Meet Jason Sean Weiss | Event, Celebrity & Fashion Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Sean Weiss and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Strangely enough, Steve Aoki has a lot to do with where I am today. In 2015, I was shooting for a men’s clothing subscription box company doing E-commerce photography. That was my first camera-based job. One day, I was asked to shoot a party up in the Hollywood Hills hosted by Aoki that our brand was sponsoring. I was excited, but nervous, because a wedding was the most similar kind of thing I had photographed up to that point (not very similar), and I was still pretty green at shooting weddings. The party went well, but while I was there, I met a woman who worked for a website, or blog, that offered photography covering events of all kinds. She told me “you should work for me” point-blank after very little small talk—so I did. The next 3-4 years with that website would be my introduction to the world of event photography in Los Angeles: red carpets, galas, parties, dinners, exhibitions, you name it. Most of the time, it was like trial by fire. Let’s just say I didn’t have the best teacher to help navigate this new world of 8am next morning turnarounds, naming every person I photographed, PR people, people with superiority complexes, and flash photography. I failed, a lot. But I learned so much, and luckily, I kept getting hired. One day, a couple years down the road, I was asked to shoot a birthday party for, you guessed it: Steve Aoki. While there, I met a photographer who shot for BFA. I had never heard of them before, but their website was the first thing I looked up when I got home. I was star-struck. The most famous people on the planet, at the biggest, coolest-looking events, shot by a team of inspiring and talented photographers. I knew immediately that’s where I needed to be. And not too long after, I cold emailed them, and the rest is history.

In short: say yes to every opportunity, be a nice person, talk to people, and put in the work. The rest should sort itself out.

Today, aside from being the best teammate and leader that I can be, and making sure that every client gets exactly what they need photo-wise, I really enjoy taking portraits of guests that don’t look like they’ve been taken at an event. Event photography can get pretty monotonous, especially when step and repeats are involved. If I can pull someone away from the main action of the event for just 30 seconds, and set them up in a really cool spot or way with great light, I think they really appreciate it, and enjoy the outcome just as much as I do.

What’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
The red carpet for awards ceremonies, movie premieres, and galas really can get that loud and combative. I’ve heard photographers curse each other out while photographing talent, and have seen photographers get physical with each other. But, we’re all one, big, dysfunctional family. Just don’t be new, and green, and expect there not to be an initiation of some sort. Just kidding. Kinda.

And, because of my work with celebrities or high-profile people, I’m often mistaken for a paparazzo, whether that be on the job with my camera in hand, or even in conversation about what I do. Paparazzi are typically independent photographers that show up to a location whether they’re wanted there or not, and sell their photos to entities like publications. Whenever I arrive to an event or location to shoot, I am always paid to be there, and the photos go directly to the client that hired me, or to the client via the agency I work for, BFA. I’ve got respect for paps, though—the nice ones. And, there have been many times when a client has asked me to shoot paparazzi-style. It’s a skill, and it’s fun.

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?
The million dollar question. I’ll start with a place I went to growing up: Sunken City in Pedro. Grab a sandwich and drinks from Busy Bee beforehand and watch the sunset. Perfection. You can skip all the buzzy, influencer-approved Italian restaurants in LA and go to Antico Nuovo instead. Next morning, head to East Olympic for two doses of tacos: Mariscos Jalisco, and Tacos Y Birria La Unica. You can’t visit the city without trying one of Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis’s restaurants, so I would do lunch at Saffy’s and dinner at Bavel. A martini and a prime rib, or a shrimp louie, at Musso & Frank’s is mandatory. Pregame that with a visit to the Museum of Death, or a screening at the Egyptian—they’re just around the block. I don’t go out as much as I used to, but Everson Royce Bar will always be my favorite bar in the city. Get a boilermaker and their incredible burger, or a burger afterwards at the Original Tommy’s on Beverly. Or, Canter’s: another late-night institution. If hiking or picnicking is the move, you can’t go wrong with a Mr. G’s from Giamela’s—take that to Forest Lawn in Glendale. Heading to Greystone Mansion? Pick up a Florentine sandwich from Lorenzo first. Hollywood Reservoir? Make Clark Street Diner your post-hike reward. You really can’t go wrong with anywhere in K-Town, but I would persuade you to visit the always cheerful Chef Jennifer Pak at Soban. Order the soy-marinated crab, and the galbi-jjim. Oh, and Langer’s, of course. For a splurge, I would direct you to the 400-year-old wood counter at the very underrated Shibumi in downtown. Perch, in downtown as well, is still my favorite spot for a view. And, should you choose to explore the city via bicycle, you can’t go wrong with the Marvin Braude bike trail. Stop by Bay Cities or Gjusta along the way. If you still have stomach room after all that, grab a slice of pie from Fat + Flour. And, if there’s still time and gas left in the tank, go to Joshua Tree. Climb some rocks, look at the stars, and go to La Copine. That’s my perfect week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely a few people to shoutout. First, the people that hired me fresh out of college, and gave me my first camera-based jobs: Ali and Nathan. Nathan especially, who, together with the late, great, Alex Morgan, became mentors to me in more ways than one. Romina, who first brought me into this world of events, celebrities, and step and repeats. She was tough as nails on me, justifiably or not, but prepared me for the leveling up that would soon come. And, of course: shoutout to Andrea, Billy, and everyone at BFA. I am constantly inspired by those peers, and have learned so much about being a professional, and a career photographer, through them. I’ve found my home in photography, at least for the time being, and it’s all because they believed in me.

Website: https://jasonseanweiss.com

Instagram: @jasonseanweiss

Image Credits
Jason Sean Weiss/BFA.com