Meet Corinne Allen | Photographer
We had the good fortune of connecting with Corinne Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Corinne, what inspires you?
I am inspired the experiences I have lived personally. I like to pull from areas in my life that have affected me, good or bad, and put it into my art. I am also inspired by the culture and the area I grew up in. Born and raised in Southern California, specifically in Rancho Cucamonga has exposed me to so many different people and ideas, allowing me to find and carve my own path.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am film photographer from Rancho Cucamonga, California but currently living in San Francisco. I started taking photos at the age of 17 and started to pursue photography professionally by the age of 18. For a long time, I would take photos of my friends or brother in my bedroom, garage, or places around my city. I did this unpaid for about 3 years until I moved to San Francisco, and enrolled at SFSU. After being extremely persistent, I landed a job as a photographer/videographer assistant for the Strategic Marketing and Communications department. This job opened so many doors and allowed me to make valuable connections. Because of this job I am most proud of being a paid and published photographer for SFSU. Getting to where I am today was not easy and I still encounter challenges but the most valuable lesson I have learned that helps me get through adversity, is that if there is no way, make your own way. I’ve learned that staying true to yourself will get you much farther than allowing others to tell you what you can and can’t do. I want the world to know that I have something important to say and that can be seen in my art. I overcame my struggles by quite simply doing it myself. Can’t find a model? Self portraits. Can’t find a brand to shoot for? Mock up ads. Don’t have a specific LED light color? Look up that color on youtube and turn your brightness up. Where there is a will there is a way.
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?
If my bestfriend came to visit for a week, the first place I would take them to is Ginza, a sushi place on Haight. Since it’s their first day, we’d take it slow and chill at the house. The next day we would go to the Velo Rouge Cafe and get the Mt Ventoux breakfast sandwich and spend the day across the street at Golden Gate park and for dinner we would go to Bella Trattoria for amazing Italian food and drinks. If they wanted a night out dancing I would take them to Crybaby in Oakland or Temple SF, depending on who is performing. If they wanted something more chill but still night life, I would take them to Fizzies or Irelands on a Thirsty Thursday. The weather in SF is sometimes unpredictable so if the sun was out I would take them to Dolores Park for a picnic and dog watching, or take them to Fisherman’s Wharf for yummy seafood and tourists attractions. A day at Ocean or Baker beach, soaking up the sun with the Golden Gate bridge in the background. SF is filled with a lot of fun places and interesting people. I would save my favorite place for last, which is Crissy Fields, a field of grass right next to the beach and the golden gate bridge.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to thank Juan Montes at SFSUs Strategic Marketing and Communications Department for allowing me to be his assistant and teaching me how to be a better photographer.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idontshootfilm?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
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