Inside Hollywood Photography

Featured on Vogue and the 2012 RAW Award winner, Irvin Rivera’s stunning photography is taking Los Angeles by storm!  This brilliant, self-taught celebrity photographer is the talk of LA!

Interview

Alex Graham: Please tell us about yourself and Graphic Metropolis?

Irvin Rivera: Hello Alex,

Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Irvin here, a self taught fashion, commercial and portrait photographer based in Los Angeles, California.

I, together with some friends and creatives, represent Graphics Metropolis.

Graphics Metropolis is a brand name I came up with when I started to consider taking photography into another level.

Instead of using my name-photography as a brand name, I thought of something that could cover the bases of what I do, and also something that could yield an easy recall in people’s heads. 

Alex: What do you enjoy about being a photographer?

Irvin: Being a photographer pushes me to exercise my creativity to new heights. It enables me to create and recreate worlds, ideas, and feelings. It allows me travel to places. It allows me to meet and interact with different people and interpret their layers of complexities.

Photography allows me to tell stories in many ways. It is kind of spiritual. It’s not just an art, not just a journey, it is something really personal.

Being a photographer means being able to time travel on your own. That’s what I love about it.

Alex: You are a brilliant self-taught professional photographer. How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

Irvin: Thank you Alex!

Yes, I am self-taught but I wouldn’t be confident enough to say that I am brilliant enough like the masters in the various fields of photography.

Hmm, I keep shooting photos. Just keep taking photos. I believe that is how you continuously develop your eye and your style. Take note of other photographer’s work and always see the trends (especially if you want to take fashion as your niche). Never ever be content. Never be afraid to experiment.

Alex: In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the average?

Irvin: A good picture awakens the senses. It moves you. It may disturb you, or amuse you, or puzzle you, but if it evokes and stir something inside you, I believe it is a good picture.

Alex: Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why?

Irvin: The girl wearing a red dress on the street is still my favorite. It is one of my earliest fashion shoots and I was with amazing people that day. That image helped propel my portfolio.

Vogue Link

http://images.vogue.it/Photovogue/316d48db-6a39-45af-ae34-5354c7a67ef9_IMG.jpg

 Vogue Link

 http://www.vogue.it/en/photovogue/Profilo/951403c5-d84d-4743-909f-e8365c5e66c5/User

Alex:  Who are some of your favorite photographers and why?

Irvin: Avedon for his timeless, classic attack. Leiboviz for her dreamy, modern style.  An Le for his visions and the soul of his images.  

Alex: As a professional photographer, what areas would you like to expand into or experiment with?

Irvin: I would love to learn more about digital manipulation and video editing.

Alex: What can we look forward to from Irvin/Graphics Metropolis in the New Year?

Irvin: More fashion editorials, crazier stories, and possibly more blog entries. :)

http://www.graphicsmetropolis.com/

facebook: http://www.graphicsmetropolis.com/f

twitter: http://www.graphicsmetropolis.com/t

videos: http://www.graphicsmetropolis.com/v

blog: http://www.graphicsmetropolis.com/blog

pinterest: http://www.graphicsmetropolis.com/p

Alex: Thank you very much Irvin!  It has been my pleasure.  Looking forward to more fantastic photography work from Graphics Metropolis in 2013!

Check out A Behind the Scenes Look at a Photo Shoot by Graphics Metropolis!

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K’Sandra Skyrocketing to the Top!

K'Sandra Light 'n' Dark Album by Andrei Photography

K’Sandra, the highly acclaimed Dance/Electronica music dynamo is skyrocketing up the charts!! 

• Dance Artist of the Year with the album “Light 'n' Dark”!
• The song ‘Push the Girl’ on MTV!
• A gig at the upcoming Sundance Festival!
• A hot new double-CD on the way - "Even Lighter - Even Darker"!

K’Sandra is Sensational, Hot, Sizzling, Electrifying, Dance Making & Boundary Shaking!  With an energetic sound synced with a primal baseline, K’Sandra is a DJ favorite. K’Sandra is PUSHING to the TOP!  This Talented Musician & Passionate Lady will not be stopped!

Let’s get an insider’s look at the Lady behind the music!

Interview

Alex: How long have you been in the music business and what got you started?

K’Sandra: Been doing music since first grade and it has been always part of my life, no matter in which stage of life I was it is a part of me. Actively being in the music business I would say I started the real business side of it just maybe 7 years ago with every step of the way being a learning journey. I started singing at a classical conservatory and later on trained with professional vocal coaches around the world, and trained dance professionally and have been always aiming towards making my passion my profession. What got me just simply started was my love for singing and expressing my emotions and feelings and pain that I sometimes carried inside of me thru singing and not thru talking.

