PHOTOGRAPHER FEATURE - BLAKE BALLARD
You may not know who Blake Ballard is, but we have a feeling you’ll be hearing a lot about him in the near future. His talent is unmatched and his ability to capture stunning image after stunning image is to be admired. If you will, please get acquainted with our photographer feature, Blake Ballard.
Who are you and can you give us a little background about yourself?
I’m a full time portrait and fashion photographer from Atlanta, GA. I’m also a signed model with Ursula Wiedmann Models, Images Management NYC, Directions USA, and Heffner Management. I graduated from the University of Dallas with my B.A. in Economics and a double minor in Studio Art and Drama.
What drew you to fashion photography?
As a model I had the opportunity to work with a lot of fashion photographers the first year I started modeling. I was always much more interested in what was going on behind the scenes that what I was doing in front of the camera, so it was a natural fit for me to move from modeling to photography.
How long have you been taking photos?
I started shooting fashion and portraiture a little over a year ago.
What are some of your personal and professional accomplishments?
Definitely landing my first cover both as a photographer and as a model. Those were a huge deal for me both personally and professionally. I remember when I started shooting I was initially written off as just a model with a nice camera by a lot of people, but having my work published in over 20 different publications in the past year is something I’m really proud of.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years hopefully I’m living somewhere by the ocean, living in my own studio and working consistently as a fashion photographer.
If you could work with any one person, who would it be and why?
Coco Rocha because she literally wrote the book on the art of pose.
Who are some of your biggest inspirations within the photography community?
Brian Jamie, Ahmad Barber and Max Eremine are personal favorites of mine. I’m a fan of photographers that are able to draw a lot of emotion out of their models. As a model I know that working with a photographer who gives direction and really pushes you to go past your comfort zone is very important.
What’s your process when coming up with a concept for a shoot?
It depends. Sometimes it starts just seeing an image and wanting to do my own unique spin on it, or other times I’ll see a model’s face and immediately know how I want to photograph them. I definitely prefer it to be an organic process though. Whenever I try and force a concept it always goes horribly wrong, so I prefer going into a shoot with a very basic idea in my head and letting it go from there.
What’s your favorite thing about the creation process?
That you can’t force it. The creative process either happens or it doesn’t. There is no in between.
How would you describe your aesthetic in terms of personal photographic style?
Simple but evocative is what I try to aim for. I always strive not to go too over the top, but instead to keep things really focused on the model.
What projects do you have lined up for the future?
I’m starting casting for a new photography series called Freckle that I’m working on. Also I have some collaborative efforts with some other photographers I’m very excited about but I can’t go into much detail about them or they’ll probably kill me.
If you could only bring three items with you onto a deserted island, what would they be and why?
Sunscreen, a Knife and a Brita filter for obvious reasons.
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