What’s your name?
Mark Loper of L&S Studios
Where are you located?
Currently in Hartford, CT
If you could describe what you do for a living on your own terms, what would you say?
I co-own a photography and cinematography business with a great friend and we get to travel to shoot a bunch of interesting subjects and places.
Aside from your given title, would you say there are any other titles or hats you wear in this position?
Roger Sieber (the “S” in L&S) and I do everything for our business. We’re usually the only crew on any shoot, so pretty much name a hat and we wear it. I like it that way though.
Is this what you always wanted to be when you grew up?
Actually no, up until I was about 15-16 I wanted to be a car designer. I started taking photos when I was about 17, then that transitioned into me making a job out of it. I still love cars though, so I try to incorporate them into any shoots I can.
Can you put into words your career history to date?
It’s been fairly up and down throughout the years, but enough up to make it worth continuing.
If there was ever a time where you weren’t working for yourself, how did you make the leap from working for someone to working for yourself? Was it an easy transition?
I went back and forth, actually both of us have. I went from freelancing for myself full time, then got a job part time at a photo studio, now back to full time for myself after starting the business with Roger. I would say it’s an easy transition. It can be tough at times, but the pros outweigh the cons for sure.
Coming back to the present, (haha) what is your morning routine before you start the day?
Nothing exciting. I’m not a morning person, although I wish I was. I get up and get ready immediately, otherwise I’m useless. I have a huge coffee every morning, always iced coffee, even in the winter. Then most of the time skip breakfast and head to the L&S office.
Describe what you do between stepping into your work space and then calling it a wrap at the end of the day (Basically, your average work day):
We’re usually doing 1 of 3 things: editing photos and/or a video we’re working on, sending out emails, etc. to get new work, or watching car videos online and wasting time.
What is your favourite part of the day?
Either lunch or finishing up whatever we’re working on and seeing it complete for the first time. Always satisfying (lunch included).
What has been the biggest success so far and why?
I’d say it’s how much we’ve been able to grow in under a year of being a business. We’ve had the opportunity to work some great clients and been able to come away with a lot of work we’re really proud of.
With all that success there’s bound to be some overwhelming moments, how do you overcome the bumps along the way?
We started the LLC in the colder months when it’s always slow no matter what, which may have not been the best idea since it made for an extremely slow start. There’s been a lot of financial bumps along the way thanks to dry spells between jobs early on, but luckily that’s starting to change.
Ok, so you’re sitting at a cafe across the table from your biggest career inspiration, who is it and why?
At the moment, probably a photographer named Nicholas Maggio. After finding his work I got a lot of inspiration to try some new looks in both photo and video. I’ve read some interviews with him, he seems like a cool dude, and fantastic taste in cars too.
Now, someone new to the career field is sitting across the table from you, what advice do you give them?
Everybody says this, but just keep shooting. That’s the only way to get better. Shoot for yourself too, shoot what you’re interested in and if you’re lucky enough to get known for that kind of work you’ll be a happy human.
Would you go back and do any of it differently or just the same?
On one hand I’d like to go back and quit wasting time when I was younger and have the mindset I do now, but on the other hand I’m enjoying where it’s led me and I see things going well from here on out, so I probably wouldn’t change it.
So if that little kid you used to be before looked at you now, do you think they’d be excited to grow up?
At the moment, no. I’m not where I want to be yet. But ask me again in a year, I should have a better answer.
What do you want to do next?
Continue on the track we’ve been on. Shoot more cars, more cool people, more breweries.
What is your favourite saying/inspirational quote?
I recently heard Elon Musk quote Winston Churchill “If you’re going through hell, keep going” and it stuck with me.