Studio Meetup: The Time Machine

Happy new year friends! With the new year comes new opportunities, new experiences, and new memories.

In 2021, we saw a lot of life stuff come back, for a lack of a better term - concerts, sporting events, being able to go out for dinner or even go to the movies. Another thing myself and some collegues brought back was one of our favorite things to do to meet other creatives; the photo meetups. If you’ve never been to one, I highly suggest looking into it more. What is a photo meetup? It’s a really simple idea: bring a bunch of photographers & videographers to a studio or location to work with models. Sometimes they’re free, sometimes it may cost the most $50/person to help cover studio rental fees. Either way, it’s a great opportunity to meet new people, build your portfolio, and most of all: practice!

Please enjoy this gallery from when myself and fellow photographers Joey Mirales, Bernard Bella, and Samantha Baker, worked with LA based photo studio Time Machine by Another Hour Studios, to bring people together and create. Here’s to hoping we get to do more of these in 2022!

Let me know what you want to see, and where should we host our next meetup?

Copasetic: A Photo Gallery

Sometimes you find yourself at a networking event, meet some cool people, and all of a sudden you're doing a spontaneous shoot with a model you just met at said event. I met the talented and super bubbly Andrelina Perazzo while at an event in the LA Art District for the collective and agency I'm with called TGS Collective; my sister had worked with her before but conversation was nothing but full of positive vibes and inspiration. We noticed a gorgeous VW van in the valet parking lot next door, and couldn't help but to create some magic with what we had. To our luck, one of the valets was the owner of the bus and said it was totally fine to shoot with it! We were inspired by the vibrant and matching colors of the bus with Andrelina's outfit, and pulled together an edgy and moody vibe. Sometimes the most random shoots end up turning into something special! Check out what we captured below and be sure to follow Andrelina on her socials! 

What would you like to see next? What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done? Leave a comment below and let me know! Would love to hear some cool stories you might have! Make sure to subscribe to my newsletter, and follow me on Instagram to stay up to date on all things photo! 

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How To: Vans Warped Tour #RIP

Today's the day, folks. It's the first day of the final round of the legendary Vans Warped Tour, created by Kevin Lyman back in 1995. Lyman released a statement earlier this year, saying, "I have been a very lucky person to have traveled across the country and sometimes around the world as one of the founders and producers of the Vans Warped Tour. Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour." With such an incredible history and effect this tour alone has had on not only the artists who participate and perform for the Warped tour, but also the fans; every individual who has been able to come to a show or two, and all the experiences that have transpired in the past (almost) 25 years is surely something unforgettable. "I am so grateful to have worked with more than 1,700 bands over the last 23 summers. I wish I could thank every band that has played the tour.", Lyman says. You can read the full statement here. 

To commemorate something that has had a major effect on me personally, and many of the friends I've met because of the music scene, here's an article for those who may be hitting up Vans Warped Tour for their first (or final) time. Not sure what to expect? Read on to find out some tips and tricks from my experience of a full day at one of the coolest tours around. 

Michael Bohn of Issues, 2016

Over the years, I've been able to photograph the Warped tour a couple times whenever it came to the town closest to me. It's been one of the wildest yet awesome experiences I've had as an artist. My first year was 2014, and I learned a lot about what to try doing for the next time, which was in 2016. Whether you're going to be shooting Warped tour at a date near you, or you're just going for fun with friends (I'm doing that this year at the Ventura, CA date), here's some advice for what to expect from what will be one of the best days of your life.

Dress appropriately. First things first; you have to wear an outfit that you will not be dying in by the end of a 10+ hour day. Depending on where you live, make sure to check how the weather is going to be the day before you go. If you're traveling far from your hometown to a certain location, pack options just in case. For instance, I have a friend who's gone to Warped tour with me that came in from Washington to California. We may be on the West coast, but the weather can be drastically different. For me, a good go-to is shorts, a tee, an extra layer (i.e. flannel or hoodie - it gets cold when the sun goes down), fanny pack or back pack, a hat, sunglasses, and the most comfortable shoes you own is the way to go. I've seen some people get super dressed up (God only knows why) and they end up looking like a complete mess by the time headliners come on to play. Customize and play around with some options; it's Warped tour, you can basically get as wild with your fashion as you want! But please keep comfort in mind. Whether you're shooting all day or just with friends and going into the mosh pits, comfort is absolutely 100% necessary.