Alex: Do you have a creative process you go through when creating a song or album? If so, would you mind sharing it?

K’Sandra: The creative process I go thru when working on a song can be just a tiny inspiration like a hummingbird flying up to me, or a very deep and dark experience that has caused that my life path or current action step needed to be changed.  Or I just simply listen to any song of Michael Jackson still to day and I hear a new song in his song. Or sometimes I am at a great rave and I hear this dominant bass line that is just filling every cell of my body with a great vibration and I feel I get an idea for a song that could be written around that bass line. That is what creation is to me, it's a never ending process of someone or something inspiring you new. When working on an album I tend to set a topic, just like movie people do when they decide to work on a movie, I see the whole concept, the whole packaging, design, story of the album and then pick which songs would be best suiting to the album. It is super important to me that an album tells a whole story and is not just like major labels love to do the best selling singles (3 or 4 of them and the rest crappy filler material). I really hate filler material. I have gotten feedback to my album Light 'n' Dark that each song is a great song and that people feel not cheated when buying my record.

Alex: How many languages do you speak and how many languages do you like to sing in?

K’Sandra: I speak 3 1/2 languages but I sing only in English (for now but I can not wait to record a Spanish single).

Alex: For people trying to find their voice in English, do you have any tips or breathing techniques that might help with talking and pronunciation?

K’Sandra: Intonation is a big thing, it is honestly not an easy thing for a foreigner to sing in English and to sound American or British. Language has been something that fascinated me my whole life and listening to the intonation and where to set the breath/pauses when singing can help a lot and to know which emotion to put into specific words. There are of course many other things relating to breathing techniques but listing those would result in me writing a book here ha-ha.

Alex: Who would you most like to open for or who do like out there in the music world these days?

K’Sandra: I used to always say Madonna when asked that question, but I have to change my mind when seeing on her last tour that she used guns on stage (for sure not real ones but still...), that is something I just don't find cool. I love guns and they are great on the shooting range if used with a smart brain and to train targeting or in a movie on set, but in front of fans??? to show creative expression, I feel that's not cool. Why not use water guns...  Of course I can not say Michael Jackson since he is resting in peace....hm..maybe opening for Sting, or maybe for Bruno Mars. I like a lot of music out there though, it can change every month.

Alex: Now on to your newest video Push the Girl is being played on MTV. What was the inspiration behind the song?

K’Sandra: The song is about pushing thru boundaries and not taking no for an answer (which I have done too often before I realized it's gotten me nowhere but made me unhappy). It is about encouraging to take any action, no matter if your boyfriend or anybody is making you feel bad. Be a tough girl and don't take any shit and let others know not to mess with you even if people think it makes you arrogant or a bitch, it does not hurt to have both sides, a soft one and a rough one.

Alex: If you could open for any musician or music group, who would it be and why?

K’Sandra: As above mentioned, maybe for Sting or Bruno Mars, or maybe for Beyonce, she is a great performer and got a great stage energy.

Alex: What can we look forward to in the future from K'SANDRA?

K’Sandra: I will be releasing a double-CD called "Even Lighter - Even Darker" with some hot, nasty,nice, trancy, dubsteppy, rocky, house, techno, and remixes in 2013 were I will be working with DJs worldwide that submit their best remix of a song of "Light 'n' Dark" and the best ones picked by fans will make it onto the album.

I am also going to work on more songs and will be collaborating with some new people for my 2nd album and I do plan to release some cool merchandise and a new line of essences and maybe even my own brand of water.

Alex: K'SANDRA - you are a strong, passionate, and highly successful musician in a tough industry, what is your motto or mantra?

K’Sandra: If you are ready to go thru death to be re-born, or if you are ready to live the most horrible life to find your truth only then you are ready for success, unless you are Justin Bieber and some major label drops by and gives you a good contract or if you are Rihanna and somebody has a crush on you while vacationing and brings you to the US.... If you really want to pursuit something, no matter what profession it is and you do it for fame or just for money it's the wrong mantra, but if you do anything in your life with the outcome that it can benefit the greater good then you are on the right way.

Alex: What is the best way for people connect with you and your music?

K’Sandra:

K'Sandra on Stage-photo by Hayley Sargant

   www.IamKSandra.com

My whole album "Light 'n' Dark" is on iTunes and also on Pandora and of course on www.CDBaby.com/KSandra  

or you can go directly 

thru my own store at  

www.IamKSandra.com

Alex:  Thank you K'Sandra for taking the time to do this interview! And we will be looking forward to the release of your new "Even Lighter - Even Darker"

K’Sandra: My pleasure Alex!

