Are you sure that beautiful magazine photos always need amazing sets, complicated lighting, and a big crew? Let Geo Leon show you why you’re wrong. The talented LA-based photographer has more than 300,000 followers on Instagram because he posts both the glamorous end shots and the shots from behind the scenes. The latter shows that imagination is much more important than fancy props.
In the pictures below, you can see Geo’s most recent work. and don’t forget to tell your friends about it.
H/T boredpanda
You can find Geo Leon on the web:
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
Geo and shooting go back more than 10 years: “It all started when I was on a professional martial arts team back in 2011. One of my friends’ moms worked for the Kansas City Star as a photojournalist. She used to take pictures of all the teams when they went to events, which I found very interesting. She said I should pick it up and try it. When my wife gave me a camera, everything changed.
When we asked the photographer about his creative process, he said that he always starts with a mood board. “I make sure to find inspiration to get an idea going in my head,” he said. Then, once I have a general idea of what I want to do, I look for models that fit that goal. From there, we plan the place, time, clothes, and props to make everything come to life.
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
Depending on the ideas and how they are put into action, my photoshoots usually last between one and two hours. Most of the time, my friend Chris or my wife Michelle help me out. Editing and retouching a picture can take me between 1.5 and 3 hours.
Geo says that many artists try to copy each other’s styles these days: “You have to have such a unique style to stand out from the crowd. It’s hard to do because there’s so much ability out there!”
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
He would tell young artists to “shoot, shoot, and shoot!” Do some studying and find a photographer you like. Ask a lot of questions! Today, there is a lot of information that I wish I had known when I started out. If you are just starting out, take pictures of a friend or family member and think of ways to improve after each one.
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Image source: Geo Leon
When we asked the photographer how he deals with creative block, he said, “Sometimes I make too many things and burn myself out. As an artist, I’m always looking for new ways to get ideas. I might watch a movie, play a video game, or look at digital art on the internet. It’s great to have friends who work in the same field as you because they can inspire and encourage you.
Geo says this about his future plans: “I haven’t even begun to scratch the top of what I want to do. We all have goals we want to reach as artists. Since my style of photography is so unique, I’d like to push the limits of today’s media and get my photos in big magazines and websites.
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
When we asked the photographer how he deals with creative block, he said, “Sometimes I make too many things and burn myself out. As an artist, I’m always looking for new ways to get ideas. I might watch a movie, play a video game, or look at digital art on the internet. It’s great to have friends who work in the same field as you because they can inspire and encourage you.
Geo says this about his future plans: “I haven’t even begun to scratch the top of what I want to do. We all have goals we want to reach as artists. Since my style of photography is so unique, I’d like to push the limits of today’s media and get my photos in big magazines and websites.
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
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Image source: Geo Leon
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