“I am a photographer that specializes in portraits, fashion, and lifestyle images. I work for magazines, ad agencies, designers, book publishers, and other commercial clients. The Dandy Portraits is a personal project. I am also a partner in a video and animation production company called Rarebit Productions. I graduated with a fine art degree in photography from California College of Arts in Oakland, California. My fiance is very supportive and actually inspired the first dandy portrait of the series – Lord Whimsy. We also collaborate on creative projects as partners in Rarebit Productions. My family are interested to see how the project progresses, and always love to hear about my new adventures.

Products from Pukimo Raivio

Kiton, grey sports jacket, size 50EU
Ralph Lauren, Black Label suit, size 52EU

I have always been interested in style in my image making – from trying to recreate Hollywood glamour portraits when I was young, to documenting style subcultures, to working on The Dandy Portraits. I love people that over dress, because I love to get dressed up myself. I have always appreciated when men wear suits, and when The Dandy Portraits started to take shape in about 2008, that is when I began to focus more intensely on men’s elegance. I was introduced to photography at about 10 years old by my mother who was taking a course, and I have been learning and practicing it since then. Although I studied it all thru school, I learned the most by assisting photographers when I first came to New York, and since mid 2000s, by shooting jobs and my own personal work. I like to talk tech and swap lighting tips with my photo buddies also!

With photography my intention is to be intimate, empathetic, and to bring out the iconic moments. I love natural lighting, and constantly am trying to mimic that whenever I have to use strobes. Recently I have begun thinking of it as “find the picture”, which means observe and let the picture happen, or create a situation in which it can happen. [I’m photographing gentlemen] to celebrate personal style and the idea of “The Gentleman”. Also to give some insight into the richly detailed world that these men create – and to show how individual it is.

[I’ve learned] that dressing well may seem to be a frivolous activity, but it really changes one’s life to walk thru the world with style and elegance. And being an “Exquisite Gentleman” goes far beyond clothing – it is a hard to define commitment to a life created by the individual. Find style inspirations – could be Hemmingway, could be William Powell, could be your grandfather. Or it could be an Otto Dix painting! Look at a lot of films, photography, and art. For example, the book “Secret Paris of The 1930s” by Brassai – the street toughs had incredible style! On a more practical level, accessories seem to be a good way to elevate a look with ease. Look at vintage shops or flea markets – if not to buy clothes, then to at least see the difference between the fabrics, colors, and construction of earlier times. It is possible to put together a classic look with new clothing if you know the elements to look for.”

http://www.rarebitproductions.com

Picture: © Rose Callahan