large architectural photography firms in LA?

can someone tell me the names of a few of the largest architectural

photography firms in los angeles? and perhaps a couple of the more

notable independent arch. photographers in that area also. my

daughter just graduated from USC in photography and wants to

sepcialize in architecture, so she's looking for some of the best

companies to try and get an apprenticeship with. thanks.

Why isn't your daughter asking this question? The fact that her father is doing the legwork

for her won't be very impressive to a top architecture photographer. She should get out,

look at architectual magazines, black book, work book, and other photographer listings.

 

My students must do the research and contact work themselves. Professional

photography, especially an area like architecture is extremely competitive. Believe it or

not, photographers don't need talented assistants, they need hard working, resourceful,

disciplined and self directed individuals.

Yeah J, how dare you try and help your daughter and use the resources of this site and the help of the many of us who have enjoyed your responses and help?

 

I really dont understand why would you want to give your daughter more resources and help than those that she can find on her own, dont you know this is bad parenting?......(sarcastic mode off)

 

What is it with people who need to preach and offer no useful response? J, I dont know anybody in Cal, but Brian Ellis is a professional photographer who might be able to give you some contacts, drop him a line, you got nothing to loose.

Oh, and before I forget, Mr. Tonai, why dont you tell us where do you teach. I am sure that those parents who love their kids, want to see them succeed and want to offer them as much help as they can would want to know so that you are not unimpressed with their kids.

 

Also if you would be so kind as to direct us to a web site so we can see your work, you must be a superb photographer given the attitude of superiority you display here.

I don't know whether I'm the Brian Ellis Jorge is talking about or not, but just in case . . I'm not a professional photographer and I'm not located in California. Maybe he had another Brian Ellis in mind, I know there's another one here in Tampa because his credit card company sends me threatening letters a couple times a year.

Ooops sorry Brian, I got mixed up with the names, I meant Ellis Veneer...Never the less Brian, in my book you have professional quality photographs...:)

I think you may have your terms slightly mixed up. There aren't 'architectural photography firms' per se. Perhaps she is looking for a listing of architectural firms. Which would be a good place to start if she wanted to start gunning for jobs shooting interiors and exteriors.

 

Architectural photographers are one photographer and sometimes an assistant - so therefore not really a 'firm'. If actually wanted to look up architectural photographers in L.A. - you could get the Creative Black Book or the Yellow Pages.

 

The apprentice position you mentioned will most likely be referred to as an assistant. This is where I got my start and I it is my secondary profession (for many it is a full time profession - quite different from being a photographer).

 

So she probably wants to be contacting architectural photographers if she's looking for an assistant position and looking for architectural firms if she's looking to get her own jobs.

 

Hope that helps.

JT's advice sounds harsh. But I would agree with every word of it. JN's daughter will

learn it the hard way, as we all do, by working and struggling in the field. A college

grad is old enough to hear the unvarnished truth, and has earned the right to.

 

My advice, don't specialize in architecture to the exclusion of all else, or you'll be at

the mercy of the boom and bust cycles of the design and construction industries.

Jorge,

 

This was not an indicment of jnorman's parenting. I don't blame any parent for wanting

their child to succeed-especially after the expense of going to USC. However, why didn't

any of her teachers tell her about the most obvious source of architectural photographers?

The USC school of architecture is one of the top architecture schools in the country. The

professors there should have all the connections to photographers.

 

As for my teaching methods, I give my students the techniques of finding photographers

to assist as well as finding clients once they set out on their own. If a photographer

contacts me looking for an assistant, I will forward the information to students that are a

good fit. The short term "gift" of doing the work for them will not help them in the long

run.

 

Sorry for offending you and your sensibilities, but there are many photography students

that have the talent to succeed, but don't have the drive and discipline to reach their goals.

It is my job to give them the tools to succeed.

<i>However, why didn't any of her teachers tell her about the most obvious source of architectural photographers? The USC school of architecture is one of the top architecture schools in the country. The professors there should have all the connections to photographers. </i><p>

 

Well Mr. Tonai, it seems you are full of assumptions which for someone who is a teacher should know better. How do you know they did not do so? How do you know jnorman's question is not as additional support to other sources?<p>

 

You sit in your Ivory tower and you pass judgment on people when you know nothing about them, in this case jnorman or his daughter. You did not hurt my sensibilities, I simply find your arrogance and lack of situational analysis appalling for someone who is in charge of molding young minds.<p>

 

The fact is, you did not address the question and you had nothing to offer but preaching about the personal drive of a person you dont know. How do you know she is not a go getter and her father is only trying to add something to her contacts? Your response was useless and frankly, if it have been me I would have found it offensive. <p>

 

I dont know what or how they teach in the college you teach, but where I went to college, they taught me never to assume anything. As my physical chemistry professor told me, it is not true that when you assume you make an ass out of u and me, you mostly make an ass of yourself. Seems he was right.

hey guys - thanks for all the responses. i was not at all offended by john's original comment, as that is exactly what i told her myself. i only got where i am after making a million mistakes and tactical errors in my career, and finally completely lucking out by being in the right place at the right time. but since i am a member here, i just offered to throw the question out there for you guys. she had a great experience as an intern at CBS, and got to shoot brad pitt, missy elliot, CSI:miami cast, etc, but it apprently taught her she didnt really want to focus on people photography. she really loved learning LF and the more considered approach that it embodies, and wants to pursue that.

 

i am aware that in general, most commercial photographers are individuals, but there are some very renowned rather large firms that specialize in architectural work, such as hedrich-blessing in chicago, and i thought that surely there must be a similar firm or two in LA. not knowing that market, i just thought someone here might know. but i will just encourage my daughter to do some research herself. she is a great kid, and has already made her old dad quite proud, and i know she will be a succes no matter what she winds up doing. thanks again, guys - this is really a great forum. i read it every day. take care.

jnorman,

 

I'm glad you understood the spirit of my responses. Unlike Jorge who assumed I was

attacking your / your daughter's methodology I was posing questions and presenting fact

so that you could see where you and your daughter fit into the situation. All learning must

begin with a hypothesis (An assumption) and through experimentation, question and

answer, and research, concludes with a theory-which may be tested for verification.

 

"Why isn't your

daughter asking this question? The fact that her father is doing the legwork

for her won't be very impressive to a top architecture photographer. She should get out,

look at architectual magazines, black book, work book, and other photographer listings."

 

You've answered this question and it's nice to know that she did her own legwork for her

previous inquiry into photography. The sources I mentioned still apply, along with others.

(Except it should be architectural not architectual) It's not so much the size of the firm, but

the quality of the images.

 

Also, she should contact the USC School of Architecture and, as I said, should have a list of

photographers (may have to contact individual professors instead of the school in

general).

 

Good Luck to you and her. This will be my last contribution to this thread

 

JT