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Picture Perfect Kicks with Jordan Keyser
121 Plays4 months ago
This week I welcome Jordan Keyser to the podcast, we talk about how he started taking sneaker photography. His early day's skating and how the impact of living in Upstate New York created his curiosity. We touched on how we connected and how Jamiersen made this episode happen. Also we touch on his journey and how it has lead to some cool opportunities. From working at Kith to his time at Packer Jordan tells us how his passion for kicks has lead to where he is now!
Where to find Jordan:
Socials: @jordankeyser Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks
Download Solesafe: https://solesafe.co/ Use Promo Code: PPOQA5
Intro Music by The DoppleGangaz: https://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/
Outro Music by Gordon Bombay: https://thegordonbombay.bandcamp.com/
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:00:15
Speaker
Let's get everyone welcome back to my first kicks. This is and maybe might be episode 178. There's been a mix up. I got to wait for this approval for the other episode that I recorded here to get dropped. But enough of that. So this might be 178 and this might be 179. So I'm just going to cover myself with say this might be 179 as well. But this week I bring to you, uh, one of the, like the current good, I don't know how to say it without glazing you, but one of the, one of, one of the current best photographers in, uh, In the sneaker game to be honest, like I think like I think you do you obviously do other things as well. But Jordan, Jordan Kaiser. Yeah. You said it right the first time. Yeah. A lot of people say Keith, but yes, Kaiser. Welcome
Meeting and Podcast Agreement
00:01:11
Speaker
to the podcast. Appreciate you having me, man. Yeah. I mean, like I said, in just now, I think you're, I mean, I hit you up. Well, first, first, let's talk about This is a funny story. Yeah, we first met with each other. When I told my wife I was doing the podcast, I told her. I was like, you know what I mean? I love talking to people. When we met, we interacted and stuff, but it's kind of awkward, you know what I mean? The podcast thing, but I was just like, yo, when I met you, the energy was so good. It's so pure. I was like, yo, I was like,
00:01:44
Speaker
i don't have much you know what it I don't have much to say. Like, you know what I mean? Like, I take photos, you know, and so on. But your energy was so good. Like, that first interaction was so strong. I was like, nah, I gotta do my man's podcast. So when you reached out, and like, you're like, yo, absolutely. Like, let's do it. Yeah. But I mean, if you don't follow him on Twitter, he's a good follow. I think you're a great follow. But but you're because I mean, you talk because you talk. You do talk your shit on on Twitter. I guess put this way if you expected me to like put out like ah stuff on the timeline like every day don't know like I'll randomly think of something it's like oh this is like a random like tirade I have for today or like you know
00:02:20
Speaker
I don't like getting any like back and forth. Like right like like healthy discard like discussion. right right Like I think we you know i mean were going around about the like the undefeated forwards. If we can have a conversation about it, you know what I mean? Cool. like I'm all for that, but I'm not like arguing against anybody's viewpoints. like That's not me on Twitter. like I like to believe that I have experience, you know what I mean? That maybe some other people don't have or aren't see things that people aren't necessarily privy to. Yeah.
Social Media Approach and Perception
00:02:49
Speaker
That's like where I like try to like put my opinion out there. But I'm not like, look at me, you know, like look at me like, so I was like, I guess.
00:02:58
Speaker
I'm gonna go follow for the photography and like sneaker talk. But yeah, I mean, I still think you're, I follow you yeah strictly off of just following you. um I learned about your photography after. So I was just like, oh, you've seen cool people's, you know? And then well our first interaction when i you were like, I don't wear enough sneakers. And I i literally, I said, you just gotta go outside. And I was like, I hope that this is come off snarky. And then you were like, no, man, you're good. I was just like, I feel like everything. Cause the one thing about being online or just writing or text or something like that is somebody can read it. Oh, of course, interpretation, you know what I mean? Like, I mean, I i like to think I'm pretty easygoing, you know what I mean? Don't take tooth like anything out of like, unless you're saying it like with some oomph behind it or something, like, nah, it's all good.
00:03:42
Speaker
No, but but yeah, I mean the you know, I appreciate you for saying I was a really good energy because I was like when we met extra butter, I was like, I don't know if it's not like I turn it on, but like people always tell me I like my social battery is endless. But to me, in my head, I feel like I'll be like, yeah, no, this is I'm about to I'm about to get out. Yeah, right. I mean, I get it. I just be like, you know, like observing like, right. Like I'm with you. Like, you know, I mean, like I said, I'm not.
