Zach Iddings

I moved out to LA from Wyoming back in 2007 to pursue graphic design. I wound up teaching myself animation and became a full-time animator for a studio. About a couple years or so later I decided to go freelance, and have been ever since. That’s what pays the bills. Photography is a passion and I use that as my outlet for creating things “my way”. I’ve always been taking photos since way back in high school, starting with film. These days I typically go on adventures via motorcycle and shoot all digital. Read More>>

Rachel Galey

I started my journey as a makeup artist while I was in college. I worked for Estée Lauder and realized I really loved doing makeup over what I was majoring in. Soon after I graduated I moved from Michigan to Los Angeles and took off as a freelancer. I attended Joe Blasco Makeup Center and learned everything from basic beauty to special fx makeup. With an interest in skincare, I later received my esthetician’s license as well. The last ten years as a makeup artist has been a crazy adventure I’ve worked on projects where I have met some really amazing people along the way. Read More>>

Alissa Krumlauf

I loved capturing friends on film and would always aim for the “America’s Next Top Model” look. In college, I produced my own fashion shoots and majored in Photography. After graduation, I moved out to LA. I am now an agent for photographers, as well as a producer. I also do my own projects on the side in hopes to one day go full time as a fashion photographer and all that it entails. Read More>>

Inga Nataya

I found it difficult to find anything original and flattering to wear, so I started making my own clothing, as well as costumes for my theater performances when I was about 11 years old, Driven by passion for embroideries and other intense handcrafts, regal styling and freedom loving artistic personality, I with my father Mark started a brand called Nataya (which is my middle name) in 1997, Our dresses are known as vintage inspired with bohemian flare. Over the years I have combined many art movements and time periods in my collections, always adopting a variety of handworks dated as early as b.c. into modern styling. Read More>>

Franci Pearson

Getting started in the mountains of Central Oregon at the ripe age of 14, I began to adventure through nature and my own personal potential in photography throughout my youth and development. Falling in love with every form of photography I explored, I couldn’t set my mind to one subject. Eventually making my way to Southern California I started picking up any freelance project I could get. Read More>>

Melissa Grinberg

I’ve had my hands in hair for a very long time. This came about because at a young age, out of nowhere, I experienced a texture change in my own hair (from straight to curly) and I had to spend a lot of time figuring it out and finding out what worked best. Read More>>

Reggie Clements

It’s amazing how one event in your life changes your entire destiny. As a child, I grew up on a farm in Tennessee where I learn the basis of hard work and helping others. These two factors have drastically shaped my life and without these two friends, I don’t know how my life might be. Growing up and working on a farm taught me many lessons which I’m applying today? When you live on a farm you have to be a creative thinker and proactive. Read More>>

Steve Anderson

My best friend and I started Brooks Institute together back in 1982. I was 21 years old had never taken a photo class. We started off the first week shooting 4×5, processing and printing our own black and white film. It was a smash up of science and art and I was loving it. Read More>>

Ryan Gilden

I’m originally from Massachusetts. After graduating from college I moved to Los Angeles for a girl and worked a lot of retail and hospitality jobs while I tried to find my footing in the creative world. In College, I was a double major in graphic design and illustration so my main focus in Los Angeles was to find a job doing design so I could start to support myself and my interests in other visual fields. Read More>>

Cole Sprague

I grew up in a relatively small ski town in central Oregon, surrounded by outdoor sports and top level athletes. I developed a passion for cycling and competed at the highest level of cycling. In addition to my interest in sports, I was also surrounded by art and artists growing up. Read More>>

Jocelyn Rivard

I have been obsessed with getting my hands on beauty products for as long as I can remember. After moving to Los Angeles at 17, I was inspired by the entertainment industry and knew that I wanted a career in creativity. While studying Fashion Merchandising at Cal State Northridge, I spent time working for various beauty brands including Estée Lauder and Bare Escentuals. Read More>>

D Stevens

The photographs created by D Stevens have taken him around the world many times over: from war-torn Beirut to the tension-filled streets of Belfast to the drought-plagued faces of Haiti. His Leica cameras have captured the moment of birth of a ‘crack baby’ in a South Los Angeles hospital and the masked faces of KKK members during a cross burning. Read More>>

Alfredo Lefort

Originally from Mexico City, I came to the US at the age of 4 and was raised in Northern CA. I always been an athlete and picked up my first weights at the age of 13. In short, I have never put them down. At 45 fitness is not only my career but my life. I moved to LA for school at LMU and work in the entertainment industry. I started to realize something was wrong with my vision around that time. Read More>>

Emily

We got started by taking some artistic, sexy photos of ourselves in our own bedroom and the occasional posh hotel suite when traveling. Not iPhone snapshots—we leaned on our combined experience in advertising and film production to go all out, painting walls, purchasing props and décor and rigging lighting. Our bedroom looked more like a film set from every view except the one looking through the camera. From that angle, everything came together in a unique style. Read More>>

Eric Kaufman

I grew up in a very small town in Central Pennsylvania. Attended North Carolina State University for their College of Design and was recruited to play soccer there as well. After graduating, and realizing I couldn’t make any money as a professional soccer player, I started a design firm in Raleigh North Carolina. The company had Fortune 500 clients as well as Indie record label clients. Read More>>

Kohshin Finley

I was born to parents who are both fashion designers, so I was born into a very creative family. When I was young, I would make my own comic books with my own characters or video game characters and tell my own stories. Now that I’m older I’m I find myself still using art to tell my own stories, but through paint and canvas. Read More>>

Wale Oyerinde

Originally born in West Africa in the late 80’s, I grew up in the mega city of Lagos (I call it the boot camp city – It toughens you up). I started out working in Magazine as an assistant to the editor for over 3 years. Read More>>

Edward John Drake

Growing up I spent time in different houses – I was moved around every year or so across Australia, the UK, and Ireland. I studied Law & Journalism at La Trobe University & The University of Melbourne, however, was rejected by both film programs. A short film I directed played at a festival and a producer at Anonymous Content reached out. Read More>>