ARMIN ADAMS
ARMIN ADAMS
PHOTOGRAPHER / Director
Venice, Los Angeles, California
http://www.arminadams.com
Instagram @arminadams
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I am a lifestyle photographer with an eye for balance.”
Having worked as an Art Director in advertising for years, I sense the look & feel that the client needs. I know whether the images should be crisp or if the client needs an analogue/handmade style. The photos will still have my own overall style, that’s why clients work with me. Photography, typography and balance of things are in my DNA. And the love for motorcycles and The Great Outdoors.
Above everything I am a nostalgic person, constantly falling in love with old things. Be it cameras, motorcycles or musical instruments. There is something about the way these things feel and behave. I learned to embrace happy mistakes for what they are. Happy before mistake. I wear many hats: Photographer, Dad, Chef, Director of Apartment Cleanups, Motorcycle Repair Guy, Husband. But always with an eye for great composition. Which is why my images have that sense of balance.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I moved all the way from Austria to sunny Los Angeles because of that Great California sun. Working with the light here is just magical. I rarely have to use the indoor studio.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?
I feel that the final coloring & retouching is something that is being neglected. I don’t just apply filters, I work with each image to extract what’s important in the shot. Also … many photographers have no idea about print resolution or color space. Having worked in the design industry I just know how to handle this stuff.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I am shooting a Wild West reenactment group for a European concept artist. The series will focus on the feeling of “born in the wrong century”.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I try to stay in motion as much as possible and combine it with my love for old motorcycles and cars. I have been shooting my own “Moto Life” series for a while now and it seems it will never be finished.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I wish I would have more time for videography and editing. Creating & editing motion footage feels very satisfying to me.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Self promotion is always hard. Printing photo postcards, creating newsletters, all this stuff is always in the way of going on adventures and taking photographs.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Constantly updating devices and archiving RAW files over and over.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I wish I told myself how hard it will be trying to be a Renaissance Man. Wearing a bunch of different hats is very hard at times.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
How to cook the perfect steak. To this day I was never able to succeed.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Like most anyone I try to find the perfect project balance of personal interest and work (like shooting a new Harley Davidson campaign).
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal client knows what he/she wants but also gives me freedom to surprise them with something they would not have expected.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
The cost for projects always depend on assignment and client size. A simple look-book for a small client might be as low as $600 if we all work together or might be considerably more expensive if it’s a automotive photoshoot for a bigger client.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
I love it when clients send me inspiring food photos, I am always keeping my eyes open for what I’ll cook the next day.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
I go outside often.
This member profile was originally published in November 2016.