00:04:19
Speaker
I want to talk to anybody that want to talk to me like right like I don't ever want to come off it's like like standoffish or anything sometimes mad quiet you know I mean like I met someone earlier this week and they they hit me and they're like hey like yo sorry if I would like you know I mean like felt like flat and I'm like all good bro like yo like I feel like I give off like that same sort of vibe you know I mean that's why I said when we met it was just very very funny like happened to but the read I looked over my shoulder seeing my IG logo. I was being a weirdo. but like But yeah, I was like, I remember I saw you pull up your logo on your phone and I was like, I know that logo. It's a small world. but Small, small world.
Lifestyle Choices and Social Interactions
00:04:55
Speaker
Oh, yeah. we'll We'll cut out the other part of ah that interaction of that accompany that. But yeah. yeah yeah
00:05:02
Speaker
But, but shout out to Jamerson because basically without him, this wouldn't have like happened in person in person too. Yeah. Yeah. Nah. Jamerson, man. Yo. Last night was crazy. last that That's it. Like, right. Like I. I just don't go outside. I'm married, i have it ah we have a little puppy, you know what I mean? And I live in Jersey, you know what I mean? So like to get me into New York for an event has to actually be something I want to do. I don't drink, you know what I mean? So I'm like, I should say, I don't drink a lot, you know what I mean? So I'm not popping up for like the open bar at the event for like an hour or two just to... That's people saying and like you know if i lived in new york i absolutely would be on that type of time but i don't because my lifestyle is very different right yeah so like jamerson have an event like okay cool i'm gonna pull up and i'm always happy that i did like right like you know i mean like we met i saw a bunch of people that i hadn't seen in a while met some other new people
00:05:55
Speaker
What more can you ask for? Like when I leave the house and I'm like, Oh, I'm going outside. Like that's success for me. Like, Oh, like, you know what I mean? Like meet a couple of people, see a couple of people always got the camera on me. You know what I mean? Like take some flicks. Like what more can you ask for? You know, I mean, good, good vibes. Yeah. And it was cool because I have this thing where I feel like people don't remember me, like remember meeting me like, Oh, we met like a couple of weeks ago at a party and And it's nothing like, I don't ever take a personal. I'm with you on that by the way. I never take a personal. But then like some of the people that I met at Jamerson's last event, I saw it this one. And as dumb as it sounds like being instantly like recognized, like Bernie instantly recognized. I was like, okay, cool. You know, we ah sat there chopping it up for like a little bit at Jamerson's extra butter event. so
00:06:42
Speaker
Stuff like that makes me like more likely to introduce myself and to try to put myself out there like alright Maybe people do remember like meeting me that might sound like really stupid to other people but like oh I'm a pretty plain guy like you know I mean like I'm really like obviously into sneakers and stuff But like I like nice plain clothing, so I'm not flashy no no tattoos no jewelry you know I mean so like I Don't stand out in a crowd. You know what I mean like I? I don't look for like that attention you know so like that I think is what plays into my idea that like I'm just a normal dude that people don't remember which again like I don't take personal it's not like oh like oh man like it just puts me in like a weird spot where like I don't necessarily put myself out there as much as I should because I don't
00:07:26
Speaker
I don't want to and like introduce myself to somebody like two, like two times it's
Sneaker Community and Recognition
00:07:30
Speaker
cool. Like a third time I'm like, yo, like, am I that forgettable or are you actively trying to like act like, yeah you know, like in these, in these spaces? Cause it's like, well, it's, it's interesting because I feel like your following comes from you being behind the camera and like your, your work. Right. So it's like, You don't really be like, hey, this is me, this is my life. You're just like, this is the work, this is the work, this is the crazy stuff that you do. That's it. Y'all are here for the work. That's what I want you to see. I've gotten better about being a little forward facing, you know what I mean? A little BTS from a shoot. Stuff like that. Quick little photo dump here and there.
