LaVan’s Lens—> “Everyone has a camera, not everyone is a photographer.”
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?
the jasmine brand: How did you get started?
the jasmine brand: What fascinates you about photography?
the jasmine brand: Is it me or is everyone a photographer?
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.
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?
the jasmine brand: How do you handle shooting celebs w/ challenging personalities?
the jasmine brand: What is your favorite subject to shoot? People? Celeb’s? Animals? Random shit?
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?
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.
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.