LaVan’s Lens—> “Everyone has a camera, not everyone is a photographer.”

October 20, 2010 by Kellie Williams in Latest News with 2 Comments

Women, myself included, love photographers (on the low). They shoot cool people, usually have “reserved” type personalities, but often have this semi-arrogance about them that’s attractive. Matter of fact, most of the photographers that I know are assholes. I kid, sorta.

I recently stalked DMV’s popular photographer, LaVan Anderson, and asked him a few questions about what I find dope about his work. Just to summarize, I found his answers witty, well-thought and uncomfortably humble. Had I shot half of the celeb’s he has, I’d probably refer to myself in third person on odd week days. Sorry, I digress.

The quick and dirty is:

he’s a walking media house,
his mom knows the words to Drake’s “Over” (as she should),
he doesn’t have groupies (but I’m about to pitch a reality dating show to him after this post drops, “For the Love of LeVan”),
he may have a crush on Chrisette Michele and
he’s celebrating 3!

Check my interview w/ LaVan after the skip.

the jasmine brand: where are you from? where’d you go to school?

LaVan: I was born and raised in Washington DC. I graduated from Eastern High School, and earned my BFA in Media Arts and Computer Animation from The Art Institute of Washington.

the jasmine brand: How did you get started?

LaVan: I bought my first camera about 2 years ago to photograph merchandise and events for my clothing company, Everyday Pple. I wanted to avoid having to hire a person and do things on their calendar. Once I bought the camera and started messing around, it transitioned into a hobby – an expensive one.

the jasmine brand: What fascinates you about photography?

LaVan: What’s most fascinating is the fact that photos really tell a story. Emotions can be captured in a single frame, and history is documented every time that shutter opens and closes.

the jasmine brand: Is it me or is everyone a photographer?

LaVan: Nah, it’s not you. Everyone has a camera. Not everyone is a photographer. I didn’t start out as a photographer – but I am now. I can, now, walk into a room and look at the lighting, look at elements in the room, the people and their complexions and attire (such as fabrics and colors), make 2-3 settings adjustments to my camera and take a near perfect photo at first try.

the jasmine brand: I like your photos, but I don’t know why–perhaps it’s the fact that they don’t seem heavily airbrushed, but natural, or the fact that I feel like I’m actually THERE w/ the subject.

LaVan: You actually like my photos for the exact reason I shoot the way I do. I DO NOT touch up people’s photos. My objective is to take you to an event that you missed. If you missed a concert, click through your iPod, find that artist, and visit my photo gallery.

the jasmine brand: What sets you apart from other photographers in the game?

LaVan: What sets me apart from most of the other photographers in the [local] game is the fact that I can couple my photography service with my other digital media production services. I’m basically a walking media house. I’d say that makes me stand out.

the jasmine brand: Because I’m a gossip blogger, I must include a shallow question–it would only be right….Every occupation involving celebs and nightlife has groupies. You can tell me–do photographers have groupies?

LaVan: I don’t know. As far as I know, I don’t have any. I wish I did have groupies because I sure would have them carry some of this dag-on equipment.

the jasmine brand: How do you handle shooting celebs w/ challenging personalities?

LaVan: “Celebs” are just people to me. I don’t trip. We all have challenging personalities.

the jasmine brand: What is your favorite subject to shoot? People? Celeb’s? Animals? Random shit?

LaVan: I absolutely LOVE shooting concerts. I’m a big concert-goer slash seat-snob, so standing in the pit or on a stage to shoot is the most thrilling experience ever. Of the few concerts that I’ve covered, my favorites would have to be Anthony Hamilton (because of his energy) and Erykah Badu (because of her outfits & hair).

Of the few concerts that I’ve covered, my favorites would have to be Anthony Hamilton (because of his energy), Chrisette Michele (because I’m convinced she was singing to me), Trey Songz (because the venues were packed wall to wall with Ladies.), and Drake because the photo pass was very difficult to secure, and he’s a big deal right now – even my Mom knows the chorus to “Over”. Smh. I had the opportunity to shoot artists including Erykah Badu, Monica, Musiq Soulchild, Kindred: The Family Soul, Wale, Wiz Khalifa, J.Cole, Chuck Brown, Common, The Clipse, The Roots, Janelle Monae, Rick Ross, and a few others. I’m somewhat new to this, so the list is a little short.

the jasmine brand: What don’t folks know about you, that you think they should?

LaVan: Not that they SHOULD know, but most folks don’t know that I don’t make my living as a photographer OR graphic designer. I actually sit behind a desk and maintenance a website from 9 to 5.

the jasmine brand: How do you choose your subjects? Is there any one person or subject that you would say no to?

LaVan: Most of my subjects choose me. I don’t think I’d say no to any subject, unless it’s an obvious conflict with something I believe in.

the jasmine brand: If you couldn’t shoot, what would you be doing?

LaVan: I’d be sitting in front of a computer designing (I’m very devoted to my graphic design), or out to dinner somewhere.

the jasmine brand: Is there any crazy, outlandish shoot or story that you can tell that readers would be shocked or intrigued by? Of course, you can leave the names out.

LaVan: Nothing too crazy. Well, I did freeze my ass off for about 7 hours straight, standing in one place, waiting to capture President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walking the parade route. You better believe – I got some excellent shots.

the jasmine brand: Any upcoming events that DC area folks should know about?

LaVan: Everyday Pple is celebrating 3 years of business. I’m also considering teaming up with Suite Nation (@suitenation) to do a gallery showing of my concert photography.

Want more of LaVan? Peep his collection of concert photos here. Follow him here.

Authored by: Kellie Williams

http://thejasminebrand.com

There are 2 comments for this article

averyavenue October 20, 2010 at 6:10 pm

I remember when Lavan first started shooting as a photographer two years ago.. Since then he has remained “Infinitely curious” about the art of photography and continues to progress in the kraft..

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JOY October 26, 2010 at 5:47 pm

i met him before. he’s a nice guy and is talented. what’s up w the dating show tho ha! ha! too cute.

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