An Interview with Ron Dadon

An Interview with Ron Dadon

Meet Ron Dadon, an Arizona based fashion photographer popularly known on Instagram as @ronathann. From editorial shoots, to portrait photography, Ron has collaborated with many companies and designers such as Brandy Melville USA, Freshtops, A'GACI, Shantiques Designs, Olloclip, and more. Read the interview to learn more about Ron's passion for photography and her journey unto the world of fashion and art. 

TO START OFF, WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT TO OTHER FELLOW PHOTOGRAPHERS?

I use a Canon 5D mk iii and a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens. YES 10/10 would recommend!

WHAT DIFFERENT MESSAGES/FEELINGS DO YOU HOPE TO PORTRAY WITH YOUR PHOTOS?
Sometimes I'll be inspired by a quote and I'll create a photograph that portrays the quote in some way. I love making people think when they look at my photographs, and I love playing with lighting because it helps create emotion within a still image.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR LOCATIONS IN WHICH YOU PREFER SHOOTING?

I love shooting on rooftops and in fields during sunset, but I am starting to get into studio photography so hopefully I'll have a go-to studio soon as well.

DO YOU PREFER INDOOR OR OUTDOOR SHOOTS?

I'm more comfortable with outdoor shoots because that's what I started with. I've grown with my photography by doing outdoor shoots. Although, if a space is nicely lit and has interesting details to it I would absolutely shoot there, no questions asked!

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHERS?

I am in love with Annie Leibovitz, Rosie Hardy, Julia Trotti, Jorden Keith, and way more that I (sadly) can't think of off the top of my head right now.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR PHOTOS?

Quotes, music, lighting, location, clothes, faces, life.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHICH SUBJECTS/MODELS TO UTILIZE WITHIN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS?

Most of the time I choose the model first without a clue of how I want the shoot to look like and then I kinda just go out with my camera and wing it!

WHAT BRANDS AND COMPANIES HAVE YOU ENJOYED WORKING WITH THUS FAR?

Ahhhh I love every single company I've worked for, everyone is so sweet and supportive. I'm currently working with Brandy Melville USA, Freshtops, A'GACI, Shantiques Designs, Olloclip, and so many more. I love working with them all.

WHICH HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE SHOOT THAT YOU HAVE DONE THUS FAR?

I actually stared at my computer for so long trying to think of an answer to this question but it's absolutely impossible to choose!

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM EQUIPMENT?

What I own :-)

ALTHOUGH THE EQUIPMENT DOESN'T MAKE THE PHOTOGRAPHER, WHICH DO YOU FIND TO BE MORE IMPORTANT, A GOOD LENS OR A GOOD CAMERA?

A good lens on a less fancy camera will take you further than a fancy camera with a weak lense.

DESCRIBE SOME OF YOUR EDITING PROCESSES. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS TO UTILIZE AND HOW DO YOU EDIT YOUR PHOTOS?

I use Photoshop CS6 and VSCOcam on my phone! I just play with Curves, tweak the colors, and adjust it until I like the way it looks.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES A 'GOOD' PHOTOGRAPH?

I like to think that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so there's not really one “right” or “good” way to make a photograph, it should appeal to the photographer themselves and then that factor makes it an incredible photograph.

DO YOU HOPE TO MAKE A CAREER OUT OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY?

That's the dream!

HOW HAS INSTAGRAM INFLUENCED YOUR CAREER/PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND WHAT IMPACT HAS IT MADE ON YOUR LIFE THUS FAR?

I would not be where I am today without Instagram. I've met so many incredible people and have been offered so many incredible opportunities over the years that have shaped me into the person I am today.

DO YOU HAVE ANY LAST ADVICE FOR ASPIRING PHOTOGRAPHERS?

NEVER. GIVE. UP.

When people laugh and say that they don't get your vision, just laugh back at them because you're the one who will make it big someday. Meet as many people as you can, never say no to trying new things, always think outside the box, and always look to improve. BE BOLD. PUSH TO GET WHAT YOU WANT. Email the company you've always wanted to shoot for. What if they email back? The opportunities are endless, go find your inner artist.

See more of Ron on instagram.com/ronathann

An Interview with Julia Trotti

An Interview with Julia Trotti

Julia Trotti is a fashion photographer based in Sydney, Australia. Her portfolio encompasses a wide variety of material, from highly competitive fashion campaigns, lookbooks, creative editorials and portraiture work. Hello Molly, Paul Edmonds, Alexandra Redmond Jewellery, Joyce & Jade, Oh Deer Boutique and Black Milk Clothing are amongst some of Julia’s fashion clients who she has worked with both in Australia and overseas to create imagery for to portray strong client branding. 

