We recently connected with Zachary Smith and have shared our conversation below.
Zachary, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
The journey to cinematic visuals has been a winding one. I moved to Switzerland in 2012 and while I was there, I started acting in independent films with people who enjoyed showing me the process. When I moved back to the states (Atlanta), I started learning editing on premiere pro and began making my own short films with friends as well as doing contract work as a photographer and videographer. When I moved to Los Angeles, I was fortunate to meet and gain an apprenticeship with a master of visuals, Bjoern Kommerell. Not only was he an incredible teacher for the technical aspects of cinematography, but he instilled a philosophy that has helped me connect with people through truly seeing them, and accentuating the beauty I see. Learning to see others and myself in different lights has helped me become a better director, writer, actor, and more. I learned to create scenes that I light, be both a director and dp, all while being my client’s scene partner. I get to practice my skill of film making while also creating visuals that match the show my clients would like to book. The only way to learn a process like that is to simply do it, and if you can find a position where you get to practice all day every day and help others on the journey towards their dreams, you’ll never lose motivation.
Zachary, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
When you apply for any job, the only question they have is: Can you do it?
When an actor decides to get headshots in the style of cinematic photography, they show what they look like on screen. When I began working with Bjoern Kommerell at BK Headshots, he showed me how to really capture the essence of our clients in a cinematic way. That coupled with my love of tv and movies, enabled me to start creating intentional shots that feel like specific shows and movies. Since we do everything in camera, it feels more like a jam session where we can be playing one type of song and then get inspired to try something else. The minimum amount of edited photos I give is 40, so within that we get everything from headshots, movie stills, movie posters, etc. You should have an arsenal of photos that not only get you booked in what you can imagine, but also what you can’t imagine, plus the photos for your magazine articles for when you achieve that dream.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Being a creative means more to me than expressing myself. When I first started my creative journey, it was through music. I always loved writing, which drew me to poetry and rapping. I enjoyed freestyling with friends in high school, and when I got to college, I began recording my poetry to songs from movie soundtracks like the Tron soundtrack on a free software called Audacity. At some point, I wanted to create my own tracks so I started producing tracks as well, but I was always frustrated that nothing was sounded like what I wanted it to, and that I lacked the skills to manifest my visions. I worked hard at it, wanting to figure it out alone, rarely even looking at YouTube tutorials. It felt like I was crafting my own voice to express myself, without outside influence. Fast forward 4 years later, I’m working with other artists out of my bedroom while living in Switzerland. I learned so much from my house mates (most who were going to the music school as jazz musicians or opera singers) and it really showed me how much I needed to learn to be a better producer. Taking that lesson and applying it to everything I’ve tried creatively afterwards, eventually brought me to taking an apprenticeship when I wanted to embark on my visual journey. Having one of the best instill skills in you, both the way they learned and from their mistakes they learned, really helped me not only learn this skill quicker than any skill I’ve learned, but it also taught me to not focus so much on my own journey, and instead the journeys of the people I work with. As a photographer and producer, I’m first understanding the other and how they want to be represented, then I build the world around them that shows the world who they are when they are in their power.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Authenticity in our connection. When you learn Business Analysis, they tell you the first thing you should always do with a client is a needs assessment. For every photoshoot, I have one question: If I were a genie and could snap my fingers, getting you booked on any three projects, what would they be? In that moment, we really start to connect, whether on the shows they’d like to book or by figuring it out together. I really enjoy connecting as a union of creativity as opposed to the power structure of subject/photographer that many expect when they walk in to any photography session. Through that connection and being able to manifest those shows in the photo all while the scores for the scenes play in the background, really creates an experience where we all have fun. Since it feels like making a movie, people tend to share that experience with others, and those who like to have that experience give us a visit.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://bkheadshots.com/shooting-with-zach/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacharyismith/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zacharyismith/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2jyEZZBUsSO7Zx4CrqyY7A
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/ok_zero
Image Credits
Photos of Zach and BTS by Tim Coto (@photosbytimco_) All other photos by Zach