Meet Michael Azria | Fashion Photographer and Art Director.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Azria and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
I love this french quote that I heard many years ago… “Il n’y a pas d’amour, il n’y a que des preuves” which translates to “There is no love, only proofs”. To me, it means that the word love has little meaning, if it is not backed up by proof of that love. I’ve heard the word “Love” thrown around so much in my life, but it means nothing until I feel it through someone’s actions or passion.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Starting out, I took on small jobs from Craigslist. This gave me the chance to get experience, to develop my skills on set, and to work with different teams and clients. I shot everything from product photography, to beauty, e-commerce, look books and even portraits. This worked well for me becaue I was able to make a humble living, while learning the craft hands-on. There is nothing like learning from both success AND failure. Some shoots were good, some were okay and some were frankly not that good at all. Over time, my perseverance and hard work ethic made me hyper consistant. I now have a wide skill set, the ability to adapt on the fly and a fantastic standing with all of my clients. I tackle my assignments fearlessly and I am now able to be even more creative since the “technical’ aspects come to me so naturally. The industry has changed pretty radically over the years, clients expect a lot more than ever before, and in order to deliver, a photographer has to be much more than just “talented”. The new age photographer has to be able to understand all the details and nuances of a long demanding shoot schedule. Some days, we have to deliver product, e-commerce and lifestyle stills in a single shoot day. In order to be able to do that, you must have a mature understanding of all the different production aspects required to meet your client’s expectations. I call it “controled chaos”.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Los Angeles has so much to offer! I love taking guests to typical places like the beach, Hollywood, Los Feliz, etc… But I would say some of my favorite spots are the more low key and old school spots. I love taking newbies to Malibu and stopping on the PCH along the way. I think the valley is very underrated! Ventura Blvd is fantastic. I love Little Izakaya in Sherman Oaks, Sweet Lilly Bakery in Studio City, and all of the shops along the way. For drinks, I really like State Social House, my friend Alex bartends there and it is an amazing place to have a beer and watch fights or football. I also like older spots like Jones Hollywood and Formosa Cafe. I also have a soft spot for breakfast at Charlie’s in the old Farmer’s Market. Getting lost in Los Feliz and Highland park is also a real fun and interesting way to spend time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh man! That’s a tough one. I’d have to say Tracey Landworth (professional photographer) who taught me the basic functions of operating a camera and strobes. Without those tools and her support, I’m not even sure I would be where I am today as a photographer. Furthermore, she indirectly taught me that sharing knowledge with others is a gift. It has become an important part of my journey to be able to share my tools with others and I find it most rewarding.

Website: https://www.mikeazria.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-azria-6b1a6366/