ScreenSpace Interview: Brian Bowen Smith

New York-bred, Los Angeles-based photographer Brian Bowen Smith has a zest for life — especially when he’s behind a camera. His non-traditional route to becoming a pro-photographer stems from being a pro-skater…and impressing Herb Ritts enough to be featured in a GAP campaign shot by the legendary photographer. No biggie, right? A chance meeting that allowed Herb to mentor Brian as his assistant for four years but more importantly, a life-long friendship flourished beyond that. While living it up as Herb’s right-hand-camera-man, BBS gained plenty of inspiration so, naturally, the big assignments started rolling in: Vogue, W, Interview, Esquire and Marie Claire were some of the magazines that took note of a pro-skating photographer. The variety of steady work to follow led Brian to shoot on our stages, but this time it’s the other way around — he’s now our mentor, our friend. In an exclusive interview for the February exhibit of ScreenSpace at Smashbox Studios, we sit down with one of the coolest skater boyz we know and talk about his photographic limits, his son, and spaghetti. Thanks, Herb.

SMASHBOX STUDIOS: How would you summarize the body of work you’re showing on ScreenSpace?
BRIAN BOWEN SMITH: It’s beauty meets personality.

SB: What makes a BBS photo vs. the other guys?
BBS: I got the job.

SB: Who has been your favorite celebrity shoot? Why?
BBS: That’s a hard question to answer. I really haven’t had a bad experience with anybody. Each person and each shoot is a whole different ball game. It’s kind of like, what is your favorite e food? Today, it’s a cheeseburger, tomorrow may be spaghetti.

SB: Mmm, spaghetti inspires us. What’s that one thing that constantly inspires you?
BBS: The fact that I’m actually working and getting hired.

SB: What would you be doing if you weren’t a photographer?
BBS: Probably working with children.

SB: Speak a little about your personal work.
BBS: When it comes to my personal work, I try to push the limits. I’m infatuated with the female form. The body for that matter…male and female.

SB: Speaking of personal work…We see photos of your son a lot. What’s it like being a photographer and a father?
BBS: One has nothing to do with the other. I’ve been photographing him since he was one second old. I think he is pretty much over it already. The gift of being a father is like no other. He is the s-u-n…the center of my universe if you will. You know you’re old when you tell jokes like that. When you’re married as long as I have been it’s okay to be corny. I just hope when he is older he looks back and is proud of everything I’ve done and accomplished. I definitely want to leave something behind for him and hope he looks up to me as an inspiration in what ever he does.

SB: Is filmmaking in the plan for you?
BBS: Filmmaking…check. All ready on it!

SB: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
BBS: Hopefully thinner and doing the same thing I’m doing now.

*We’ll just keep an eye on your photographic weight, BBS!*