We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mekhi Turner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mekhi below.
Alright, Mekhi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.
I’m self-taught and still learning each day. I love being a student to the craft and will always be open to learning new techniques i might not know much about. There wasn’t a major obstacle for me because I’d do my research if there was something I needed or wanted to know. I’m from Ohio which is an obstacle for wanting to be a celebrity and fashion photographer that is obsessed with old Hollywood. I’d study the cinematography in films, television, and those of legendary photographers. I wanted to shape my business around how photography, directing, and creative direction were in the golden era and new hollywood. I’d then brand myself as a professional and reaching out to potential clients and their pr teams. Through high school up until college graduation, I spent days and nights shaping my career and the final building block was to move to Los Angeles, CA to cement what I had been working on.
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’m from Ohio. I got into the industry through music photography. The first major job for me was to work as a freelancer at The Us Open in NYC. I traveled there with my family and met the talent there for fan week. After connecting with artists there, I would see when they were coming to town and reach out to their publicists. I would then travel an hour away to Cleveland, OH or Pittsburgh, PA to photograph these shows. That would then lead me into, reaching out to up-coming actors and more to see if they needed headshots or press work. I’d go to college classes during the week, work a regular job in the evening, and at night work on my pitches. If I requested for a job in LA, then I would be out of town on the weekend just to show them I’m committed. When my friends were going out and having parties, I was at home planning my next business move and how to get further. I’m most proud of myself for being disciplined and hungry enough to live the life I prayed for. I want my clients to know that it’s a collaborative process and everyone should feel safe and at easy in front of my lens. It shouldn’t feel like a work project but instead a fun artistic day.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Being respected by your peers and those you have so much respect for. To document a moment in someone’s life that we can both look back on and appreciate the journey.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
For me, the goal is to master my craft. I would love to be able to create timeless art with the talent who seems untouchable at the moment but is just within reach when i’m on these carpets and backstage at these award shows capturing them in a moment full of gratitude. I want to be able to reach out to those bigger names (or them reach out to me) and it automatically be a yes instead of “sorry, we’re all set at the moment.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mekhiturner.com
- Instagram: mekhiturner
- Twitter: mekhiturner
