Payam Emrani
Payam Emrani
Photographer / Visual Storyteller / Data Artist
Woodland Hills, CA
fameinacan
instagram @zinefameinacan
facebook @PayamEmrani
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“Most people would consider what I do photography, but I find photography to be to amorphous a term. I consider myself a data artist.
”
Data art is the recording of the emotional state of both the photographer and subject using the photographic medium.
It differs from the general publics' understanding of photography in that it does not seek to tangibly create a concept or an idea the photographer has. The subject is not doing x in order to create y. There are no concepts. In an allotted time frame the photographer simply records the subjects emotional state and overlays their own. The subject engages in x in order to find out what y will be.
Once the photo shoot is finished I then spend time curating the photos. I am looking for a group of photos that tell a specific and unique story.
Once I have found this set I then do photographic edits in terms of lighting/conversion to black and white/ color manipulation. I never photoshop my photos, meaning I do not change their bodies or retouch their skin or alter them in any way.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
If I am being honest I really have no idea how I got here. In fact I do not even know where I am. I just tried to find people I wanted to photograph and then present that content using various platforms.
How do you stand out in your field?
I think what makes me stand out the most are two related things. The first is my process. As previously described it is rather different than a traditional photographer or a commercial photographer; I do not work with preexisting concepts. This in turn allows the work itself to stand out because it is very raw and minimal.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I am working on further refining my artist voice and finding more commercial avenues for my work.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
Minimalism. I think of all my work this project is the perfect summation of the various aspects of my work.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I wish I could focus on the actual art of photography and not have to deal with all of the minutiae; mainly posting on all of the social media sites to find subjects and trying to get people to view my work.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Two things:
The lack of commercial success- not knowing how to find clients, get hired.
Social media- both finding subjects to photograph and also finding eyes for my work.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Contact both commercial contacts as well as find and contact subjects.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I could be Proust about this topic, but I won't be. I would probably have told my much younger self, say my 6th-grade self, to follow my heart and find your passion. The reason is that I am a refugee to this country, ever since I was young I have been told the polar opposite of this message. I was told from a very young age to go after money, go get a job, be a doctor or a lawyer. In no uncertain words was I told that being an artist is a waste of time and talent. So I would tell my younger self that contrary to what I've been told it is not a waste of time, that the most important thing in this world is happiness, so go and find what makes you happy, not your parents, and dedicate every waking moment to that craft/art.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
The commercial aspects of photography. How can someone with my voice find clients who will honor and understand that voice.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I am open to everything and anything. I would say more on the creative / experimental end as opposed to the traditional commercial aspect of things.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal client is someone who will give me free rein. Someone familiar with my work and process who wants me to apply that to their product/company.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
The Minimum budget would be $250 for a four-hour photoshoot.
WHO IS A CREATIVE THAT HAS HELPED YOU ELEVATE YOUR WORK?
I would say the subjects I have had the privilege of photographing.
To be specific the ones I have chosen to showcase on my website: Ryan
Amari
Hillary
Chloe
Caralyne
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Please contact me through my website, include: budget / concept / website.
In addition to rough budget and scope, I'd love to hear why you're excited about sustainable design or any questions you have!
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
With my eyes I
dream of things I cannot
see hear touch or taste.
This member profile was originally published in February 2019.