Her editorial shoots have also seen her work grace the cover and pages of various fashion magazines including Peppermint, Culture, Magpie Darling, Spook, White Mag, Ben Trovato, C-Heads and many more. Bearing these achievements in mind prospective clients of Julia Trotti can be assured that any work produced on their behalf will not only embody a professional attitude but shall be eye catching, engaging, satisfying and unique.

Model: Mimi Elashiry

Makeup: Emmily Banks

Jewellery: Alexandra Redmond

Mad Sounds: To start off, what equipment do you use? Would you recommend it to other fellow photographers?

Julia Trotti: I use a Canon 5D mkiii with a series of prime lenses including the Canon 50mm 1.2, 85mm 1.2, 35mm 1.4 and 135mm 2.0. I recommend photographers to find the right gear that suits the work they want to produce, by testing things out, borrowing gear from shop or other photographer friends and just experimenting. My camera equipment works for the fashion and portraiture work that I do. 

What different messages/feelings do you hope to portray with your photos?

As a whole, I love portraying positive messages with my images. Feelings of youth, freedom, carefreeness, happiness, culture, individuality, personality and style.

Do you have any particular locations in which you prefer shooting?

I absolutely love shooting on beaches or in forests. I honestly can't pick which is my favourite out of the two! 

Do you prefer indoor or outdoor shoots? 

My main love will always be outdoor, natural shoots. It's how I started photography, it's what made me fall in love with it and I think it's a feeling I will never be able to let go of! In saying that, studio shoots are also lots of fun and can be a whole challenge and learning experience in themselves, but outdoor shoots are my preference! 

Model: Inka Williams

Hair + Makeup: Lidija Jevremovic

Campaign for: Hello Molly

Who are some of your favorite photographers?

I absolutely love the work of Tim Walker.

Where do you find inspiration for your photos?

I find my inspiration everywhere. By looking out the car window on roadtrips, listening to music, drawing, reading, watching movies. Inspiration comes from everything you read, see and experience and I try to soak it all in. 

Your models are incredibly vibrant and expressive, how do you determine which subjects to utilize in your photographs? 

I look for someone with a passion for what they're doing. With a glimmer in their eye and a creative mind. Someone who wants to spend time being creative and who isn't afraid of taking a chance.

Which has been your favorite shoot that you have done thus far?

Salt on your Skin is one of my favourite shoots ever. It was an amazing day to be a part of, everything came together so effortlessly and perfectly in a way that could have never happened if it was all meticulously planned out. 

What is your dream equipment? 

For the moment, I am happy shooting with what I have. However, one day I would absolutely love to experiment shooting on a digital Hasselblad. 

Although the equipment doesn't make the photographer, which do you find to be more important, a good lens or a good camera?

A good lens is the way to go.

Model: Inka Williams

Hair + Makeup: Lidija Jevremovic

Campaign for: Hello Molly

Describe some of your editing processes. What are your favorite programs to utilize and how do you edit your photos?

I use Lightroom to colour grade my images and Photoshop to retouch. I use presets and actions that I make and have available here. They are colours that I have worked on, tweaked and used for years so they are a very important part of my creative process.

How did your photography become a profession rather than a hobby? 

It was a natural progression. I started shooting because I loved it and I posted everything I created online. At first clients asked to license my images for book covers, and I was taking on similar small jobs here and there. Soon after, people started contacting me to shoot for them. At first it was a shoot every so often, and now I am shooting for clients almost every day. 

If you could create your dream photoshoot, of what would it consist?

It has always been my dream to shoot a story in Kew Gardens, UK. I was lucky enough to be able to visit the gardens at the beginning of last year, and ever since then I have been dreaming of doing a shoot amongst the sleepy flowers and the beautiful old greenhouses.

In your opinion, what makes a 'good' photograph?

It makes you feel something.

Do you have any last advice for aspiring photographers?

Share your work with the world. You never know who is watching.

Model: Inka Williams

Hair + Makeup: Lidija Jevremovic

Campaign for: Hello Molly

See more of Julia on www.juliatrotti.com

An Interview with William Klenk

An Interview with William Klenk

WILLIAM KLENK, ALSO KNOWN AS @WILLIAMKLENK ON INSTAGRAM, CAPTURES THE  YOUTH OF HIS GENERATION. FROM FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY TO PORTRAITURE, KLENK DEPICTS THE YOUNG AND REBELLIOUS SEAMLESSLY IN A PHOTOGRAPH.

MAD SOUNDS: To start off, what equipment do you use? Would you recommend it to other fellow photographers? 

William Klenk: Right now I use a Canon 6D and a 50mm 1.8. The 6D is an amazing body, and a full frame, which is one of the most important features for someone who is interested in taking their photography to the next level. The 1.8 is a great lens for the price, but I would recommend spending the couple extra hundred for the 1.4. 

MS: Do you have any particular locations in which you prefer shooting? 

