NAME: Angela Marklew
OCCUPATION: Fashion and Beauty Photographer
CURRENT CITY: Venice, California
REPRESENTED BY: I’m not currently represented by anyone – although I would like to be! It would be nice to have someone else negotiate terms and conditions 
WEBSITE: http://www.krop.com/fstopinertia
BLOG: www.fstopinertia.com/
FACEBOOK: Angela Marklew
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/fstopinertia
TUMBLR: http://fstopinertia.tumblr.com/
DF- Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
AM- Well, I’m Canadian (originally from Ottawa Ontario). I used to be a scientist for the Canadian Government.
I worked in environmental chemistry for a couple years before transferring to the Hazardous Locations group at the Canadian Explosives Research Lab (with Natural Resources Canada). I left that life behind about 6 years ago, when I was presented with the opportunity of moving to Los Angeles. I love road trips (and have driven cross country many times) and analog cameras. And I have an almost obsessive curiosity about what different people eat for dinner.
DF- Where’s home at the moment?
AM- I am currently living in Venice California.
DF- How long have you been a photographer?
AM- I had a passing interest in photography in high school but at the time I had a greater interest in science – which is the path I chose to follow. It wasn’t until after college that I started really getting into photography. At that time I was photographing the interiors of abandoned buildings as well as creating work with different Polaroid processes. It wasn’t until I moved to Los Angeles and began assisting that I felt the push to start photographing people.
So to answer the question, I’ve been a photographer professionally for about 4 years.
DF- Who or what influenced you to start taking photographs?
AM- My grandfather is an amateur photographer and so I guess I’ve always been around it. But honestly, I decided to take an Intro to Photography night school course because I had dropped out of university and had nothing better to do until I could start my college program. I was looking for something to occupy my time and I have no talent for drawing or painting but analog photography was very closely linked to science and chemistry.
DF- Did you go to school to study photography?
AM- I went to a school for Applied Arts and Science to study chemistry. It was an intensive three-year program. I never officially went to school to study photography – I took an Intro to Photography class as well as a couple of printing classes before my college program started. When it comes to photography I’m not an overly technical person – I learn by doing things and by trial and error.
DF- How would you describe your style?
AM- That’s a tough question. I’m so close to my work that I can’t always tell if I have a definitive style. I think a lot of my style comes from the mood of my work. When I photograph, I’m always looking for the silence and the strength in someone. If I look through my portfolio, even though each editorial may have a different aesthetic look, there is generally a common thread among the mood of each story.
DF- A photographer who inspires you?
AM- This actually changes all the time as my visual aesthetic is constantly morphing. Right now I’m really inspired by Tyen. His beauty photographs are flawless and visually arresting.
DF- What gives you ideas and what inspires you to create your beautiful images?
AM- I’m inspired by locations, music, and beautifully awkward models. I tend to look at my environment through the eyes of a fashion editorial – I’m always thinking about how I can place a model into a location to make a stunning image. Music inspires the feeling of a lot of my work – I’m always trying to recreate in photos how certain pieces of music make me feel.
DF- Do you prefer Black & White or Color?
AM- I don’t prefer one to the other – I think it depends on what I’m shooting. Certain stories must be told in color while others have greater impact in black and white.
DF- Is there a specific person you would love to take a photo of?
AM- I actually have a mental list . I would absolutely love to photograph Bill Murray. Jeff Bridges is also at the top of the list.
DF- Do you shoot digital (if yes with which model camera and what brand?) or film?
AM- At this point I mainly shoot digital (due to the costs associated with film). I’m shooting with a Canon 5D. I do still shoot film occasionally – I use a Pentax K1000 as well as a variety of toy and Polaroid cameras.
DF- What’s your favorite piece of equipment?
AM- I don’t like to play favorites.
DF- If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
AM- I would never want to be in this situation but if I absolutely had to choose it would be my Canon 70-200mm/F4. I use this lens for the majority of my portrait and fashion work – I love the versatility of focal length and the way it compresses the backgrounds.
DF- What lighting equipment do you take on a shoot?
AM- It really depends on what I’m shooting – If I’m shooting with a model outdoors, all I bring is a scrim since the sun is the best light source around. If I’m doing studio work, I use Dynalites and various light modifiers (umbrellas, grids, panels).
DF- How important is Photoshop in your final images?
AM- Photoshop is a necessity for skin retouching as well as a lot of my coloring processes.
DF- Are you a Mac or PC lover?
AM- For photo editing there is no other option – Mac.
DF- The hardest part of your job?
AM- There are a lot of difficult aspects to being a photographer. Dealing with the business end, overcoming my fear of speaking with strangers (I’ve always been very shy), and forcing yourself to be creative even when you don’t feel inspired are the hardest things for me – and are the things I continue to work on.
DF- What would you like to be doing in 5 years from now?
AM- Five years from now I would love to be shooting fashion advertising and campaigns as well as editorials for magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair.
DF- Where would you like to retire?
AM- Photographers don’t retire – we just get old . I definitely don’t plan on spending my life in Los Angeles but we’ll have to see where life takes me. I wouldn’t say no to settling down in New Zealand or Greece though.
DF- What advice do you have for someone who wants to pursue a career in photography?
AM- The best advice I can give comes in three parts. The first is to stick with your style and photograph what you love – eventually people will start to pay attention. If you flit around, trying to imitate what’s popular, you’ll never find your own voice, and ultimately people are going to hire you for your style. The second is to learn about the business side. Read books, take classes, do whatever it takes – but learn whatever you can about the business side of photography, because it’s not just about being creative. Lastly, take photos. Take photos all the time. Not only will this help you figure out what you are trying to say but though the act of constantly photographing, your camera will become an extension of you and you will stop worrying about all the technical aspects.
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