We recently connected with Max Dashevsky and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Max thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I have worked closely with the GRiZ (dj/producer) team and have had the most meaningful memories through them.

I’ve helped cast and been the photographer/co-creative director all the merchandise shoots
Being able to bring all walks of life to be apart of this project. Being inclusive and involving people stemming from all races, genders, body types, and most importantly again walks of life.

Giving people who haven’t had opportunities like this to step out of their comfort zone and help boost their confidence all while given an opportunity to work with one of their favorite artists and have them share their work and boost their personal socials.

Another fond memory is having one of my photos auctioned off during 12 days of Grizmas (charity based events leading into the days of the concerts) They used one of my photos signed by both Griz and I to auction off to raise money for 7 mile music to help give back to kids.

It made me really appreciative to have my work featured and used to help raise money for children in need of musical instruments and providing them an opportunity within music.

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’ve always found photography interesting but didn’t pursue it in high school because I was so caught up in what was “cool” and what others thought of me. Crazy how it came full circle and became my full time job right?

I’ve been a photographer for 7.5 years and 5.5 professionally. I started in Music working as an event/festival photographer which turned into me learning video (still have a long way to go) and given me some opportunities to work as a tour manager as well.

Building close relationships with artists made me realize that although I do love what I do I should also try to branch out and try different things so I took a shot at Press Photos – New Press, Flyers, and Content that these DJ/Producer/Artists or their Mangement could use to advertise their project or their artist. From there I started to do brand work as well! I’ve been the photographer, lead caster, and Co-Creative Director on all of GRiZ’s merch shoots and one of Wreckno’s.

I’ve worked also as a BTS/Key Photographer on multiple of Wreckno’s music videos even getting some of my work featured on Paper Magazine and EDM.com

I even took a stab at online moderating during covid I helped run GRiZ’s twitch stream for 2 years during 12 days of grizmas not only helping moderate 35-40k people with a team I build under me but also helping raise money towards 7 mile music. Pretty positive we did 100k the first year then 200k+ the second. They’ve raised 500k+ overall since 2014.

I would say what I think I’m most proud of is coming from a business background and finding my groove with my love for photography and going full force into it opened so many doors into other great opportunities and has put me around so many different types of people/walks of life. I’ve grown up being told I’m not good enough for certain things or people had low expectations for me and to turn around and be able to achieve some of this stuff said above really makes me happy within myself proving to not only others but myself that I am worthy and work even harder.

I think what sets me apart from most people is my extroverted nature and sometimes being a people pleaser (working on that) My photography and overall media game is good but I don’t think I’m the best there ever was, FAR from it. I think my ability to talk with people, make people feel comfortable, work with others, and bring others up with me speaks more on who I am as a human being.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I had met my business partner Billy Weinger in middle school actually. We were friends but not super close! We rekindled our friendship towards the end of college then summer of 2018 we ran into each other at Art Park – Full Moon party here in Detroit, Michigan.

We worked on a record label together as A&R (artist relations) and whatever other tasks needed to be done.
This brought us closer together and we both love music and would go to shows together! Billy had mentioned being interested in the event industry and slowly but surely got him his first film camera and he started ripping!!
From there I remember John Summit had a show in Detroit while he was on the cusp of blowing up and billy had asked to take some photos of the event and he absolutely smashed it! We would start working on shows together until he started doing shows solo! I’d be on one side of town shooting a show while he’d be on another! Nothing like some good ‘ol fashioned friendly competition to keep our love for photography flowing. We constantly build each other up and never really ever fight nor argue.

I learn so much from him on an everyday basis not only as a business partner but as my best friend, as my roommate, and learn more within myself on who I am as a human because he inspires me to be better. He’s been on a tear recently with video which I myself am still behind and trying to learn more. He teaches me something new everyday and for that I’m forever thankful for our relationship.

Imagine being able to travel around the world capturing moments with your best friend?? It’s incredible.

Now you should see us in the studio together we don’t even have to talk to communicate what we’re looking for it’s like sparks flying when we get our heads together and we end up making magic.

I’m super thankful for Billy. An amazing creative worth checking out

Instagram – @BillyWeinger

We’re also in the works of building a media group with our other friend Jonathan Humphrey! A phenomenal photographer/videographer and director! I’ve worked with him on multiple shows/festivals and as a key/bts photographer for music videos he’s directed! Another amazing creative worth checking out.

Instagram – @J.Humphrey

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I started life way later than most of the people around me due to me messing around and not caring about myself and being selfish and not taking chances and caring what others thought of me. I’ve been told from a young age I wasn’t going to make much of my life nor go anywhere.

Something in me snapped towards turning 18 with the help of my grandmother rest her soul, she was one of the only people who constantly pushed me and made sure I had food on the table, a place to rest my head, warm clothes, and an education and hobbies/goals.

Truth be told I didn’t have much a vision nor plan for myself after the age of 21 I didn’t think I’d make it this far and I’m turning 30 this year and traveling the world working with some of my favorite artists and being able to do it with my best friend.

My point to this question is the lack of trust, love, and appreciation for myself is what fuels me to chase my dreams now and prove to myself that I am worthy and whatever I put my mind to I will achieve. Not to take things for granted, I know that people would kill to be in my shoes and I need to be grateful, appreciative, and also give back when I can and put others on because no one put me on when I was starting in my creative/media journey.

We should all be building each other up not breaking each other down.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maxdashevsky.darkroom.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxdashevsky/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/max.dashevsky.75/

Image Credits
First Photo – Justin Martin @ TV Lounge OK Cool Movement After Party Second Photo – Wreckno & Oddly Yvie on set of their Music Video – Topsy Turvy Third Photo – GRiZ Free Shows For The People @ TV Lounge Fourth Photo – GRiZ @ Summercamp Music Festival Fifth Photo – GRiZ Merch Shoot @ Eightfold Collective Sixth Photo – Me working an event at Magic Stick Seventh photo – Malaa @ Russell Industrial Center Eighth photo – Grizmas crowd photo