Roman Meza
Q What do you do?
“I’m a photographer and artist who helps clients and brands meet their creative needs, from visual storytelling to breathing life into their products and/or ethos.”
I visually sculpt identities and experiences.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
It’s taken me both lateral and upward movements to get to where I am. I began with a deep interest in black and white film photography. It was important for me to view the subject tonally in its pure form. Over time, I began to love color and also eschew my fanaticism for film. I learned to focus on the form of the subject through composition rather than using analog photography as a crutch.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I really play with movement and stasis. I look at the subject as a conglomeration of forms and shapes, warm minimalism. I think it helps me to hone in on the idiosyncrasy and is-ness of the thing.
Q What are you working on right now?
I’ve been working on a personal project bringing my abstract art pieces to life. This comprises both product photography and editorial shoots that play with the dialogue between art/object and interiors.
Q What’s your style?
My style is natural and reduced. Rather than forcing something to look a certain way, I approach it within its context. A visual stanza.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I wish I could focus more on visual design. It could help round out the cohesiveness of a story or narrative and span more broadly across a brand or campaign.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Working in a small city with minimal exposure is most frustrating. Seattle is tech-oriented and values creative production less. This frustration ties into the following question.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Networking. I love to help and collaborate with people, but having to activate myself to meet people just for the sake of making myself more relevant in the industry is exhausting as an introvert.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I wish I could have told myself 5 years ago to take the graphic design course rather than move to the city. I was enticed by the idea of opportunity, but delving into the course would've allowed me to slow down and develop new skills that would've benefited my future career.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I would talk to a tax or business expert. It’d be nice to know how to compliment my creative practice with the business side of things. As creatives, I think many of us are less comfortable with this facet of our practice. Knowing more would make our lives easier and, by extension, our clients' and collaborators'.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I’m looking for opportunities/projects centered around fashion and interiors. I’m attached to examining the materiality and sumptuousness in clothing, and also the beauty and whimsicality of space and objects.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
An ideal job might be a collaboration with a studio creating visual stories around their products, or working on a photo travel guide showcasing the spaces included in the itinerary.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Feel free to email me! It's really helpful to have the project scope, timeline, and budget outlined. I prefer casual conversation and ideation over formality.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Satisfying my sweet tooth
This member profile was originally published in November 2021.