00:08:12
Speaker
i want people to come to my page and see the work you know i mean like i'm i'm not an influencer you know what i mean like nobody's like looking for me to sell things like you know i mean there's no reason for me to like really be out there i want you to see the work that's what's more important to me than to see me yeah and if you see me i'm probably wearing olive pants a black shirt and like a black hat all joe's side we're like all black you know i mean so i'm like literally like yo there's nothing to see like and i don't say that like self like in a self-deprecating way like i'm not i'm not out here trying to get fits off like i'm just trying to look good you know i mean so like i said it's just boring i was like sure i'm boring i mean you said a lot and you also said you're boring i don't think you're boring at all no nobody will come up like oh this dude's like man boring you know i mean like people but i don't i think i think it's the
00:09:02
Speaker
Cause this is what I was, I guess I was trying to stay, say, well, it's like, when it comes to like the senior community or like streetwear or just part of being part of this culture that we are actively participating in. Like it's, it's always ah one of the one things is like, you gotta be outside. You gotta be outside. And it's, and I don't, I don't think it's, It's like learning how to maneuver it and not seem like, hey, remember me, remember me? I feel like that's always the best way to do it. Who wants to do that? Like be bagging people to like, you also have to be realistic about like who it is you're wondering if they remember you were asking, you know, how many people do they interact with every day? How many people do they meet every day? You know what I mean?
00:09:50
Speaker
With that in mind, you know what I mean? Like Can you expect like that? That's why it's easy where I'm just like, I don't know Do we haven't like we had an interaction? I could never forget
Journey into Sneaker Photography
00:10:00
Speaker
you after that like, you know what I mean? like Yeah, that's cool. But like some if it just You introduced me to a couple people last night, you know what I mean? A couple other people introduced me to people and it's like, I want to think that they would remember me. Maybe not, though. You know what I mean? I always think on they don't. There's lower stakes if you think that happens. Certain things like that, again, it's no offense, not like nothing personal, but like that just creates a vibe of where I'm kind of like, oh, like a little standoffish. So it's been good that I've gotten myself outside a couple of James Wilson's events. I went to the New York versus New York run.
00:10:36
Speaker
you know, like I try to get myself out outside. Well, I mean, I think it's COVID, you know, it changed a lot of people's perception of like, ah should we be online all the time? Or should we be outside all the time? Should we be online outside all the time? Or should we be outside online all the time? Like it's like, it's, it's, there's no healthy balance for some people. And for me, I mean, I, I kind of do what you do, right? Like this is, This is it. Like, I'll be like, I want to have these conversations, but I'm not actively being like, I want to review sneakers every week. I'm trying to like, you know, it was like I had this moment of like a couple of years of just like trying to figure out what I wanted to do with this. And this is it. But this has always been it. Right. Like when you say this, like this space.
00:11:23
Speaker
No, just like podcasting okay and like, you know, like where you wanted to kind of take the podcast. Yeah. i Or like, how do I get eyes on this? Right. And it was always of like trial and error. Like, oh, do I got to be like a tick tock personality to make this happen? And then it was just like I was like, that's not me. Like I've always been this person that was just like I never when when during the heyday of sneakers online, like, you know, of of like you know, posting every week, your fits, your your sneakers and stuff like that. I was never that person. I was always just the commoner being like, yo, there's a fire, you know, like, because I never wanted that attention. out I have my like, I'd rather talk to people more than share the sneakers, the pictures. I get that. Yeah, um I'm kind of that's it, like where it's weird for me, like, right, like.
00:12:12
Speaker
I started, I got into taking pictures of sneakers because I was just bored. I was just like, yo, like I just want to take pictures of my own sneakers and post them and cool. Like I started a blog and that's like what it was. Like I would just take pictures and upload them to the blog and be like, this shoe came out. Here's what I think about, you know, and it just kind of transitioned from there. Like with the camera and I got more into it. Like it was never. Like, oh, you know, I'm going to take pictures and and like get on. Like, yeah you know, like sometimes I like don't know what's next because the point that I'm at feels like surreal sometimes. Yeah. And before we get into that, OK, I got to ask you the question that ah that I ask everybody each week because we definitely were like 10, 15 minutes in. And that question is, what's your first kiss with that first pair of sneakers you absolutely needed to have?
00:13:05
Speaker
Okay. I have, I don't know. Everyone's answer is obviously different. So for me, like I wasn't, I don't remember honestly, like being in the shoes, like heavy as like a young, like a young, young kid. Um, I was a skateboarder, like a skateboarder, snowboarder. So like DC shoes, like Lakai, that was like my entry into like what felt like caring about sneakers. Um, the first performance or because of the signature or who's riding it. um At that time, probably a little bit of both, like more aesthetics, like probably um just based off of like the look, you know, like.
