Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to James Rios. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi James, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry.

One of the standout trends making waves in stand-up comedy is the growing popularity of crowd work comedy. This trend is pushing comedians to venture into creating video content that captures these unique moments. Unlike a few years back when comedians avoided posting jokes on social media due to the fear of joke theft, the landscape has shifted. The rise of the TikTok generation and improvised stand-up has opened up exciting possibilities in sharing those fleeting, unrecorded moments that used to slip away unnoticed.

In my role as a videographer, staying alert is key. I aim to capture the unpredictable, unscripted moments during performances that often hold immense value.

However, the flip side of this content revolution is that audience members now feel more inclined to engage with comedians onstage, expecting their moments to be recorded and shared. How comedians handle these situations distinguishes the amateurs from the pros.

Recently, I was shooting video at the Ice House in Pasadena. During one of the comics sets there was a very drunk lady in the front row who assumed she was whispering and kept interrupting the show. On one occasion, the comic on stage addressed her. The interaction was hilarious and floored the room. There’s an art to thinking on your feet, and I’m here for it.

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?

My name is James, and I am Photographer/Videographer. (A.k.a. Hybrid Shooter). My professional business name is James Rios Studios.

You’d most likely catch me shooting photos and videos of comedy shows based all over L.A.
Most recently I’ve been shooting more at the Ice House in Pasadena, and at the Hollywood improv. I really enjoy taking pictures at comedy shows, because I get to enjoy capturing the energy the comics evoke from the audience.

My journey to becoming a photographer started back in 2016 when I myself began pursuing stand-up comedy. Being new to the industry I didn’t have the slightest idea about getting booked on shows. I didn’t know anybody.

At best, I was occasionally able to get 3 minutes of stage time, after waiting for 2 hours at a “Bucket Mic”. By the time I went up only 4 comics would be left in the audience waiting for their turn. I determined there had to be a more efficient way to gain stage time and experience. That’s when I started producing and booking my own shows.

Back then I wanted to repay the comics for being on my show. So I found an old DSLR camera and started shooting performance pictures of the comics on stage. I used a Canon Rebel t5 with an 18.0 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) censor. For comparison, my cell phone currently has 108mp capabilities. So needless to say, the quality that I was returning to my comics was nothing to write home about.

It was a desire to repay my comics that pushed me to improve the quality of my pictures. This steady progression has landed me where I am now, occasionally shooting pictures for some of the biggest comedy clubs in L.A.

I still have a lot to learn. It is my current desire to become one of the regular photographers at a comedy club. I’d like to be like some of the other photographers in the LA comedy scene whom I admire for their work ethic and photography style. Shout out to @VanCorona, @Justoffthesix, and @Lizvig.

I’m trying to distinguish myself from my peers by offering both video and photography services. When I was younger I really enjoyed making music videos using some of my favorite songs and clips from my favorite anime. One day, I was asked to make a highlight reel for a comedy show. I jumped on the opportunity and rekindled a long lost hobby of mine.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Financial Freedom. I cannot tell you how much I long for the day I wake up, and realize I don’t owe anybody any money. I’d like to know what that life is like. Just the sigh of relief that comes with knowing I can literally do whatever I feel like doing without feeling the guilt of being unproductive.

I want to continue to improve my skills until the day taking pictures pays my bills.

Creatively, my camera allows me to have fun along the way.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

As of now, my best clients have been the ones who recognize my talents. They either really enjoyed some content I produced for them, or enjoyed my personality. I’ve met each of my clients because I have taken pictures of them at some point. Those who appreciate my skill want me working with them and hire me on to help them capture the essence of their shows/performances.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jamesriosstudios.com
• Instagram: @jamesriosstudios
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamesriosstudios