Building Your Style

A little info about me… I’ve been a photographer for over 25 years after I drifted over into still photography from my college pursuit of becoming a film director.

I worked at graphic arts design studio in Orange County and then became an assistant and 2nd shooter at a Wedding/Commercial studio in Pasadena.

It was here during late night product shoots capturing food items for grocery store circulars and long weekends photographing stressful weddings where I learned about photo technique and honed my skills.

A couple years later, as a young pup of 25, I opened my studio. Initially called PhotoMatt as a play on words on the photo finishing business FotoMat.
As my client list expanded, PhotoMatt became a bit too ‘cute’ and Fukushima Photography came into being.

In the beginning, I was shooting political campaigns and weddings and that was the bulk of my business for several years. As my business grew and my clientele changed, we shifted into shooting more commercial and advertising imagery.

It started with Architecture and Construction, which is still, one of my favorite subjects to capture and grew into the several disciplines showcased on the portfolio pages: Food, Interiors, Lifestyle, Industrial, Event, Conventions, Campaigns, Head Shots, Portraits, PR, Aerials, Product and Hospitality.

Fast forward a few light years and I’m still here and I still love it. Passion is an over used “buzzword” but that feeling accurately captures my approach to photography.

My ‘loves’ on a personal level include snow skiing, beagles, tacos…both a good al pastor taco and also a Jack In The Box taco, sunflower seeds, The Dodgers, a good IPA and of course, my wife!

THE THIN LINE OF DIFFERENTiATION

Writing this section feels awkward and self grandiose, like writing your profile in a dating personals ad but “what makes me different from the other photographers out there?”

I’ve done a lot of introspective reflection on this point and the answer is obviously obvious…the difference is Me.

Of course, there is the well known statement that every photographer sees differently, which is absolutely TRUE…but each person is unique and therefore, brings something to the table that is uniquely them.

Separating the ‘wheat from the chaff’ when determining your photographer based on price, image quality and image style are the easier calls….
When both are equal on that front, it comes down to, “ who is the better fit on service, interaction, communication and cooperation?
Put another way, “who will make your life easier? Who do I not have to worry about? Who do I want to work with moving forward?”

When working on a project, I’m fixated on producing an image that not only works for the client but more than that…makes them happy!
I know every photographer would claim that but I will do all of the extra things that go above and beyond the ‘call of duty.’

I’m a well know perfectionist which is not meant to be braggadocios but it is how I am wired. I feel like TV detective Adrian Monk about his pecadillo, “it’s a gift…..and a curse.” That’s me in a nutshell.
I’m also a subscriber to the adage, “be the easiest guy in the room to work with.”

In this regard, I’ll handle details that others don’t even see and work so seamlessly, that the project won’t miss a beat.

So, just another aspect to consider besides Fukushima Photography’s excellent imagery, ability to meet tight deadlines and flexibility on budget issues.

Feel free to contact us for more info or just to chat and say hello.