00:13:42
Speaker
I stated, I don't know what you would consider decent at skateboarding. Everybody's got a different perception of it, but like, I would like to- Listen, for me, you could kick push, you know? No, I'm just saying, for me, play again, because I couldn't even get past that. That's what I'm saying, like, everyone's perception is different, but- I can ollie, but never actually move the board. How crazy is that? All right. I mean, the moving can be hard. That's where the balance really comes into play, so I get that. Um, that's like where like, I started paying attention to sneakers. The first pair of sneakers that I can remember just being like, yo, I have to have these, uh, Nike SB Dunk low JPEG. Hey. Yeah. Well, probably. Oh, five. Oh, six. Yeah. pink box pink but definitely Pink box. I want to say oh five, maybe oh six. I graduated. Oh seven. So it's like high, like high school. yeah Yeah. That was the one. Like at that point, like I can remember
00:14:41
Speaker
being like vaguely familiar with like Nike SB and having um a couple pairs of I Think I had a couple pairs of the team edition. Okay before like I got on to the dunk and I'm from upstate, New York ah There's a mall cross skates mall. There was a skate shop called TSX and they were the only place for a long time you could get Nike SB's Within a couple hours. Yeah, I mean and Ski shop, walk in the back, road literally one of them just sitting on the counter, just being like, what the fuck is that? I need that. you At the mall with my one of my friends and
First Memorable Sneaker Purchase
00:15:17
Speaker
his dad, and I was just like, yo, like I need this shoe. like Can you like loan me the $100? I worked for his dad, his dad owned a restaurant. yeah So like, yo, can you loan me the $100? I just didn't bring like money on you, and that that was the one.
00:15:28
Speaker
So fast forward, I did like the growl tail thing on the sneakers app. And that was the shoe that I did because I had actually bought a pair. i Like two or three years ago now like just to just a hat I was like I gotta have like a fresh pair. Yeah, but that that's the one now That's a shoe. I like I like the the subtle I did a grail tails on the sneakers that I have a friend that um Works on a lot of like the content for the sneakers app. So hit me up like hey, would you be interested? I'm like
00:16:04
Speaker
Come on nurse. I'm not yeah yeah be like vaget So picture me in my apartment trying to film myself like it it took a long that was going to say how long that ride They send you do they oh or Dave you're like, oh you got the stuff So just so that one all like grail tails you just like have to take a couple pictures of the shoe and felt like record yourself I think when they do um What's in your closet? The one, yeah, where you show like five shoes, I'm blanking on the name. I think that's probably what's in your closet, right? That one, I think they send you like a kit so you're like lit up nice and like good, you know, proper lighting and such. Please, somebody call me. I'll do one. It's cool. I mean, who doesn't want to see themselves pop up on the sneakers?
00:16:51
Speaker
catch plenty of L's, that's the big W. That's the W everybody looking for, right? Like, keep the shoes. Like, you're like, feature me on the app, man. um And then like, I mean, look, J-Pax were one of the pairs that I've always wanted also because I'm a big pink box. i Well, silver box first for me. I'm a silver box guy first. so And then pink boxes and then black box. And then, but yeah, J-Pax were one of the, like, it was that the chemises, the J-Pax, and
00:17:22
Speaker
And there's an, and then the, I mean, my grails are the huffs. If I could ever get a pair of huff highs, I'd probably be like, all right. It's hard to come by now. Yeah, exactly. And so the, the, the, the one great thing, I don't know if you were on nsb.org. Of course. Yeah. So I was, yeah, that's where my, my love started of like being on those forums. That's where my love started. That's where my heart got broken for the first time. I bought a pair of send helps from a kid in high school. Yeah. Posted them on sb org like oh can't wait. They're like yo dog. These are fake a shit I was like what like this was Probably right around the time I like really really like
Experience with Fake Sneakers
00:18:00
Speaker
start getting in the dunks like that sent me down like a wormhole like that's like like getting got on a pair of fake dunks like really really like made sure like who sold Somebody on nsb dot.org sold you fake. Nah, not good. I went to school with okay Yeah, and like at the time again like
00:18:17
Speaker
just getting into like Nike SB probably maybe had like a few pairs of dunks like at that time. poet I didn't know any better. I posted them. Dude's killing me. I probably killed you. It was probably me on there telling you. Probably bro. Probably, but I'm not mad. Like, listen, like, was it the one cause I'm on that. Was it the one? Okay. um Was it the one that had the, uh, Like you had like skinny laces. Was it like skinny laces on it? Because I know I i will i was cutting somebody up. Like I cant remember that. amber Honestly, like and like looking like I think they looked pretty good. Like I'm sure if you put in my hand now, I'd immediately be like, yo.
