We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Blake Riesenfeld a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Blake thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I was 15 years old when I started working with a modeling agency as a photographer. After taking photos with a model I contacted via Instagram, she gave me the email address of her agent. From there, I met with the agent and started to set up test shoots with models associated with the agency. Because I was 15 years old and working with people in their 20s and early 30s, I quickly learned to fend for myself. I protested retouching, negotiated payment, and organized entire photoshoots myself, serving as the creative director, stylist, and photographer.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a Philadelphia- and La Jolla-based landscape, street, and portrait photographer. My landscape and street work focuses on the indexical quality of images and establishing a trusting relationship between the photograph and the viewer. My goal is to create a space the viewer can imagine themselves inhabiting but might not necessarily want to. I aim to create work that interpellates an audience; makes them question why they ignore spaces that might be deemed mundane or unflattering.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

There isn’t much backstory here, but if you’re providing a service, you should be paid for your work, even if you feel uncomfortable accepting money from friends and family.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Studying under other artists. I created some of my favorite images using photoshop techniques and scanner tricks I learned from my peers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blake-riesenfeld.squarespace.com
• Instagram: Blakeries_

Image Credits
Blake Riesenfeld