Meet Melissa Robinson

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

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am proud to be a photographer who understands light in ways most of the world doesn’t. Having worked grip and electric for over 8 years all around the world I have worked with my fair share of brands like Gucci, Bulvgari, Chloe, Addidas and so many more plus celebrities like Lebron James, JLo, Travis Scott and Teyanna Taylor to name a only a few. Whilst also being a Lighting Director for brands like Google, Nike, Apple Music and so on I have had my fair share of shoots I am LD for go onto Billboards nationally and internationally.

I am also thankful to have recently set up a studio at my apartment in Venice Beach. With 20ft ceilings it is the perfect place for me to currently shoot headshots, full length and more for those of you looking to expand your imagery. With my own grip equipment business I have all the needs to create imagery with lighting that brands pay thousands for.

I am different because I am the demographic, I do the sports and am apart of the culture. It allows me to see through the lens in a unique way. I love to find that magic of creativity and collaboration at it’s best. With years of standing right between the top photographers in the world and the A-Z of talent I have a few tricks up my sleeve and am now exploring them as I shoot more regularly within my new studio and elsewhere.

I am someone who loves to be on my skateboard on my days off, learn more MMA and train in calisthenics. I live an active life, yet I do love to find balance with stretching, meditation, reading and documentaries. I find the balance in this gives me a unique perspective from the way I engage with others to the way I see them through the lens too.

To get where I am today has been a journey of growth, reflection, consistency in progression and deliberate practice. I never thought as I grew up in a remote town of 40 people in New Zealand that I would ever one day be having a art tour from Lebron or singing on a closed set with Lauren Hill let alone having lived in New York, London and Los Angeles. After moving to Venice Beach I have truly learned about the balance I love and the true meaning of community. I look forward to these coming years as I expand into new avenues and develop my current endeavours to their fullest potential.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First off would have to be Venice Beach, yes I’m bias because I have resided there for two years now but it truly is one of a kind. It reminds me of a mishmash of Bondi Beach in Australia and the grime of New York. There is chaos daily in Venice Beach but that honestly apart of the charm of Venice Beach’s identity. Between the iconic world known skatepark and muscle beach locations I work my way around the countless activities in Venice Beach daily. Yet if you’re limited on time I recommend hiring a scooter and singing with your favourite tunes at sunset with your friends on the back. It is so fun! If you have time in Venice Beach take your time to people watch. It’s fantastic. Such an array of personalities, demographics, sub-cultures all coming together and appreciating their uniqueness as much they can.

Yet if you have time I fully vouch you make your way to either Northern California for the redwoods if you can, or to Utah for the desert. There is something in the dirt there. Angels Landing, although a hike is so beautiful there will be no complaints when you see it for yourself. A definite bucket list recommendation.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First off I would have to say my family. For the sacrifice of me not being there. I have lived overseas for almost half my life. In the past I haven’t been able to frequent home as much as I would like to. Let alone all the little things yet I am still blessed to have such a loving supportive family. I miss New Zealand and all my loved ones so much but I also know the feeling of a calling inside me to explore. It hurt not to listen to it, even when I was young. In the last couple years I have been able to a spend larger amount of time back home, this has meant the world to me. Yet I see the balance I now strive for. I have a feeling it won’t be long until my family are able to visit me in America too and this is a day I truly look forward to.

There are many people I would like to thank subtlety but there is one I can not pass on without true mention, Anna Inglis, because she is the reason I held onto this dream in America when I was at my lowest. I was living in New York, a week before the pandemic I met a guy from London and his three mates on my rooftop, here I am drinking a wine on the edge of the roof, south 5th Williamsburg bridge clean in sight. It was my first time up there, I literally just finished moving my boxes in as the coloured adorned my new bedroom wall I knew the sunset would be spectacular and raced to the rooftop, Alecia keys in my ears. I assumed they lived there, yet no they said they climbed the fire escape for sunset. They left after a week back to London and we kept in touch.

It was Covid so all work stopped, I decided for some reason to go to London, take that hunch in my gut everything would be alright. It was for a bit but it got bad. Really bad in my opinion. After a year, six month included of intense arguments, sleeping in an empty gym and feeling so belittled and worthless, I borrowed enough money for a flight and fled back to New York. I didn’t want to give up on what I had already achieved but with no work still at the time I was broke. Anna gave me a room in her second bedroom, her closet that I slept on with an air mattress and fan 🙂 She gave me a peaceful place to find myself again. She knew what it was like to be on the other side of the world with no family or people from home near to be able to converse with or ask for help. She was there for me as I got back on my feet. She is not only from home (though we never met there) she also works in the industry as a Producer, she freelances yet predominately with Henstooth (www.henstoothpro.com). She believes in me as a talent in my field and bless her kind words of realignment as I was healing.

Now a few years later I can vouch her reassuring words have helped me manifest this true. Along with many others I have met along this way who have helped me find my light and ground myself in it along the way.

Website: www.foreverseen.photo

Instagram: www.instagram.com/foreverseen

Image Credits
Image 1. Cool tones, shadow play Talent: @itsslavik Shot at home studio, no styling, lighting or HMU team Image 2. Classic BW street studio portrait Talent: @laraharden_ Shot at home studio, no styling, lighting or HMU team Image 3. Image unretouched Talent: @earthtonericky Shot at home studio, no styling, lighting or HMU team Image 4. Image unretouched Client: @emilygiglio Shot at home studio, no styling, lighting or HMU team Image 5. Image unretouched Client: @emilygiglio Shot at home studio, no styling, lighting or HMU team Image 6. Talent: @majaolssonnnn @alyshale HMUA: @jennybird_mua Stylist: @i.am.anniep Image 7. Client: @nike x @serenawilliams Talent: @malymannn @y.angie @ch1ngona_af zionzell @eeeenga @kleptokynn Crew: Creative Direction @di.artha Narrative Direction @vvaaaanda Design @sarah.hallal @chantelsanchez_ Art Director: @minashoaib Photographer: @arturoshoots @vivmgmt_ Lighting Director: @foreverseen 2nd Asst: @seanmoorephoto 3rd Asst: @haileymagoon Digi Tech: @michaelcardiello Creative Director: @mikefolabi Writer: @jheintzwaktare DP: @kolbylistenbee18 Editor: @mackjohnson.edit VP of Creative: gerardo.creative Production: @chocasey @jordancpease Post supervisor: @vanessafragosoh Project Managers: bellagonzalez24 @benisonchoi Stylist: @keylakeylakeyla Hair: @hairbyashleyh Makeup: @porschefabulous Retouchers: @epilogueinc Production: @uninterrupted + many more Image 8. Client: @victoriassecret Talent: @palomija Crew: Photographer: @zoeygrossman Digital Tech: @seandeckert Lighting Director: @boyztooman Photo Team: @foreverseen @jitobandito Stylist: @malinajoseph MakeUp: @farahomidi Hair: @hollismithhead Nails: @stephstonenails Set: @spencervrooman + many many more