00:19:00
Speaker
Like, what the fuck, you know? But at the time, like I said, being so new to it. Yeah, that's it. You know what I mean? Like for me, again, we're in a different period now, like, but. I mean, yeah, fakes now because fakes back then was like you could tell. Yeah, not for sure. Like I remember getting a pair of space jams. Mm hmm. So what, Space Jams came out in 09, I think, right? thanks So this was probably- No, was there a 06 pair? I feel like there was a 06 pair. No, I'm almost positive it was 09. Because, yeah, I think it's 09. But I remember buying a pair like a couple years later, like when I like got on, like, oh, like these are awesome.
00:19:45
Speaker
And then getting another pair of space shams like a year later and being like, Oh, this first one I have is definitely gotta be fake. Like, it just like, look like, want like, After getting, you know what it was? I got cool grades. Yeah. It's like what space shams came out the year before cool. green So maybe it was 2010. Yeah. Regardless, I got cool grades, got another pair of space shams and having those two pairs of 11s and then the first pair of space shams. I'm like, Oh, these gotta be fake. But where, you how'd you get, somebody sold you them and you're not getting them from the store. Yeah. No, those, those, I remember getting online somewhere.
00:20:24
Speaker
From pick your shoes? No, not pick your shoes. I i know put it this way. I know where it's from. I'm not going to tell you where it's from. I'll tell you where it's from. Not on here, though, because I don't like i don't know who who's attached. And again, i'd like it was new territory to me at the time. So like put it this way. I ended up giving them ah to like one of my best friends. And I was like, yo, you want these? And he's like, I'm like, they're fake. He's like, no way. And at that time, I had already been well known enough within my friends to be like, yo, how do you have a pair of fake space shams? And they're like, you got got? And I'm like, dog, I got got. You know what I mean? It is what it is. I'd like to believe everyone's, I hope everyone hasn't gotten got, but I'm sure most, when you're at the level we are, been in it for 10, 15 years, done some trades through the mail. You know what I mean? Like, what, bro?
00:21:17
Speaker
sending ah money orders and has been like, you know what I mean? Like crazy shit. nobody nobody I mean, I've only, I don't think if I talked about it on here, but you don't know, you are not a seasoned vet unless you've done a corgi shoe ah transaction. Oh my God.
00:21:34
Speaker
man Different dude, but wow like you talk about just like four years in years dude just kept pulling out like shit that crazy stuff, bro the crazy I remember just be like you be on his Instagram be like how does he have these these entire time having the foresight I get like you know what I mean to think like you're buying a 01 Jordan ones Holding on today. Yeah 30 40 a pair and just sitting on them. You know what I mean? Like how did you have I don't I don't even know and I mean somebody looked at him like this is the dumbest investment dumbest use of money and he just Laughs to the bank. Yeah, and then well actually you like oh No, he's he's like well, this is what I was gonna say cuz actually from what I learned
00:22:26
Speaker
And I don't know if it was like and in an interview or so like something or because i I know I messaged him on Instagram one time after his appearance on the sneaker the complex sneaker podcast. And I was just like, yo, you know, shout out to you because I know that he does a lot of like homeless outreach work in L.A. So. When I messaged him, I was telling him the story of when he sold me my 2013 infrared 90s.
00:22:57
Speaker
and for a ninety s okay And I'm telling him the story. I'm looking back at like the emails and stuff like and he's like yeah like aggressively yelling at me in these emails. But he ah he had like- No nonsense. No, he wasn't. Don't don't waste that man's time. He went from struggling with addiction to helping homeless. So like he was like selling sneakers to fund his habit. then to Then he was like, you know what? I'm going to get clean. I'm going to help other people get clean. okay And now he uses, he sells sneakers to help fund that.
