Interview with Anthony Hudson

California born and raised, Anthony Hudson (or @a.hudson_photo) is a portrait and fashion photographer based in the bay area. As longtime fans of Anthony's work, we were so excited to chat with Anthony for his very own feature in Issue 28 and ask him about his journey into the creative industry — starting with his early interest in art, his journey into professional fashion photography, and more. Read on to learn more about Anthony's work and what "identity" means to him:

Hi Anthony, thanks for chatting with Mad Sounds today. To start off, can you tell us about a typical work day for Anthony Hudson?

A typical work day? There honestly isn’t one. From day to day its always different. One day I may be editing a bunch of photos from a shoot, other days Im on photoshoots, and some days I’m just prepping and planning for a shoot; scouting locations, replying to emails, finding models, etc. That’s what I love about this craft. There’s never a boring typical work day.

When did you first discover your love for photography?

I discovered my love for photography the semester after I graduated high school. I’ve always been a traditional artist and I loved to draw. I was in honors art classes and I thought I was going to become a tattoo artist or do commission work, but once I tried photography during my first college semester, I was hooked. My creative world opened up even more.

How did you realize you wanted to pursue photography as a career?

The more I shot, the more I got addicted to seeing and shaping light. I started shooting everything. Landscapes, small everyday items, street photography, portraits, etc. By doing this I was able to see how light acted in different situations and environments. I got better and better and decided that I could see myself doing this for the rest of my life as a career. The satisfactions and dissatisfactions, failures and successes, I love it all.

What is your favorite type of photography to shoot?

I absolutely love shooting portraits. A lot of my work consists of portraits. I love people. I love connecting and interacting with the subjects and the way light looks on a figure or in a person’s eye never gets old. Im currently really into beauty photography too. Doing makeup well for a photoshoot is not easy and I appreciate the art of it. I love bringing the different looks the MUA does to life. I’ve also gotten into a lot of fashion photography, but always find myself more interested in the person within the clothes.

As a photographer, what is one of your biggest photography “pet peeves”?

I dont have a lot of pet peeves in general, but I can’t stand when people think one camera/camera brand is better than the next. It’s not about the camera you use, but about the eye and mind behind the camera. I also hate when I misplace my lens cap!

Walk us through your editing process—what’s your favorite way or style to edit your photos?

Usually I start with the overall exposure and white balance and then make minimal adjustments from there! I keep everything very natural in my editing process. I do simple cleanups of the background or distracting things, but I don’t like to overdo it. Over the years I’ve learned less is more when it comes to editing the overall look.

What are your biggest essentials for a typical photo shoot?

I usually take a small bag that has everything I would need for a photoshoot. Batteries, baby wipes, napkins, scissors, sync cords, clamps, etc. and then my camera backpack that carries my Nikon D610, 24-70mm 2.8 lens and at least 1 prime and/or zoom lens. I tend to shoot very light. I move around a lot when I shoot so I like to be mobile.

Where do you find inspiration for your photography?

I find inspiration in so many different things. Maybe the way light bounces of a window or the way it caresses a wall. Or by a fashion spread that has a really unique concept or vision behind it. I mainly get inspired by other people. The stories people tell me and the lives they are living. Whether it be good or bad I always learn from people and it inspires me so much. I see God working for good in people’s lives whether they see it or not and it gets me very excited.

What is it like working with modeling agencies for shoots?

I enjoy working with modeling agencies for shoots so much. Everyone is held accountable and the professionalism makes shoots run more smoothly. I’ve met so many great models, MUA’s, and agents and It’s cool to see how the different personalities make up the agencies. It’s more about building relationships when it comes to working with agencies and I love that.

What is your biggest advice for working with models or making a model feel comfortable during a shoot?

All models should be treated with respect. No matter their level of experience they need to be respected. They are a big part of photo shoots and carry a lot of power, so they need to be with kindness and appreciation. Patience is also a big aspect for both the model and photographer to possess. Sometimes that is all that is needed for a shoot to be successful.

To make a model feel comfortable during a shoot I start asking questions about themselves. I genuinely care about who Im shooting so I want to know more about them. This tends to lighten the mood and gets them thinking less about the nerves and more about just being themselves. For models, just be yourself and be confident! Try different poses or angles! Thats how you learn what works and what doesn’t! Just have fun, but also keep it professional.

Has living in the Bay Area impacted your work at all? What is your favorite part about living in the bay?

I feel living in the Bay Area has impacted my work a lot. I grew up here so Ive connected with people and built real relationships. God has placed the right people in my life here and I’ve been able to grow in my connections. I believe that where you are now in your life, is exactly where you need to be at the moment and right now God has me here. My favorite part about the Bay is the people. Hands down. Its such a big pot of different flavors, cultures and ethnicities and everyone tends to get along for the most part. People in the Bay keep it real!

What are some of your favorite spots in the Bay Area?

The city of SF will always my favorite spot. There’s a lot of different neighborhoods that have unique vibes here. I have so many different memories of being in SF that I will always remember. Another spot would have to be Mt Davidson in SF. Its basically a little forest within the city of San Francisco. I love going there and taking time away from the craziness and just reflecting. It’s good for the soul.

What has been the biggest challenge or hardship thus far about pursuing a creative career?

Probably finding and maintaining a consistent client blase. I feel that tends to be a challenge for all freelance artists.

What is one of your fondest memories or milestones thus far in photography?

I recently had work in the APA - American Photographic Artists “Something Personal” exhibition show in Fall 2017 and was also published in Creative Quarterly Magazine. This led to my work being one of the 100 best works of art in 2017 for that magazine and I received an award for that. Then they also held a show in NY that my work was in. That was pretty cool.

If you could create your dream shoot, what would it be?

Dream shoot? Umm honestly I have no idea. Never really thought about that. Something with models and animals would be really cool. Like tigers and falcons and stuff. Idk haha

For our 28th issue of Mad Sounds, we’re discussing the theme of identity and how our sense of identity plays a crucial role in our lives as creators. What is your “identity”? How do you think photography has impacted yours?

I’m forever a student of life. Always trying to improve and learn something new no matter what it is. I just love learning and creating. I’m also a believer of Jesus so I try to model my life after Him. Learning, teaching, showing compassion, helping, being forgiving, loving, etc and this is all very applicable within the craft. Photography makes up a big part of my identity. I couldn’t imagine my life without it. It allows me to express my own ideas and vision, but also allows me to meet new people and build lasting friendships. I’m very simple in my approach to photography. I find beauty in simplicity, but also infuse a natural feeling to it.

What’s one thing that your followers might not already know about you?

I can speak French!

If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Simple, creative, blessed

KEEP UP WITH ANTHONY: Instagram: @a.hudson_photo anthonyhudsonphotography.com

interview by GISELLE MELENDRES @gisellelisabeth words & photography by ANTHONY HUDSON @a.hudson_photo