Grant Yoshino
How did you get started in the business? Has it always been your "dream" to be a photographer?
I started shooting fashion about 3 years ago. It hasn't always been my dream to be a photographer. I actually went to college for business. I kind of fell into it by associating with a lot of photographers in college.
What is it, that makes photography so interesting/appealing to you?
The opportunity to create something from nothing. I love putting all of the pieces together from the production side to the process of taking the photo to the post-production. It's a really great experience to experiment and create.
What makes a girl/guy interesting for you to shoot with them? Is there a certain "type" of model you prefer?
I feel like I shoot guys and girls very differently. I love to shoot women in their most idealistic form and my approach is very movement based. I admire the elegance of a woman. Men I shoot with a more raw approach. I tend to do most of the styling myself for men too.
Before a shoot, do you talk to the model you are going to shoot with and try to make a connection? Or do you rather wait and then get inspired by his or her actions in front of the camera?
I generally like to get to know a person before I shoot with them. The movement of a person can be very inspiring. Sometimes I can get so much from one model and other times a model won't bring anything to the table, so I have to construct their movements. Both ways can be fun in their own respects, but I'd rather have the model naturally move. It feels so much more organic.
Who are some photographers that influence and inspire you?
There are too many to name... Greg Kadel, David Roemer, Mario Sorrenti, Takay, Alasdair Mclellan, Camilla Akrans. There are a lot of really great young up-and-coming photographers too that are very inspiring, Damon Baker, Grant Thomas, Jason Kim, Alice Rosati to name a few.
I'm constantly inspired and driven by the work of my friends too.
What interests you about fashion? Do you actually care about clothes and styling - or just focus on the "art" side of it?
Fashion photography is about the clothes (as obvious as it may seem haha). Unfortunately if you don't have good clothes in your shoot, no one will pay attention to your work. I used to be completely about the photo aesthetic, but if you want to be a contender in the industry you have to play by the rules of the game.
Fashion is a means for me to create. I don't consider myself strictly a fashion photographer, although that has been the main focus of my work for the past few years.
What is typically in your camera bag?
A Canon 5Dmkii with an 85mm f/1.2 and a 24-70 f/2.8. I have a Hasselblad H1 and a Polaroid lan camera I mess around with from time-to-time too I recently purchased an Olympus Ep2 for a walk around cam.
What would be your dream magazine to work for?
Numero, Italian Vogue
What can we expect from you in 2012?
Musicians, celebrities, young hollywood types and a lot of experimental personal work.
Website: www.yoshinostudios.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002963738123
Twitter: www.twitter.com/grantyoshino
Blog: www.grantyoshino.tumblr.com/