00:23:29
Speaker
That's very, very dope. You hear you're like an elusive dude. I think that podcast is like one of the only ones you ever find of him. But my goal is to get him on here one time. He's obviously like, or, or was, you know, tapped in with Supreme. So he had like Supreme, you know what I mean? Like, go for, go for him. I, now that you say that, I guess that's sort of like the story sounds vaguely familiar. I want like, I want to say like, you know, I thought I remember like a story about him, like going to jail or something, but maybe, im yeah, maybe I'm confused. And now with the day, I don't want to put that on him either. yeah I mean, like, yeah, maybe that I'm um conflating like that and like what you're talking about with the addiction. And he was he was ah he was on trying to help before Skid Row became like crazy Skid Row. I mean, you got yeah like. And I don't know if you went out there. What year did I g start? 2000 and like 2000.
00:24:22
Speaker
I wanna say 12, but I think that's when I joined and I was late to the party. Either way, you can figure yeah he's probably on there a good, what, eight, 10 years? I mean like, just think about how much product you have to have stashed away somewhere to be able to come out with stuff consistently. I mean, that foresight is and unbelievable. But ah but I definitely wanted to ask you, like, so I mean, you touch touched on starting that blog and getting it into sneaker photography. Like, where was like your turning point where you were like, oh, I can do this. OK, good question. I don't. I don't know and that I have like an exact answer, like, right. So.
00:25:09
Speaker
I was kind of doing my own thing, like taking photos for myself and, um, you know, a couple of little things like sneaker shows or stuff like that for the homies. And a dude that I knew from ah like the white Plains area there used to be a shop there called, um, it was called the heights at one point. And then it was, they changed the name, the history of New York. And, um, I think I've been there. Yeah. It's now, um, I think called.
00:25:40
Speaker
Closet or like something like that. They kick closet. is They sell um a lot of hats. oh They still have like it's a boutique, like kind of like boutique, they you know, ah like Nike, Jordan and stuff. But um the guy that owns it now, I believe, owns another shop that's like more focused on hats. But yeah. The walk-in closet. The walk-in closet. I think that's what it's called, yeah. Right on my marinade guy, I've been white planes, but long story short, dude sent me an IG story. Hey, they were looking for a photographer. I was actually laid up. I had knee surgery and, uh, was like coming off of that. So I had reached out to them and I was just like, yo, like, you know, I'd be interested in doing this. And it was a two hour drive for me. You know what I mean? Like it's white planes. I'm from like, I said, I'm from upstate. So I came down, talked to them, did that, um, did that for about a year. And that was like, really like, I guess like my first experience, like working with like a store and stuff. And it was cool. Like.
00:26:38
Speaker
Yeah, it was cool. I'd love to tell you like I want like I learned what I taught myself in that scenario. Like it was like a very small like kind of like mom and pop operation. But long story short from there at the time, like one of my good friends was shooting like all like lookbook and like on model photography from Kith. had a little footwear experience. So yeah, reached out to me. It was like, Hey, like kids looking for a footwear photographer, like something you're interested in. Like ah your name out there. Transition into interview with kiss. Did that. And once I started like working like a kiss, you know what I mean? Like you start seeing yourself at the kiss Instagram, like
00:27:16
Speaker
which probably sounds very cringy to say like now but like as as a photographer like you got to figure like honestly like I wasn't even like really like two years in before I got like the job at kitten very very lucky like that that changed the way that I like worked you know what I mean like that's an eye-opening experience yeah like very small like mom mom and pop shop operation like hey whatever you give to us for photos, it's going to work. Like, well, you know, we're going to make it happen. Then Kith, it's like, these are our guidelines and standards. It's just a whole different ball game. Yeah. There's a specific look to it and every introduce me to like a real, like professional world. And, uh,
00:27:54
Speaker
Yeah, I would say that getting that beyond getting the job, like being in the job and like finding some level of success or like comfort. You know what I mean? Like, we're like, yeah, I belong here. Yeah. Did you go to school photograph for photography? Are you not? You just self taught, self taught, self taught, man. I, uh, And this is where you tell me like, you're like, yeah, I'm just a finance major. I didn't go to, I did like one year of college. Like I was yeah really into skateboarding and snowboarding. Like with that comes like skateboarding and snowboarding, like movie, like films, you know? And I mean, when I would snowboard, I would always bring a camera with me and like shoot the homies and like, I had some friends, you know, that were like pretty good. Same thing with skating and like where,
00:28:39
Speaker
That was kind of the passion like out of high school, um, I visited an art school in Colorado and I was like, this is it. Like, and I didn't end up going and kind of. you know, it took a, kept taking pictures like here and there, but nothing serious. And Instagram came around and I, I remember the dude's name, Andrew Furness. I think his Instagram was ah blood runs black and he would shoot like a lot of runners. Like I think it was like a Canadian or European or some shit, but long story short,
00:29:15
Speaker
This dude's photos. I just like that stands out from that time. Like that was on Instagram. He ended up selling an icon camera, which I'm ashamed to admit. At one point I owned an icon, but I like night cons. It's a running joke. Like people I shoot can't like everything cannon
Camera Preferences Discussion
00:29:30
Speaker
pretty much. You know, with digital, it's all cannon. Yeah. There's like this like stupid like petty like. Yeah. the It's the bloods and crips of cameras. Okay. That's it. Whatever works for you. You know what I mean? Like your preference. That's it. Like you get into like a system, like the Canon system for five, six, seven years and you're like, do I really want to, try like, ah already len of the lens ah yeahing like investing in glass, right? Like, you know, some of these lenses can, you can have forever. If the mountain doesn't change, like why would you then want to sell that and then have to buy, you don't rebuy the same lenses just from a different brand. Yeah.
