We were lucky to catch up with Frank Frances recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Frank thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Yes, I’ve been fortunate enough to make a living using a camera for many years now. I started out after art school working many jobs like being a barista, bartender, art handler, truck driver, and retoucher before landing my first consistent photography job. All while working I was always doing freelance photography and making fine art slowly. Ultimately, it was important that using a camera as a craft was always my goal and through a series of really cool opportunities with One Kings Lane did I have the chance to develop as a commercial artist. OKL had a lot of great people that took the time to show me how to shoot, consider, and develop ways to shoot almost anything technically. I attended grad school at the School of Visual Arts during this time as well which helped me develop creative principles towards my ideas. Not sure if what I know now would have sped up anything, I was ready to work the way I work now until it came. The nature of how I work now really encompasses everything that was presented to me over all the development years. Even now there is so much to learn, I’m my best critic, so trying to always slow myself down to enjoy present lessons as they come.
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 got into the business through working on a series of odd projects and when I landed at One Kings Lane it was a full on boot camp for photography/video/styling/directing. So many folks that worked in the studio came from the Martha Stewart world in which everyone had multidimensional ways of doing everything. There was no shortage of ideas from styling, shooting, art directing, critical thinking, etc. so I soaked up as much as possible until I felt confident enough to carry out freelance projects. My interest in photography is space, still life, architecture, portraits, and directing with a focus on inspiring the viewer to connect to a world in which they can relate to. Every story is told through a curious approach in how we can rethink our enthusiasm for things that are still. I make photography because it’s in my blood at this point and my objective is to always give a product that inspires a fresh sensitive take to the world. There is an emotional value I place on every image, every time I create work it is with gratitude and an experience shooting with me is a focused enthusiastic time. I want to be known as a constant collaborator of ideas, connecting with me on a creative project should feel as if your ideas are elevated and executed as if it was a Met Gala experience.
My most successful images have atmospheric pressure which is my defining litmus test to a completed idea. Atmospheric pressure to me is the weight of light/darkness/frame all meeting to feel like you’re seeing through the depths of the ocean. When I look at the ocean at first there is the surface, second the middle layer of color, and finally a deep darkness that all feels endless in emotions.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Letting go of ego has been my greatest lesson to date, we work in an industry where most people are bringing 150% to every project. Trusting team members’ expertise has been so keen for my development in growing my visual language, which is still in flux. Constant learning and adapting to the space/project is an additional thought that comes to mind.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I enjoy watching Art 21, The Met Museum, Moma, Natural Museum of History, The Cloisters, Dia Beacon, galleries of all kinds, fine artists, art fairs, and when there’s a mental block I read artist interviews by Hans Ulrich Obrist. Ray Dalio Principles, Work Rules by Laszlo Bock, Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers are books I revisit often to think about business. More importantly, these books have helped me understand how to function around and an attempt to be clear about my intentions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.frankfrances.com
- Instagram: @frankfrancesstudio
- Twitter: @frankfrances15
Image Credits
EDT_20200903_AD Magazine_Darryl Carter_Dining_002 (2020 Darryl Carter for Architectural Digest) EDT_20210726_AD_The Deans_Portrait_447_3186FC_B_ADOBERGB (2021 The Deans for Architectural Digest) EDT_20210727_AD_The Deans_Exterior_008 (2021 The Deans for Architectural Digest) EDT_20220520_Departures_BlackRock_Portrait_005_3445FF_B_ADOBERGB (2022 Kehinde Wiley for Departures Magazine) FF_20200912_Bedford Hills_David Architect_Exterior_266 (2020 Sheila Bridges for Architectural Digest) TET 20220209 SpaceAid_021 (2022 Space Aid 021) TET_20210108_HR_FF_OD_097 (2021 Still Life with Hilary Robertson and Olivia Demetros) TEST_20221122_EFL_Abundance_001 (2022 Abundance with Elvis Maynard and Olivia Demetros)