We were lucky to catch up with Robert Cobb recently and have shared our conversation below.
Robert, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
To burrow from Cardi B’, “you never lived unless you’ve risked your life” from her bar in “South of the Border” ft. Ed Sheehan and Camila Cabello, my personal motto is “life is an adventure” We all have one life and the chance to take risks is a privilege that few get. Whether shooting sports, on-location, fashion runways, etc, Risk is part of all of us, it’s embedded in our DNA.
In sports, you have to pay attention to your surroundings at all times, as you have highly trained athletes coming at you at over 20 mph full speed, or when you are shooting on location far from home without any form of support or a lifeline to help you immediately.
In fashion, taking a risk is betting on yourself to make it big and taking a chance in flying to Europe on a budget, traveling to cities and regions you’ve been to in person, and speaking a language (French) that you havent practiced or spoke regulary since high school 30 years. In the end , it both worth it and a life-changing gamble, I’ll do all day, vyday and twice on Sundays!
Call me an adventurer, gambler or thrill-seeker, but in order to mamke it in this industry, you have to be willing to take chances, which is why my new two big trips will be to Dubai and Almaty for their Fashion Weeks this coming spring.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am the Founder, Publisher and CEO of INSC Media Group LLC, which includes the five-time award-winning INSCMagazine, as well as our in-house photography house, INSC Media Photography that I created in 2019.
INSC Media and Photo produces and creates digital content in the form of photo and video, and since being formed 4.5 years ago, I’ve shot high-profile events such as my forthcoming coverage of Dubai Fashion Week* and VISA Fashion Week Almaty*, I’ve covered and photographed Paris City Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, NYFW, Miami Swim Week, Paraiso Swim Week, NYFW: The Shows, Miami Swim Week: The Shows, RISENYFW, Doral Fashion Week, RX Runway: The Shows, DC Swim Week, DC Fashion Week, Flying SOLO NYC, SOCIETY, SI Runway, HITECHMODA, VOGUE Mexico, The Heisman, PFHOF, Sundance, Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, SXSW, Bentonville Film Festival, Fashion Talks, Arnold Sports Classic, Mid-American Conference Media Day (Football), Mid-America Conference Championship Games (Football and Basketball) American Athletic Conference Championship Game (Football) UCF Knights Football, Pitt Panthers Football, Kentucky Wildcats Football, Stanford Cardinal Football along with the 2020 and 2023 NFL Draft
Notable publications I’ve landed are MAXIM Mexico, FHM, Playboy Australia, MOLL MAG South Africa, VIGOUR, L’Attriance, GMARO, OFFTOWN, SELIN, Socks and Pizza, Le Desir, MOEVIR Paris, MOVEUX, Edith Glamour, Magnifique, Heart of Hollywood, STYLECRUZE, MALVIE , Ellements, Artells, Autobabes, Surreal, Marie Claire (forthcoming*).
In terms of problem solving, I try to be as transparent and professional at all times, in terms of vision of a photo shoot project in using mood boards, concepts, gaining in-depth knowledge of the model in asking how they like to be shot, etc. World of mouth is the best and freest marketing that you’ll never have to pay for, as long as you show up and do what you say and promise to do, let your work and portfolio do all the talking for you, is what I say sets me apart.
What am I most proud of? Ohhh, thats a tough one. It’s a tossup between photographing Taylor Swift at Sundance in ‘2020 and projected No.1 overall pick in USC QB Caleb Williams in Arlington. Covering and shooting Fashion Week in Paris and Milan is perhaps my personal and professional highlight though!
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
In New York City, at a photoshoot during NYFW, I had the fortiotous pleasure of meeting my beautiful, amazing, wonderful and very talented artist and high-fashion supermodel in the newly-crowned Ms. World America Supermodel of The Year, Clara Heuser.
How we met in NYC, could best be described as a real-life version of the rom-com movie “Serendipidity” staring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsdale, as I actually went to the wrong Westin in New York, called the designer and walked all the way to the Times Square one. It was there that I would connect with this gorgeous dark-haired Spanish-Colombian beauty.
After exchanging information and getting to know each ther more,we arranged our first photoshoot up here in Cleveland, and after that we would go on to on-location shoots in Miami, South Beach, Sarasota, Siesta Key, New York, Paris and Milan.
To this date, we’ve been published in notable high-end publications such as MOEVIR*, VIGOUR, OFFTOWN*, BEAUTICA*, 6X, HP Magazine NY*–along wiith getting the cover four times!–and we have upcoming publications including the cover of STYLE CRUZE* and features in Eclair Magazine, GMARO and Marie Claire.
What’s funny is that we were dicussing plans for 2024, and came to the conclusion that Los Angeles is where we both want to be, and have set in motion heading out to the West Coast for Los Angeles Fashion Week, London, back to Milan–which has quickly become our joint favorite city together–Barcelona and the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires.
Again, we speak the same language both personally and professionally, and that is what I feel makes us such an incredible combo together.
I am truly blssed and grateful to have such an amazing chemistry and connection with someone who is a true professional at their craft, is modest and humble. What I feel separates Clara from so many is that she is truly a beautful woman–inside and out–and this is just the beginning a long, special and beautiful partnership.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Sadly, it was fairly recent while over in Europe, in that business is business and friendship is friendship.
I will not go into too much detail as of right now, but what I will say is that be sure to get everything in a contract, document all communication and keep your receipts, as you’ll never know when you will need to cash them in later. ;-)
In this industry, it’s a very small and tight world, where everyone talks, and its a real six degrees of separation, so be mindful of who you keep company with. Keep ypur circle close and tight, be professional and do what you are supposed to do. Produce quality work, network and develop crucial connections, becuase you’ll never know when you will need it.
What I’ve learned and cherish the most is how much fellow photographers and media content types truly do look out for you and lift you up. it’s a true bonding moment when you share the same “foxhole” or “press pit” at a show shoting the same thing. the war stories that you swap, the instant friendships that are forged and created whether in Paris, Milan, New York or Miami, the world of photography is a true brotherhood that I am happy to be a part of!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kavyar.com/robert-d-cobb
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/robcobb_insc
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/robert-d-cobb
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-d-cobb-9801202a/?original_referer=
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobCobb_INSC
Image Credits
photos courtesy of Robert D. Cobb | INSC Media & Photography