00:30:05
Speaker
No, I'm good on that. And then you'll be like, yeah, I'm going to, all right, I'm going to switch to a Leica. And then you're like, all right, now everything's extremely expensive. Yeah, that's a step up. I'm not ready for you soon enough. You don't want to be the next Leica beast? afford Man, those are not cheap cameras. I don't know how he shoots, he shoots all his, I don't know if you know who like a beast is or you follow. They've been around for years. like So it's funny, yeah there's a ah local camera store, in so I live in Jersey, right? There's a a spot called Burton County Camera in Westwood, New Jersey, like very much like, your mom and pops like camera store like and the biggest display section they have in there it's like uh-huh and that's what people walk in there and buy you know what i mean so um i have the fuji x100v bought it i actually bought it from them so when the new version came out i was like oh you know do i get like top your pre-order list whatever and like no that's not how it works but
00:31:03
Speaker
Long story short, I was in there the other day um picking some stuff. I actually rented a lens and um I'd asked them, I'm like, how's the pre-orders going for the Fuji? like We've gotten like four of them. They're like, you know we're selling, we're upgrading people to more like us than anything. like People aren't waiting for the Fuji. wow And I was like, well, you got people with companies. I'm like, oh, you know what? Yeah, let me just buy the camera that's like two or three times as expensive. I'm like i'm pretty sure if we all could do it, We would be doing it like it's wild because like, you know, it's so funny because you just you just made me think about so I was I I didn't major in photography, but I took photography. OK, so like I went to school for print production management. I talked about it on here. I that's OK. It's archaic. Now it's dead. So my my degree dies with it. But um
00:31:53
Speaker
Kind of wild. That happened at a college upstate. The college just closed and people were like, yo, like, do I would not have a degree anymore? Like, does my dad go with it? Nah, Sally May's gonna come. Yeah, yeah, she coming. She coming to collect. She coming to collect for sure. how And so it was always funny because when you learn about cameras and you know learn how much they cost and then you just walk around Times Square and you just see these tourists with full DSLRs just around their neck. And you're just like, what is going to, like, you're using this for vacation photos? And for years, it was just some of the worst photos you've ever seen on it. You're just hitting auto on everything. You're just like, here you go. All right, get in the picture. You know, and this, this is like me like thinking negatively. Like I often think about that. I'm like, yo, like you don't hear about people's cameras getting like snatched, but I always think about that because I'm so nonchalant. Like,
00:32:47
Speaker
When I was shooting something, the the city that I did have like a digital and a film like with me, and I'm like setting one down on a ledge and like walking on and I'm just like, this is not smart. Like, what are we like? What am I doing here? Like, well, yeah, I mean, I don't I don't I don't know. I mean, well, it's expensive. well ah Yes. It's expensive to have that as like your travel camera, especially now that phones are basically it. Like you're going to be shooting in raw to unless they were like, you're actually going to be editing this in Lightroom and like yeah super nerded out just now. Sorry. But but but you're going to be taking the time to edit this. You're not. You're just going to be like, all right, I got to take the pictures there on auto. Here you go.
00:33:27
Speaker
Oh, yeah. That's that's where like film, you know, I mean, I'm like, I'm going to shoot a lot of film like lately. People probably annoyed because I'm like, oh, I'm going to shoot a lot of film, you know, film this, like film that, you know, like cool, dude, like the most expensive version of the art. Yeah. But like also, I guess, like. i don't I don't know the best way to describe it. Like I have fun with it. You know what I mean? That's it. Like, you know, I shoot a lot of like I love shooting like footwear. You know what I mean? Like, don't get me wrong. That's kind of like what got me into photography, like not what got me into photography, but were like what really set me off on like my journey. Mm hmm.