Ryan Graham of State Champs, Warped 2016

What should I bring with me? Make a checklist of what you need to bring for the event. Water and sunscreen will become your absolute best friend. With being in the sun all day and constantly on the go, you need to stay hydrated and take care of yourself. If you're shooting, pack your gear the night before and charge everything. Lenses, filters, charger, batteries, anything you might need for a successful day to get that magic caught in camera. I would recommend bringing a mobile charger while you're at it just in case you want to post any cool content throughout your experience! PSA bring enough cash (yes, cash) to bring for your spending needs like food, drinks, and of course merch! A tip to see exactly what you can and can not bring is to check out their website to confirm different policies as every venue and date varies on what you can bring. Make sure to have a sharpie or two in hand just in case for autographs and to keep track of set times! Which brings me to my next point...

Time. Time is never on your side when it comes to festival days. I highly recommend coming to the venue one to two hours before gates open. I know that might sound crazy, but I've been to shows where fans show up the morning of a concert that doesn't start until 8 pm! Two hours gives you plenty of time to check out parking, familiarize yourself with the venue and the layout, pick up tickets or passes, and hey, you might even meet some band members while in line! Some bands take the time to come out to eager fans outside, coast the lines, and share what time their set is. It's a cool opportunity to hang and talk with different artists, (maybe even network?) and snag a photo while you're at it! 

John O' Callaghan of The Maine, Warped Tour 2016

Kennedy Brock and Pat Kirch of The Maine, promoting the lines at Warped tour 2016

How do I meet bands?! Something everyone wants to know. You'd be surprised how easy it can be to meet the artists and other celebrities at some point during your day. Like I mentioned earlier, it's easy to meet some band members when they're promoting their set times. They're just people; go say hi! Another great spot to look for artists is where else but their merch tents. They'll be everywhere, and usually, throughout the day they can be found meeting and selling merchandise when they're not performing. I've been able to meet and photograph people like John O'Callaghan of The Maine and Jenna McDougall of Tonight Alive this way. Another example is how my sister met Tyler Posey one year, known for MTV's Teen Wolf. He's known for being a big fan of the pop-punk scene, and was there with his friends of State Champs! He was just walking around like any other person, and she managed to strike up a conversation and take a quick photo. This is the type of event where anything is possible when exploring the grounds: you never know who you can meet and connect with!

Now for the music:  Okay, you've made it inside, got your squad on backup, and you're ready to head to the stage - but wait, which one?! As soon as you get inside, it's the moment where you can find out the exact set times. Sadly, every day is different for the tour, and you don't find out when your favorite bands are playing until you get through the gates. But don't stress! There are signs everywhere stating where each stage is, who's playing where, and what time, which is where that sharpie can come into play. Sometimes they hand out actual copies of set times for the days, sometimes they don't. So if you can, try writing it down somewhere if you've got something to spare. If you try saving it in your phone and your phone ends up dying halfway through the day, you're screwed. Sadly technology isn't always our friend. When you do find the signs and figure out who's playing where and when that's when you want to plan your day out. It's good to have a schedule to stick with, and you can always switch things up if you want. I know for me personally, I've had friends where we have certain bands that we want to see but we sometimes don't want to see the same bands. Keep communication open with your group. For instance, say your friend wants to see We the Kings at 11:30 but you want to check out Beartooth at 11:25; pick a spot where you can meet up after their sets and go from there. Do whatever works for you and your friends! 

The Maine's tent, Warped 2016. Fans could easily meet members like John or Garrett here, selling merch.

Let's see, am I missing anything? Outfits, necessities, friendship, bands, music...oh yeah, don't forget to open this pit up!!!

How have you gotten through a festival day? Leave a comment below of anything I might have missed, which stop you're going to, who you're most excited to see, and don't forget to sign up for my newsletter for all things photography and music related, and follow me on Instagram and Twitter while you're at it! 

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TGS Lake Arrowhead: Unplugged - Photo Gallery

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In late March, a group of artists and talent that are part of the amazing creative community called The Gypsy Shack Collective (@tgscollective) got to disconnect from social media and hang out, create, and work on ourselves as artists up at a cute little AirBnB CEO Alex Morehouse (@chiefwolfblood) found as a space to stay for the weekend. From learning and growing as individuals and as a whole, to hanging out and building friendship and bonding over The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, it turned out to be something wonderful, something all of us should do more often. We get so obsessed with scrolling on our phones, that we miss building real connections with people we have been blessed to have in our real lives. If there was something I learned from that weekend, was to appreciate the friends you have and the people you have yet to meet, focus on your dreams, and make them reality. Below you can find the full gallery from the weekend as a whole (click the photos for the full gallery on Flickr), and be sure to follow everyone on their socials! (See below for their usernames)

Models: @chiefwolfblood, @kirpasudick, @paolanieblaa, @clairealydean. Makeup: @kyrstamua

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Thanks for taking the time to check out my site, and leave a comment below of what you think of the idea of having a weekend getaway. What's your dream spot you would go to right now to get away from everything? 

