Meet John Allen Phillips | Director of Photography / Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Allen Phillips and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John Allen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It was unconventional, but not that uncommon among artists.

I remember the very moment I decided to start a photography business. I had recently graduated from FSU with a degree in Biology when I took the obvious next step of moving to Los Angeles to become an actor:) I enrolled in a two year acting program where they strongly suggested not taking acting work while training, so I was waiting tables on the side, but really wanted to do something creative and needed more cash.

I remember sitting in my scene partner, Danny’s car as we cruised north on the 5 freeway just past the Olive overpass in Burbank. I told him I wanted to start a side hustle and he immediately suggested that I start shooting headshots. This will date me, but most headshot photographers were shooting film at the time and, as an actor, I knew how nerve-racking it was to pay for a headshot session and only get 24 or 36 chances to get a great photo. Digital DSLR’s were just becoming good and the market wasn’t saturated yet so I bought a Canon 30d, a little plastic Nifty 50 1.8 lens, and a card reader for my laptop. I put out an ad and shot free headshots for a couple of months to grow my portfolio as fast as I could. I built a website and the rest is history. Although I’m doing more cinematography and directing lately, as of today, I’ve pressed the shutter around a million times for more than a thousand photography clients.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I got really good at squeezing water from rocks. Metaphorically:)

What I learned over the years shooting tens of thousands of street portraits, guerilla music videos, and drone projects was mainly how to work with available light and minimal equipment.

I recently wrapped principal photography on a feature film where I was the Director of Photography and Co-Director. It was an incredibly epic story with many locations all over Southern California so there was a concern with the production team that we might not be able to pull off this story with the budget we were working with. The city streets. The mountains. The desert. I had become so comfortable running around these places with a camera in my hand scurrying to try to capture the perfect light that I was confident we could do it. We did it. We’re in post production now. I can’t wait for everyone to see it. Special nod to the producers and now great friends; Tate Ammons and Andrea Orbeck.

Shoot a lot. Learn from your mistakes. Shoot a lot more.

Be nice to people on set. Show your team you care by giving it your all. Work with people that give it their all – that’s you Heather Renee Pelkey!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This happened to me twice in the past year! This answer could go on and on. LA has so much to offer.

If my guest is a morning person I like to show them the Wholesale Flower Market downtown. It’s incredible! If they’d rather sleep in then I would still head downtown to the Fashion district and Santee Alley, then find a great food truck or taco stand. That’s the real LA. Then flip the script 180, dress to the nine’s and crash the Bel Air Hotel for late night Bel Air-bougie libations. That makes them feel really “Hollywood.”

A drive up the PCH from Palos Verdes to Malibu. Beach time in Redondo, Hermosa, or Manhattan Beach. Paruse the shops on Abbot Kinney and Main St. in Venice then watch the skaters at the Venice Beach Skatepark. Lunch at Èlephante in Santa Monica for a stunning view of the ocean. Finally cruise through Malibu to see the sunset at Zuma Beach.

Head up classic Beechwood Canyon to the Hollywood sign. There’s a huge dog park up there and a great walk around the Hollywood_Reservoir. Then check out Amobea records before a night in Hollywood. Dinner at El Compadre at one of the dark, tufted, red vinyl booths. Bowling at Lucky Strike. Then cocktails at Bar Marmont.

For low key days head to Pasadena to check out the neighborhoods and shops. Americana at Brand in Glendale is a nice place to relax and for incredible shopping and a great movie theater, nothing beats Westfield Century City.

If they’ve got any energy left, hiking at Runyon and Topanga Canyons!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow. That would be a really long list. This is like the Oscar speech where you don’t want to leave anyone out!

So far, my life has been structured with some pretty well defined chapters and in each one there were a few different, but very special people that provided much of what you describe in the question. Childhood had it’s ups and downs, but my mom, dad, sisters, and best childhood friend Leif have always just believed in me and been excited about my adventures, regardless of what I was doing. That’s extremely helpful. Although they did wish for a bit that I stuck with the doctor thing.

My partner Nina Ratterree and my two best friends Drew Benda and JT Mollner have been there for all my success and failures. All of them are in the film business and they’re all great sounding boards and motivators. Having someone who knows you well and can also give you honest advice is priceless.

The two year acting program at The Sanford Meisner center taught me so much about really listening to others and giving one-hundred percent to whatever you’re doing. I would suggest acting classes for anyone in any line of work.

The book The Success Principles by Jack Canfield was an unbelievably motivating read for me.

Website: I have two: www.johnallenphillips.com / www.clickwestphoto.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedirectorjp

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnallenphillips

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedirectorJP

Image Credits
John Allen Phillips, Heather Renee Pelkey