Dieselboy at Republic, New Orleans

The last time I saw Dieselboy perform was about 5 years ago in Miami. Being one of my favorite drum and bass DJs, my mouse cursor very easily glided over the "purchase tickets" button online. I don't go to too many shows anymore, preferring instead to walk around in the dark with a camera or two slung over my shoulder. I'm glad I went to this one.

Email: info@carlosdetres.com

Florida -- It's Where I Grew Up

Anna Maria Island, Florida

Florida has, rightly so, been the butt of many jokes (kinda like Jersey but without that awful smell when you cross under the tunnel from Manhattan). The state is a complex one. Much of the central part of the state, where I grew up, is as conservative Southern as it gets. South Florida is one of the most ethnically diverse and vibrant regions of the country. There’s THIS parody Twitter account accurately correctly curates many of us Floridians’ head shakes. It’s also home to the most serial murders in the country and a governor who has had “climate change” removed from all official documentation and Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and the theme park Holy Land. 

Florida is also home of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Key Lime pie, legendary death metal bands, great natural vistas, the oldest city in the country, and a history that’s tied into the colonial era of the United Kingdom and Spain. 

I’ve been wanting to begin a project based on my home state of Florida. Just a loose collection of photos that reflect the memories of my childhood as well as my many return visits to see friends and family. As I continue going back, I’ll add more to this collection.

Building a Photo Story Book and Why It Should be Uber Personal

I enjoy telling stories and working with brands who want to genuinely connect with their audience. Everywhere we look there's an ad, which makes it more important now than ever to build relationships with customers. I believe companies who share my ideology will have more long term success.

From a photo shoot with IRFE (Paris) at the Gramercy Hotel, NYC. (©Carlos Detres 2015)

As a photographer and a diehard fan of photography, I like to create photos that are personal. I believe that this can be done in the advertising arena. Being removed from New York City (since last year), I have more freedom to execute ideas and experiment with concepts that can be valuable to my clients.

From a shoot with Westerly Vintage, New Orleans. (©Carlos Detres 2015)

My goal, like those of my clients, is to build a relationship with my audience and to share who I am as a person and an artist. A photo shoot I did with PROHAIRKIT.com back in January of this year, was built from a concept I developed with the company's president, ALEJANDRO JIMENEZ. We made a personal, impactful project that communicated the brand's philosophy of providing quality hair tools to stylists that share a bond with the Alejandro.

A photo from a look book I shot for PROHAIRKIT.com, Weaverville, NC. (©Carlos Detres 2015)

A successful portrait of a brand isn't only of people. There are other subjects indicative of a brand's image and philosophy that are included such as a photograph of an antique car or the tools used to create a product or even a color scheme that inspired the interior design of an establishment.

Antique car in St. Bernard Parish, LA. (©Carlos Detres 2015)

A lookbook is the same as a personal project, to me. I care about the brand's goals and image. It can be personal and engaging. While this deal that we're building will likely become available at the end of the summer, please feel free to include your information below so that you can be updated. It will be a fair offer -- one that many small businesses will be able to afford. 

Turning Your Brand into a Lifestyle Photo Shoot

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How to highlight what you do

The photos in this post were commissioned by ProHairKit.com to display the looks that can be had through the use of the hair tools they sell. It was a smart decision because it allowed them to broadcast beautiful, inspiring imagery through a story they could share with their network. It is one part portraiture and one part documentary, which is also how I photograph for clients such as Brugal, The Macallan and emerging artists.

My specialty in providing consultation and photography for social media marketing is bookended by my belief in the power of a photograph and its story. Many artists and companies are catching onto this, which is why this is such a HUGE part of my business. 

In recent years, I have had the freedom to make my professional work my personal work and as a result, I have gained new clients in New York City, Miami, North Carolina and New Orleans. Whether you're a musician or a business, I will work with you to develop a concept that is true to the heart of your brand through artistry, technical and marketing knowhow.

Inquiries are FREE so email me at info@carlosdetres.com and let's see if we can build the right project for you. You can visit my site to view more samples of my photography.

You can view the rest of the photo story HERE.