Be sure to follow me on my socials @maxbakerphoto if you don't already, and follow the amazing talent from this weekend! 

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New Music Friday: The Aces LP Debut "When My Heart Felt Volcanic"

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I'm just gonna say it; The Aces is the badass feel good girl group we need. I hate to even have to categorize them in something that is incomparable to their sweet sound, but they are more than just that. I know a lot of people are out there saying, “I don’t normally like girl bands” or something along those lines, but these ladies will prove you wrong and show you a good time with their debut LP entitled When My Heart Felt Volcanic.  

photo by @gabriellahughes

The indie rock/pop band bring a sound reminiscent of LANY, Pale Waves, and similar artists of the popular California Pop genre, heavily influenced by fun 80s pop/rock, with lots of guitar riffs, synthetic vibrations, and stunning vocals and instrumentals all around. From start to finish, WMHFV is a solid album, and you might think I'm kidding when I say this, but every song is a jam and could be strong as a stand alone single. Not only is their sound absolutely fun and memorizing, but if you really listen to the words throughout this LP, the lyrics are what make The Aces stand out. The adventures of falling in (and out) of love can be found in songs such as the opening and closing number Volcanic Love and Waiting for You, as well as songs like Hurricane, Bad Love, Last One, and more, that anyone can relate to and send chills down your spine. 

Don't underestimate these ladies; their eclectic sound is way too catchy to not blow up sooner than later. I know I'll be having this one on repeat for, well, probably forever. You can listen to their music via Spotify now, and you can find the album on their website for only $8! 

Thanks for checking my site out, and be sure to follow @theaces on all social media, and me @maxbakerphoto while you're at it! The band is currently on tour opening for X Ambassadors, and that sounds like a show you do not want to miss. Check out the link here below to see if they're coming to a city near you! 

 be sure to follow the ladies here: @cristalramirezz, @alisa_ramirez, @kt_hendy, and @kenpettywap

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Emo Nite Tour - Sacramento, CA - Photo Gallery

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It was a cold dark night on St Patrick's day in Sacramento, but that didn't stop your friendly emo kids from showing up to Emo Nite's first stop on their official tour on the 17th. Hosted at one of Midtown's newer spots, the Holy Diver, people of all ages came out to rock out and lip sync to some classic Pop/Punk/Rock songs such as Panic! At the Disco, Paramore, Yellowcard, and more. If you've never heard of Emo Nite, it all started in Los Angeles a little over 3 years ago by Morgan Freed, Babs Szabo, and TJ Petracca, with the intention of "bringing together people who share the love of emo rock music from the 90s, 2000s, and today". 

They're not a band, they're not DJs, they just throw parties for the music they love, and want to bring it to you. 

Emo Nite LA is currently on tour, and you can check out the dates here to see if they're coming to a city near you! 

For the full gallery of the night, check out the photos below. Leave a nice comment and thank you for checking out the site! Let me know what other type of content you'd like to see for the future and any other suggestions you might have! Be sure to follow @emonitela on social media, and shoot me a follow while you're at it! @maxbakerphoto

If reposting any of the photos, please tag me, it only takes less than a minute. Thank you!

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TGS Colorful - Photo Gallery

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TGS, aka The Gypsy Shack, is a creative collective of diverse artists, who hosts workshops every month to create, grow, and teach with people of different backgrounds to work together and network. Last month in a loft somewhere in Downtown LA, CEO & Creator of TGS Alex Morehouse lead an all day event where artists could purchase tickets and learn from other creatives at the themed workshop entitled "Colorful", because of the technicolor walls and decor that could be found within the studio.

Models and photographers from around the area gathered here, some meeting for the first time, creating magical content, sharing and showing off what each person can bring to the table with their knowledge and experience. It was a day for the books, and all of us got to connect and build relationships with people we never thought we'd meet, all thanks to social media and the amazing community Morehouse has been able to create through TGS. Below is a gallery of images captured while I got to attend, with the different talent that participated in the day. If you're interested in getting involved with something like this or wanting to build connections and work on your craft, TGS hosts these type of events every month. You can simply go to tgscollective.com and find everything you need to know there! I highly recommend it! Enjoy the full gallery below of what I was able to capture at the workshop:

Models in frame:  @rosedinardo, @_atfashion_, @heathafeatha69, @meli_topete, and @toria.webber as found on Instagram

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Be sure to follow all the talent from this shoot, and keep up with me on all social media: @maxbakerphoto

I'll be posting more content like this soon! Please leave a comment below on what type of stuff you'd like to see me feature on the blog, whether it be full photo galleries, BTS on shoots, music reviews, etc. Thank you for taking the time to check my site out and if you found me through here, feel free to shoot me a message on instagram! Would love to hear from you! 

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