When quarantine hit in mid-March Jason Madara was faced with an unexpected reality: all shoots were canceled and he was home full time, whereas he usually traveled a few weeks out of every month. However, what at first seemed ominous was actually the seed of a personal creative evolution. Partially to fill his newfound free time, and in an effort to stay sane, he set up a studio in his home to experiment. His daughter, a frequent subject of his portraits, was his first test case. He also experimented by shooting a few close friends via FaceTime. Early on, he wasn’t sure if this work was just a creative exercise or something he could grow and make viable for commissioned work. Although he was able to find a rhythm in directing from afar, he quickly realized that the quality of FaceTime screen captures was subpar. There was also the question of style, whether these remote portraits would be something totally new or align aesthetically with the signature style of his past work. In order to address the issue of quality, he began sending his subjects iPhones so they could shoot the portraits themselves while he directed via FaceTime. Madara naturally gravitated towards subjects with a creative edge, because his new shooting process was more collaborative than ever before. Peter Cortez, a Brooklyn based creative director, was the first subject of the series that he hadn’t met prior to shooting. The duo connected on FaceTime to break the ice and ended up chatting for a few hours.  From there, Madara sent a tailored selection of mood images to help shape the portrait. He includes images for a variety of reasons, like an interesting pose or if he felt the subject’s attitude was similar to Peters. The resulting portrait and those that followed speak for themselves. There is an undeniable energy and an intimacy that Madara creates with his subjects. Madara has made the process he started with Peter his common practice and will use this process in an upcoming commissioned shoot. The project also speaks to creative growth. Jason Madara is still a portrait photographer at his core, but he was reminded of his adaptability as an artist. Sometimes the perfect portrait requires a professional studio and a large crew. Other times, a photographer, his subject, inspiration, good light and an iPhone will do the trick too.

Earlier this year Michael Schnabel teamed up with Lexus once again, this time to capture motion and stills of their new LC 500 and LC 500h convertible. The sixteen day shoot spanned the Los Angeles area, from DTLA to the Pacific Coast Highway. Schnabel and his team overcame timing restrictions and logistical challenges while still producing work that embodied his freedom to create. Schnabel's signature style runs throughout the campaign, featuring unexpected locations, artful lifestyle and detail shots as well as traditional photography of the vehicles. The final shots capture the true energy and color of both the Lexus brand and cool California culture. 

While most were sitting at home and worrying The Selby was thinking about what he could do to bring a sense of calm to others and keep people busy. Inspiration sparked in the form of a printable activity book for kids and children. Over the course of a few weeks, he meticulously researched vintage activity books, paying special attention to the activity placemats children are given at restaurants.    From there, The Selby created a library of assets (think: original drawings, doodles and sketches) for each activity page. He made sure to weave in subtle messaging about staying calm into each activity.  From there, he shared them with Christina Huang, an LA based graphic designer, who helped layout each page. The result is an activity book that really typifies The Selby’s signature style: playful, irreverent and a little bit unexpected. Some of his favorite pages include the superhero cave and the color in ballerina. Download them for yourself and we are sure you’ll find a favorite page too.    

Jason Schmidt’s latest cover story for Instyle magazine's September issue pays homage to New York City, while also serving as a quintessential example of art reflecting the times in which we live. Back in April, he and Lizzy Oppenheimer, Deputy Photo Director at Instyle, began searching for a building to photograph in reference to Ormond Gigli’s famous picture, “Girls in the Windows.” Schmidt was the ideal collaborator, not only because he’s adept at shooting fashion portraits and large groups, but also because he was able to lend his experience, as a documentarian of artists.  They selected The Candy Factory, a building converted into a haven for artists and owned by Ann Balentine. The combination of the unique space and concept provided a vital opportunity to visually capture the enduring sense of community during quarantine. Further, it allowed all involved to abide by the rules of social distancing. Schmidt’s work depicts the Candy Factory as much more than just a building, but instead, a colorful collective full of vibrant ideas and creative individuals. 

In the last few months, drinking responsibly has taken on a whole new meaning. Serge Seidlitz partnered with Brahma’s beer to create eighteen original stickers, included in every six pack. These colorful character stickers provide a clever solution to knowing which can is yours and ensure your beer is popping with personality. 

We are launching a new initiative to increase access and promote the exchange of knowledge with emerging BIPOC creatives. We will provide weekly one-on-one discussions with our network of agents. Sessions are available to a variety of talent including: photographers, illustrators, CGI artists, animators, muralists, hair and makeup artists, or stylists. These informational sessions can focus on: how to build a portfolio, portfolio reviews, best business practices, or specific industry questions. All applicants are welcome regardless of your level of experience, even if you are just starting your career. Apply today by emailing: submissions@ba-reps.com. Please include any links to relevant work and a few sentences about what you hope to take away from the session. Additionally, please use the subject line: Talent Info Sessions. Then, we will pair you with the appropriate agent and be in touch about a time to chat.