Matthew Barnes
Matthew Barnes
Pasadena, CA, United States
About Matthew Barnes
I am exceptionally lucky to do what I do for a living. I mean, I could be canning tuna or, even more exhausting, catching the tuna. I try to stay rooted in this gratitude. Every. Single. Day. Gratitude relaxes me and relaxes a crew. Sometimes I pack a suitcase and my camera and travel somewhere where the quality of the drinking water is questionable just for gratitude maintenance. I somehow leave with my favorite work.
People always ask me “what do you like to shoot?” I usually feel pretty silly answering this inevitable question (you think I would have a stock answer down pat by now) because I have no preference. (Although, I am pretty vocal about not shooting weddings. Even if you are my sister.) I do not have a “style.” I am not sure if I could ever “pick a genre and go with it.” I am curious about everything. After a long period of shooting entertainment and advertising, I was asked to shoot cars for SAAB for 3 weeks. I had never shot a car in my life. When I was asked to shoot food for a restaurant that was part of a retail experience I was working on, I had never shot food. I figured it out and people were happy. If I had specialized in one certain area, I would never know how incredible it feels to successfully accomplish new terrains like these. It is never easy, but it gives me an adrenaline rush that I usually only get on my bicycle.
Besides shooting, reportedly my greatest strength is working and playing well with others. Since my career began shooting musicians and celebrities, I understand and appreciate eccentric personalities. I want people
to have a good time on my shoots and know that I have their back. I will deliver. So they can relax and enjoy the experience. After all, we are not canning tuna.
People always ask me “what do you like to shoot?” I usually feel pretty silly answering this inevitable question (you think I would have a stock answer down pat by now) because I have no preference. (Although, I am pretty vocal about not shooting weddings. Even if you are my sister.) I do not have a “style.” I am not sure if I could ever “pick a genre and go with it.” I am curious about everything. After a long period of shooting entertainment and advertising, I was asked to shoot cars for SAAB for 3 weeks. I had never shot a car in my life. When I was asked to shoot food for a restaurant that was part of a retail experience I was working on, I had never shot food. I figured it out and people were happy. If I had specialized in one certain area, I would never know how incredible it feels to successfully accomplish new terrains like these. It is never easy, but it gives me an adrenaline rush that I usually only get on my bicycle.
Besides shooting, reportedly my greatest strength is working and playing well with others. Since my career began shooting musicians and celebrities, I understand and appreciate eccentric personalities. I want people
to have a good time on my shoots and know that I have their back. I will deliver. So they can relax and enjoy the experience. After all, we are not canning tuna.
Education
Art Center College Of Design (Photography-BA)
