Featured photo of @rdot_productions, taken by @christopher_lee_creates.
Hello AZPM community! We'd like to officially announce our newest Junior Brand Ambassador, Richie Shemberger (aka @rdot_productions)! Richie started attending AZPM events in the summer of 2022, and has become a staple of the community ever since. While the official title of Junior Brand Ambassador may be new for Richie, he has been a dedicated member of the AZPM team for a while now. Richie is always the first to arrive at an event (usually even before Lex & I), and lend a helping hand in getting the day started. Not only is Richie a friendly and helpful member of the team, he is also a very talented photographer. Richie's passion for photography is evident in is work. He has an amazing eye for capturing candid moments that feel natural and full of life.
Let's hop into the Q&A to see what Richie has to say!
Junior Brand Ambassador Q&A:
- Please share your name (this can be maiden, actual, future, or anything you would like us to refer to you by!)
- Richie Shemberger
- Please share relevant social media handles- instagram, twitter, tiktok - where ever you'd like us to follow you!
- When did you start attending our events?
- June 2022
- What setup (equipment) do you shoot with?
- A Canon R Mirrorless camera. I carry very little lighting with me. I have a speedlight just in case, but don't often need to use it. When circumstances permit, I much prefer to use the lighting in the scene; whether that is sunlight in the day, neon signs, or other city lights at night.
- How long have you been photographing?
- Took a photography class way back in 2013 and was taking landscapes during that time. Lasted about a year until the camera I had broke. Got back into it mid 2021 and having been consistently looking for opportunities to take cool pictures ever since.
- What are your favorite things to photograph? (Certain photography styles, products, portraits, etc.)
- Overall, I always prefer having people in my photos. But, I love it even more when there is equal parts people and landscape(think a picture of the back of a persons head looking across the grand canyon for example) I am very driven to use photography to tell stories. I will set up the scene and tell the model to look away and pretend I'm not there in the name of making a picture that feels like a realistic painting.
- Do you have a favorite photoshoot you've done? If so, tell us about it!
- One of the models who regularly attends AZPM phoned me up one day and asked if I would be willing to do a photoshoot with her in the apartment that she was moving out of. Since it was gonna be empty and would make for cool pictures. Me and her get along as friends very well so that helped make the whole thing fun. I took one photo of her curled up near the window, looking like she was crying. And then later edited it to look like a beam of light was coming directly from the window onto her. it looked super cool. It probably is one of my prouder photos and because of that, and because that model is such an amazing friend, that photoshoot stands as my favorite.
- Where do you draw inspiration from when photographing, planning photoshoots, etc?
- I draw a lot of inspiration from the way movies are filmed. Some of my favorite photos I've taken I would describe as looking like a screenshot from a film. Whether I have to make the model look away from me, mess up their hair so it looks like they have been running, I do everything I can to make the people who view my photos feel like they are getting a sneak peak at a moment that actually happened. I want them to forget I was ever there, just like how you forget that the camera men in movies are there. I recently discovered a photographer by the name of Gregory Crewdson. He creates photos that require crews the size of film crews to properly light and shoot his photos, but they come out looking like renaissance paintings. His style of capturing wide scenes that are heavily curated but seem very natural feels very similar to the vision I've always had for my photos. I have been taking notes from his work ever since I discovered him.
- What tips do you have for new photographers?
- There is truly no such thing as a "right" or wrong" way to enjoy photography. Wedding photographers love soft light, but that doesn't mean every photo with hard light is bad. Be bold and break rules. But, if you have a model, talk to them about your vision just incase they have a different preference for the look. Your vision of what looks good is valid, keep trying to make as much of it as you can so that the people who want to pose for your style of picture know where to find you.
- What types of challenges have you had to overcome in your time as a photographer, and how did you overcome that situation? (loss of inspiration, damaged equipment, learning new skills, etc.)
- My biggest challenge definitely was coming to terms with the fact that different people like different photos for different reasons. And thus, a lot of anxiety I had about whether or not I was doing photography "right" was a load of crap. Photos that all the snobs would have told me are bad photos have definitely gotten lots of praise by people who I would consider talented. All art mediums, unfortunately, have gatekeepers. And in the past I have fallen prey to listening to them. But I met other creatives and did research on different kinds of photography. I learned slowly but surely to trust in my own vision. And now I'm confident enough to plan whole photoshoots my self.
- Anything else you like to share with us?
- I'll shoot NSFW, but i have a very strong preference for it to be more artful and less sexual. Though I will not turn down anyone who wants to shoot with me at AZPM. I'm always happy to help a new person find their way amongst the awkward socializing. Also, both of my channels need more pictures of dudes. I see you guys, you deserve pictures as well.
Check out this collection of photos taken & selected by Richie!
Photo of AZPM owner, @drunkpanda72, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of @zrtec1, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of @thecheyenneing, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of AZPM Brand Ambassador, @tae.the.archer, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of @sonjaelcic, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of @colorofmyenergy, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of AZPM Brand Ambassador, @tae.the.archer, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of @thecheyenneing, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @the_mighty_tamarawr_cosplay, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of AZPM owner, @drunkpanda72, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @the_mighty_tamarawr_cosplay, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of @jynandtonics, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of AZPM Brand Ambassador, @tae.the.archer, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of @nicholez1974, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of @babayaga_cosplay, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdot_productions.
Photo of @haleybaybee, taken by AZPM Junior Brand Ambassador, @rdotafterdark.
We are so excited to *officially* have Richie on the team! Thank you for all you do to make this community amazing!