Life in the Love Lane Shawn Michienzi

Life in the Love Lane

Shawn Michienzi

© Shawn Michienzi Los Angeles 2019

Carmichael Lynch is one of my longest-running clients and that relationship has produced a wide range of work that I’m really proud to be a part of. While there is familiarity, like any good relationship, what works and is proven time and time again is the amount that you get back is proportionate to what you put in.

And while no shoot is ever business as usual, for Subaru the creative goal is always about looking for ways to keep it real and capture authentic stories around the brand’s four thematic pillars—longevity, safety, versatility and adventure. To make images that resonate with people that are defined as doers, deeply engaged with life. Definitely my kind of people.

Creative direction: Dave Damman

Photography: Shawn Michienzi

Cover and interior design: Andy Lund

Copywriting: Nick Nelson

Special thanks to legendary art directors Jeff Terwilliger and Bob Berken for their dedication, craftsmanship and creative collaboration. Jeff who at 16bpm—has the lowest resting heart rate of any agency creative, ever. And Bob, the only art director I’ve ever worked with who would not only survive a zombie apocalypse—but flourish in its aftermath.

www.shawnmichienzi.com

Introduction

We all know about the love you can have for your car. Like all longterm relationships, it’s the journey that means the most. The little moments of joy, the long moments of mundane. The quirks you get accustomed with and learn to love. The pleasant aromas accumulated while sharing a small space. The private moments from no-one-willever-know land. You face it all together. You cover each other’s tracks. And by the end of it all you might even start to look like one another.

The sun never sets on love if you drive fast enough. So together we’ll chase that sun over streams, fields and mountains. Nothing can stand in our way. Well, at least until we run into the ocean. That’s game over for sun chasing. Then suppose we’ll signal far-off ships with our high beams in hopes of ferrying a ride across the ocean. Or we could wait until the sun rises tomorrow. Whatever’s easier.

Spending the weekend together in a secluded mountain pass resort is a big relationship tester. Right away spilled hot coco all over the cup holders. KLUTZ ALERT. But love is all about forgiveness. And it better be because the interior is going to smell like a bad coffee shop until we reach warmer weather and can roll down some windows.

2016 Subaru Impreza Ketchum, ID

2016 Subaru Impreza Ketchum, ID

Subaru Crosstrek Dunton, CO

Crosstrek Dunton, CO

Subaru Crosstrek Dunton, CO

Subaru Crosstrek Tomales, CA

2016

Subaru Crosstrek Nicasio, CA

2016

Subaru Crosstrek Studio City, CA

was nervous about our beach trip because have chicken legs and my swim suit is a tad revealing. But love is about trust. Trust that you’ll go anywhere together. Sink or swim no matter the conditions. We spent the afternoon at a secluded hardto-reach spot kayaking and imagining that we were explorer Vikings feasting on pillaged granola bars and a booty of cashews.

2016 Subaru Crosstrek Tomales, CA –2014 Subaru Outback Dillon Beach, CA

Okay, time for quick pit stop so can put in my notice at work. We’ve fallen in love with nature and there’s no way can continue sitting in a cube pushing papers for the man. They’ll miss me I’m sure, but love is a buzz and we need to keep chasing it. Plus, my boss never liked me coming in all muddy after a weekend of being King of the Off Road. Who’s laughing now Mr. Jenkins???

2012

Subaru Crosstrek Santa Clarita, CA

2012

Subaru Crosstrek Los Angeles, CA

Subaru Crosstrek Santa Clarita, CA

Sometimes we like to cruise through the suburbs and wonder what it’ll be like when we finally settle down and stop exploring the world. suppose it’ll be fine. can get started on writing that book and we’ll have a garage to stay warm together in. Start clipping coupons, go antiquing…throw dinner parties and start voting in elections. It’ll be fun to grow old together, but we’re not quite there yet.

–2017 Subaru Legacy Los Angeles, CA

mi

think our strongest bond is not sticking to one road. Love is about keeping things fresh. Fresh air. Fresh trails. Fresh powder. And a fresh t-shirt. That’s really important. When your only shower within 500 miles is a mud bog pond, bring extra clothes. Does wonders for a relationship.

2017 Subaru Outback Silverton, CO

–

2017 Subaru Outback Lebec, CA

2017

Subaru Outback Silverton, CO

263281 mi

463281 mi

At this point we’re attached at the foot. Our love is stronger than a compass. Which is good because we’re completely lost. “I told you we were supposed to take a left at that giant mountain.”. Now now, no need to use that tone, we’re in this together. Let’s just use the GPS and turn on some jazz. Let things sort themselves out in 5/4 rhythm.

2016 Subaru Forester Sylmar, CA

2016 Subaru Forester Santa Clarita, CA

2016 Subaru Forester Ketchum, ID

Subaru Forester Ketchum, ID

The only thing that lasts longer than the memories are pictures of those memories. love all that we’ve done together. Even when things didn’t go so smoothly. Remember when forgot to bring the front bike tires? Ha ha. Me too. But in the end, the only thing cherish more than the places we’ve been is the places we’ll go.

Subaru Forester Gorman, CA

Subaru Forester Malibu, CA

A vision through repetition.

It doesn’t matter what I’m shooting, being an advertising photographer for me is not about leaving a signature style but about finding what’s right for the concept, finding the best way to communicate the right message with the right technique. believe photography should always be a lens on what’s happening in the world at any given moment — work that is in sync with the times, if not a little bit ahead. And believe that my story is told in my work.

Being born and raised in Buffalo NY, a town that defines itself on hard labor and harder winters, learned early on about being held to a standard of living that reflected these beliefs — whether it was staying up all hours of the night to finish my drawings or pushing myself to do those extra laps after tackling drills, felt the results and began to understand how practice makes perfect.

As the son of a contractor, also learned to not be afraid to get your hands dirty and at the end of the day, put everything you have into what you’re doing to create something, something bigger than yourself. When it came time for my early photography career wanted to learn from the best and landed in San Francisco where found a like-minded community of perfectionists doing great work for clients like Apple, clients who were always fighting for great ideas and excellent design.

The inherited ideals to keep moving forward, to build for the future, led my family and to Minneapolis at a time when the ad world was just taking bigger hold there. found work with creatives there that were leaning into conceptual advertising and thrived being part of that scene, developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for the business of advertising, the agency world and the role the art director must play.

With every job now having very different needs and parameters what used to be silo’d is now integrated, production can feel like am hopping onto a moving train so value the role that my experiences play in keeping me grounded, able to respond wisely. The problem solver in me loves the process of what happens before we even get on set- the partnership and collaboration and fearlessness when it comes to thinking about what makes a fantastic image or film, integrating stills and motion together. love this fluidity and how I’ve evolved as a result. Now based in LA, am inspired anew — continually finding opportunities to hone my director and DP skills, and taking on projects that combine my passion for travel, people and portraits.

In another lifetime, would love to be a portrait painter, for the same reason love to take pictures or shoot film- want to expose a truth and make it all seem very simple. When you start with a great idea, the process should be effortless. And it’s my job to make it look that way.