Until Next Week Enjoy K'Sandra's Push the Girl 

(live at Avec)!

 

Connect with ALEX here at Celebrity English!

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OLIVIA PRICE: "Creating an outstandingly beautiful and unique image in the modeling world"

OLIVIA PRICE: AMERICAN MODEL

AN INSIDER’S LOOK AT MODELING!

A NATURAL, UNEDITED LOOK INSIDE A SUCCESSFUL WORKING MODEL’S CAREER.  OLIVIA PRICE HAS BEEN FEATURED IN MAGAZINES AND ASKED TO DO 'PLAYBOY' PHOTO SHOOTS (SHE DECLINED).  IF YOU ARE AN 'NFL' FAN, YOU MAY BE SEEING HER GORGEOUS PROFILE SOON!

THE BEGINNING

Question 1:  Where did you grow up?

Olivia Price:  I grew up about 30 minutes outside of Los Angeles.

Question 2:  When did you know you wanted to be a model?

Olivia Price:  I was a loner in high school, but around age 16 a friend took an interest in photography and borrowed me for a subject from time to time.  Getting back the photos was always exhilarating, and I have sought the spotlight since childhood.  I began incorporating my desire for fame and creative edge into photographs earlier this year, and I love it.

HOW to STAY FIT and BEAUTIFUL

Question 3:  How do you stay fit? What are your beauty secrets?

Olivia:  I got lucky when it comes to genetics! I'm naturally thin and have a high metabolism from being a competitive gymnast for so many years, but I've been doing a lot of yoga and dance recently.  The beauty rule I live by is never sleeping with makeup on, it ages your skin drastically.  And always wear sunscreen!

DOWN TIME

Question 4:  What do you like to do in your free time?

Olivia:  My schedule is hectic, so I cherish every opportunity to be a vegetable.  In between shoots I like preparing my own wardrobe from unique finds at the thrift store down the road from my house.  I like altering certain pieces on my sewing machine to make concept costumes. I also paint and dabbled in photography.

Question 5:  What kind of music are you into?

Olivia:  Dubstep and tehcno are what I'm into right now- Deadmau5, Afrojack and DJ's like that.  I'm big into remixes!

AN INSIDE PERSPECTIVE ON MODELING

Question 6:  For my readers aspiring to be models, how did you get started and how did you gain the confidence to pursue a modeling career? I mean, it is very competitive and a tough industry to be in….

Olivia:  My first real experience with modeling started with an invite to pose with some ’souped up’ cars.  I was looking at gigs on Craigslist and I got a response to come shoot!  It ended up being more risqué work than I was comfortable with at the time.  I would advise all aspiring models not to violate their own levels of comfort for anyone.  It will leave you with regret.

Question 7:  Who is your favorite model?

Olivia:  This is such a tough question! I think Adriana Lima is the hottest woman on the planet, but as far as creating outstandingly beautiful and unique images, I'd have to go with Tyra Banks.  She's an expert at inventing concepts and delivering theme.

MEN

Question 8:  For my male readers, what do men do wrong when trying to date the fairer sex?

Olivia:  I've found that a lot of men get too comfortable too quickly.  That playful level of tension and feeling the need to almost act in a new romance makes it fun.  I like a man with sharp wit who can keep me intellectually on my toes.  Chivalry is very key!

FUTURE

Question 9:  Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Olivia:  In five years I hope to be acting in films.  My end-all goal though is to put fame and fortune to use in various philanthropic projects, primarily in disaster relief.

Olivia Price is natural, successful, refined, and accessible.  She is down-to-earth but seriously professional! Olivia is truly a talented model creating an image of "outstanding beauty and uniqueness" in the modeling world.

~FROM ALEX TO OLIVIA~

THANK YOU FOR AN INSIDER’S LOOK AT MODELING!

IT WAS A TRUE PLEASURE!

~See more of Olivia and follow Olivia's career~

FACEBOOK

LINK: http://www.facebook.com/OliviaMorganPrice

TWITTER

LINK: http://twitter.com/#!/OlivPrice

 

MORE GREAT LINKS!

OLIVIA PRICE: BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO

LINK: http://vimeo.com/28224699

OLIVIA’S FAVORITE: WATCH TYRA BANKS WORK THE RUNWAY!

 

ALEX

Celebrity English: "COMMUNICATING WITH THE WORLD ONE PERSON AT A TIME"

http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.com/
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SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!