I live near Phoenix, Arizona, so I really try to take advantage of the washed out urban areas that Arizona has to offer. I definitely prefer shooting in locations that you wouldn't normally find aesthetically pleasing, and utilizing that to turn it into something beautiful and unexpected. 

MS: Do you prefer indoor or outdoor shoots? 

Outdoor for sure. The only exception being my studio. 

MS: Who are some of your favorite photographers? 

Right now my favorite photographers are Gavriel Maynard, Ted Emmons, and David Urbanke. I recommend checking them out, they are all extremely talented. 

MS: Where do you find inspiration for your photos? 

I find inspiration in almost everything. Music, landscapes, people, art, magazines, books, and especially architecture. 

MS: What particular models do you enjoy utilizing in your photos?

I really enjoy using models who you don’t fit into the typical commercial model look. In my opinion, the most beautiful aspect about a person is their imperfections, because that’s what makes them unique. The more unique the better. 

MS: What has been your favorite shoot that you have done thus far? 

My favorite shoot up to date is one that I did in Amsterdam. The Netherlands is my favorite country in the world, so doing the thing that I love the most, in the place that I love the most, was truly an incredible experience.

MS: What is your dream equipment? 

I actually have my dream camera body already, but my dream lens in a 85mm 1.2. 

MS: Although the equipment doesn't make the photographer, which do you find to be more important, a good lens or a good camera? 

The lens and body are equally important in my opinion. If you spend all of your money on a breathtaking lens, and end up with a cheap body, or vice versa, then you obviously will not achieve the best result possible. 

MS: Describe some of your editing processes. What are your favorite programs to utilize and how do you edit your photos? 

I use Photoshop CS6 to edit all of my photos, and basically swear by the Curves and Selective Color tools. I actually alter the colors of my photos a lot, but try to keep the image itself to look as natural as possible. 

MS: Which style of photography is your favorite? For what reasons? 

Fashion, for sure. I’ve always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that fashion photography has to offer. 

MS: Do you hope to incorporate photography into your future? 

I would love to pursue a career in photography, but I don’t know if that’s a realistic goal. 

I would be just as happy to have an office job during the day and have photography as somewhat of a side job. No matter what, I feel that photography will be a large part of my future life. 

MS: If you could create your dream photoshoot, of what would it consist? 

My dream photoshoot would definitely be in a very urban/industrial location, with Hugh William Stewart as the stylist, Gucci Westman as the makeup artist, and a very individualistically beautiful model, like Kelly Mittendorf. 

MS: In your opinion, what makes a good photograph?

The most essential factor for a good photograph, in my opinion, is when the photo itself either tells a story or makes you feel something. People constantly stress out over composition, lighting, ext., but none of that matters if the photo has no substance. Take photos as much as possible. It doesn't matter when or where... just shoot.

An Interview with Henry Tolson

An Interview with Henry Tolson

HENRY TOLSON, POPULARLY KNOWN ON INSTAGRAM AS @HENRYAGAIN,

EMBRACES AN UNWRITTEN AUTOBIOGRAPHY WITHIN HIS PHOTOGRAPHY. WITH BEAUTIFUL LENS FLARES, TO HIS EVER EMOTIONAL PORTRAITURES, HENRY PORTRAYS A LIFETIME STORY ONE WILL NEVER FORGET. 

MAD SOUNDS: To start off, what equipment do you use? Would you recommend it to other fellow photographers? 
HENRY TOLSON: I use a Canon Rebel T3i with a 50mm f/1.4 lens. I recommend my equipment most definitely. Especially for beginner photographers who are looking for their first DSLR, the T3i is the perfect choice since it's easy to navigate and takes AMAZING pictures consistently. As far as lenses, the 50mm f/1.4 is an amazing lens for portrait photographers, and yields amazing images and colors.

MS: What different messages/feelings do you hope to portray with your photos?
HT:I love to tell stories with my pictures, even if it's something as simple as a picture of a girl laughing. When I take pictures, my main goal is to show who the person I'm photographing is; I always want models to be comfortable in front of the camera and pose as they want. I love to portray happiness and joy in my images, and give people a sense of warmth through the sunsets I capture and the models I photograph. There's a thousand feelings and stories in an image, in the angle, the posing, the lighting, the expression, and I hope I can share a single one through my pictures.

MS: Do you have any particular locations in which you prefer shooting? 
HT: There's so many places I adore for photos - but that's mainly because you can give me a field and a sunset and I'm set. Of all the fields and places I've gotten the chance to take pictures, there's this giant field in my town that is completely covered in small purple flowers about knee-height. I've only gotten to take pictures there once, but it remains my favorite place, it holds some sort of magical quality.

