A Tale of Two Taylors

Taylor from LA Models came down and shot my last week and as I was going through the images I came across these two vastly different pictures of her. The one on top is her all done up in one of Sam Klemicks' creations while the bottom image is her in her own gear. Hair by Ying and make up by Victoria on both. What struck me the most about these two shots is just how good my team is to work with. Same girl, hours apart. 

I was looking over the contents of this blog from when I began it over two years ago.  I feel like I have progressed a ton  and it is a direct result of the people who have supported me by being a part of my shoots and lending a helping hand. I can't thank you kids enough and can't wait to see what the future brings us. 

6thAnd Studios

Been shooting like crazy but all the pictures are going either straight to clients or being saved for my new portfolio so here are some lighting tests and a behind the scenes shot.
Greg has a knack for showing up exactly when I get done brewing coffee,  the man has a sixth sense about him.
Michelle is a super talented stylist and brilliant dog whisperer. The little lion is Jack, 6thAnd Studios mascot and stress reliever.

I am nothing without my team, and luckily for me my team is amazing.......thanks kids.

Annie says....

One of my good friends Noa Shaw shot some promotional stuff for Annie Automatic yesterday and the day was (as always) a hoot. It feels good when the team you work with are like family, makes the day fly by. Time to clean up the studio, but I might keep the outline for a bit, adds a nice touch to the sparce decorating scheme we've got going.

Ants don't sleep.....

found this little gem on coolfacts. It's my new motivational motto, apparently ants are too busy working to sleep and have fazed it out of their existence.
  Vegas yesterday, Hollywood Arts shoot at the Los Angeles Athletic Club tomorrow, tests with two amazing models Sunday, then Noas' shoot at my place Monday. My studio mate Aaron shaved his beard last night, so I dug up this portrait of his grizzly mug in honor of the fallen facial hair. The new place is shaping up quite nicely, the analogy of ants not sleeping is perfect for how much work we're getting done around here.
I have been feeling truly blessed as of late; being surrounded by such positive, driven creative individuals has been pushing my work into directions I have only dreamed of........


"Follow your bliss", Joseph Campbell

Megan

Had a great day sunday testing with Megan, amazing way to break in the new space. A huge thanks goes out to Marin Tia and Mike for styling, Victoria for MUA, and Ying for hair. I am only as good as my team.....thank you to everyone for making it a great day.  

New digs....

I've been trying to get into a new place for a while now, somewhere to set up a studio and stretch my limbs a wee bit. Well- here's a pic from the new window. We'll have a full on studio set up within a month or so. Too excited for words......

Blisss Shoot

Did an editorial shoot for Blisss magazine the other day, Josh at Loft7 gave us the keys to the new property his company is managing for a location. We had a blast running around the acre large empty warehouse and loft space......had Amanda and Thom play hide and seek for hours. Big thanks to Alicya for stepping up into the producers role while styling with her assistant. The issue will hit stands first thing in the new year. Here's some behind the scenes shots and one of Amanda that we didn't have room for in the layout. I can't thank the team enough for helping make the shoot smooth and fun, cheers kids!!!

Annie......

Had the pleasure of shooting Annie Hardy from Giant Drag today. Thanks to Amy for MUA/Hair, Jerome Duchange for studio, and Annie of course!

Black lung....

Took the crew into the abandoned building and did a couple shots, most beautiful natural light. Thank you Marina for the dresses, Leah for MUA, Josh for the location, and Cassandra for being a trooper.

left behind.....

Downtown is full of places like this; buildings left to rot full of forgotten mementos of peoples past. While scouting locations for an upcoming shoot a friend gave us access to one of the creepiest abandoned buildings I've ever been in. Remnants of lives lost treasures buried under inches of dust and bird shit. Chris Adams and I went back the next day and got some great shots, I'll post some samples when they're ready.

Media Contender Photo Feature

Media Contender put up a little feature on my photography, give it a look and let me know what you think. www.mediacontender.com

Johnny Monster and the Nightmares

My brothers band hadn't played a show since 1991 or something but when their old friend and collaborator Roy Gonzalez had an art show in our hometown of San Clemente the boys put aside their differences and played two shows. I think that everyone idolizes their older brothers but the whole experience was a reminder that he always was, and still is, one of my heros.

Eric

Vegas isn't all glamor....

Website is up!

www.JoshuaSpencerPhoto.com

Thank you Jerome Duchange for helping me step it up.

Nate, 2 chris's, and dead birds

Explored an abandoned building with Chris and Chris the other day, Don't think anyone's been in there in thirty or so years. No one but shit tons of birds.......

Coil Tattoo and Art Gallery

One of my good friends Nathan Kostechko and his lovely girlfriend are in the process of opening a new Tattoo shop in Chinatown called Coil. Check out his website for more information. He's amazing, just look at what he did on my hand. www.nathankostechko.com

Portfolio, Part two......

Editing a new portfolio can be hazardous to ones' health. Mental and physical. Kind of a self administered torture. Soon enough it will all be over and my new website and book will be done.

Julius Shulman

Julius passed away at his home the other night. Death is an ever present force in life, sometimes it looms closer than others. Lately it has been all too near, all too personal. I only met Julius once, but he influenced my life more that he would have ever known and more than I realized until hearing of his passing.

Julius helped me fall in love with my birth city, Los Angeles, by providing a historical and cultural perspective via his photography and words. I met him while he led a group of photographers around downtown LA on an open aired double decker bus with police escort. We spent the day shooting while Julius encouraged us to look at the city with new eyes.
I only hope my eyes can stay open for as long as yours Julius, thank you for being you.

Where the F#$K RV Going Video

LA to AK from anon. optics on Vimeo.

We made it

Day 5, still alive......

We made it as far as Winston, Oregon before the RV died. We got towed to a lovely little trailer community on the outskirts of town for the night and now are waiting for a new vehicle to arrive so the trip can continue. I must say, these guys kill it when it comes to killing time. I've never laughed so hard in my whole life.....

We named the trip (any worthy adventure deserves a tag line) and made t-shirts for everyone.  

The boys have been on a rampage; skating all day and partying/ camping every night. It feels god to be back on the road. 

Slash's dog keeper is having the best time out of all of us....

and yes, thats a steak-in-the-box......

Bah....Let's go!!!!!

Haven't had a chance to update lately, to say I've been busy is an understatement. We started the new Anon campaign, shot another catalog for Pleasure Doing Business, and a whole lot of stuff in between. Oh yea, I've also been wrangling everyone for a trip to Alaska for the World Beard and Mustache Championships......like herding cats.  The crews together and we leave Sunday. We're going to drive and camp to Portland then hop flights to Alaska to compete, I should be updating from the road........if I survive the drive. 

Anon shoots were a blast; got to hop in the pool with a water housing then we took off for the snow to shoot the goggle team.  Good to get out of your element.