MS: Do you prefer indoor or outdoor shoots? 
HT: How could you make me choose between the two?! Indoor shoots are great because I love playing with window light and posing and shadows, which you can't do as easily in outdoor shoots, as it's harder to manipulate the sun. On the other hand, outdoor shoots are full of amazing colors and locations that are breathtaking to capture. All-in-all, I think both indoor and outdoor shoots are equally fun to do and fun to experiment with.

MS: Who are some of your favorite photographers? 
HT: There are so many amazing photographers I have found - it's so hard to choose just a few. I love Madeline Masarik, Christian Benetel, Cristina Hoch, Sarah Stewart, Ryan James Caruthers, Alex Stoddard, Savannah Martiniere, and many, many more! 

MS: Where do you find inspiration for your photos? 
HT: I know that this is a super vague answer - but everywhere! Instagram and Flickr are definitely major sources of inspiration for me, as I'm constantly immersed in other photographers' amazing images. Besides those, Tumblr is also a perfect way to find inspiration. Music is also a major inspiration for me, and I usually listen to music when I'm out shooting. Sometimes I hear a lyric or a tune and get a vivid image in my head that I have to create.

MS: What particular models do you enjoy utilizing in your photos? 
HT: For what reasons? I honestly love shooting anyone and everyone - photographing someone for the first time is always the best feeling because you're capturing who they are in your lens. There's always something new to learn from a new subject, always something to show and discover within a new model. I will take pictures anyone, honestly.

MS: What has been your favorite shoot that you have done thus far? 
HT: What a tough question, mainly because I love all my shoots, not even because of the photos but because of the memories. If I had to choose a favorite shoot, I'd have to say it was my first one with my best friend Cassidy (@supercass on Instagram!) We went to this shopping center expecting to just take a few good pictures and maybe find some trees, and ended up finding the biggest, most gorgeous field where the sun set perfectly. It was an amazing find and we had the best times running around and taking pictures.

MS: What is your dream equipment? 
HT: I would say my dream equipment is a Canon 6D with a 50mm f/1.2.

MS: Although the equipment doesn't make the photographer, which do you find to be more important, a good lens or a good camera? 
HT: I definitely think that a good lens is more important than a good camera. I've been using my Canon Rebel T3i for over two years now, and I started out with using my kit lens, the 18-55mm. The image quality was not good and I could never quite get any pictures I liked or imagined. I upgraded to the 50mm and the difference was instant and unbelievably better - images are sharper, colors are better, image quality is a thousand times clearer. The difference isn't in the camera body, but in the lens!

MS: Describe some of your editing processes. What are your favorite programs to utilize and how do you edit your photos? 
HT: My editing process isn't nearly as extravagant as a lot of people would think - I'm a big believer that, though editing is important, the photograph itself should not have to be unimaginably changed and obscured to make the final image. I love working with natural light and using the sun and nature to drive a picture over editing. I edit with Photoshop CS6 and what I do edit is colors (saturation / vibrancy / color balance / selective coloring) as well as manipulating the image with Curves and the Brightness / Contrast option.

MS: Which style of photography is your favorite? For what reasons? 
HT: This may sound super lame or not the answer you want at all - but I seriously just love simplistic portrait photography. Ever since I found Instagram and started photography, I've always been obsessed with capturing who people are, whether with snapshots of laughter or of sunlight, all flowing together in an image that's both natural and complex. I love photography that tells stories but doesn't need an explanation or a caption - photography that you can feel, that isn't worn down by editing and manipulation, but fresh and clean and clear with color, vibrancy, emotion, and simplicity.

MS: Do you hope to incorporate photography into your future? 
HT: Even though I love photography and it's a huge passion of mine, I don't see myself taking it up as a full-time job when I get older. I know I'll always take pictures - maybe as a side job or just for myself - but there are other passions that have more importance to me, that I aspire to grow in each day.

MS: If you could create your dream photoshoot, of what would it consist? 
HT: There are so many different places and people and ideas I could come up with, but to put them all in one photoshoot is crazy! I think finding myself in the middle of the most giant field covered in tall green grass and wildflowers, surrounded by the mountains, with a model and my camera as golden hour began would be the perfect shoot. All natural location, endless beauty in nature and in my subject, endless time to capture the sun; that would all make for a dream photoshoot!

MS: In your opinion, what makes a good photograph?
HT: Emotion is a big fundamental in photography, for me at least. I feel like a photo that tells a story or makes people feel something does something that words or music can't - it uses colors and expression and the small, minute parts of humanity to move a person. Without emotion, what is a photograph to someone? And with emotion, the kind of camera or editing software used is meaningless in the long run! 

MS: Do you have any last advice for aspiring photographers?
HT: Never stop taking pictures. If you love photography, it taking pictures makes you happy and calms you and you can't stop doing it, don't stop doing it. Don't compare your work to others because you will always end up dissatisfied. Focus on your photography, telling your stories, being the best you can be. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things, be versatile, and don't take pictures for your followers/viewers of your art, take pictures for you!