00:34:03
Speaker
Footwear is great, you know what I mean? But when you're shooting dozens of shoot, like, you know what I mean? Like, so like when I was working at GOAT, right? You're shooting dozens of shoots a week. My God, where have you not worked at this point? You figure you shoot in the same eight, 10 angles of every sneaker. 20 shoes a day, you know what I mean? That's the job, like most of the time, like in that role, that goal, like that's the job, but you're creating some social assets to break it up and stuff, which is cool, but like at the end of the day, super monotonous. Am I extremely grateful that I take pictures of sneakers for a living and that's what I get paid to do? Yes, because other people, you know what I mean? Like working jobs, you know what I mean? This feels like good, but then like you do that nine to five,
00:34:50
Speaker
Think about picking a camera up outside of there. It feels like a daunting task. yeah like I don't want to carry this big thing around. So like for me, that's where I got into like alternative stuff. Like the Fuji was like an interesting option where it's like, oh, this is a nice like little camera to carry. I am. I'm not the dude you're going to see with DSLR over his shoulder. You see me out point and shoot camera or like I've tried to bring the Fuji out more like but. trying to learn to get better with film and like navigate that. Like I try to shoot as much film as possible. So the like the Fuji is always going to take good images. It's always gone. You're always going to be able to emulate the film look with like the Fuji. So it's cool. You know what I mean? It serves its purpose, but the film is so much more hands on. Like that's really like where I started with this was.
00:35:36
Speaker
The monotony of like the product photography on white and flats and edit in flats and stuff where it's just like, all right, cool. Like, let me go like do something that feels like tangible. Like it's fun. It's enjoyable. Like that's like people getting annoyed with me. You know what I mean? But like every time I see a friend, like I brought the camera because I'm like, oh, I want to take a picture of you like when we're done here. I mean, like. That that's me being like the annoying friend like go. Let me take your picture i would take it i love it Nobody i don't i mean it like most people do you know like but some people are just kind of like and I respect it yeah i I mean like being a photographer because I asked so many people for their picture I'm always it's like one of the homies like oh, let me grab your photo. I'm always gonna oblige Definitely not like I understand people like being like no. I'm good really so I guess is I've I never take it like they don't want yeah me to take their picture. yeah some people like One of my boys, I do a lot of work with him and I always take his picture and it's like my goal like goal to get off pictures that he like of himself that he likes. i mean because I'll do it. like yeah i mean like
00:36:37
Speaker
the because it's interesting, because like I'm not a person that takes a a picture of myself ah very often. like Obviously, I got this video, this is gonna last whatever, as long, until YouTube goes down because of, I don't know, you know Trump's in office or something. butddia but the the yeah It's just interesting because I've i have always had photographer friends. Like I have my one of my closest friends right now, he works at wallsh Wall Street Journal. And every time we hang out, he's all he also brings out the film camera and shoots. So it's like, I've been around photographers, I'm always just like, yeah, let's fucking do it. like Let's take this take a picture.
00:37:13
Speaker
yeah That's it. like We live in a ah time where social media you know and all this, so I'm just like, what like why wouldn't you want some cool pictures of yourself? you know so yeah i mean I appreciate you. That's why I changed immediately when you sent me that picture. I like that. that's like you know i i mean like i knew ah I knew a person that used to have like ah a running tally of of profile pictures that they had. like Just as like a joke to the like themselves. I'm like, no, that's cool, man. like that's Right? That's the mark of, like, I guess, like what you would consider is a good photo of you where you're like, oh, the first picture of, you know, everyone going to see or anyone that interacts with me and my page, go and see this picture. That's you're the first impression that they get. And like, you know, I was really honored that you were like, yo, let me take a picture of you. I was like, of course. Yeah, I was like, that's crazy. I mean, like.
00:37:59
Speaker
I that's it like right I like I look at like to take anybody's like picture you know I mean like I hope it brings like some level of like joy to like oh someone wants to take my picture why my picture taken but it's never like like I said I'm never like oh like oh you know you should want me to take your picture you know I'm like nah like ah you know I mean I just think it's fun like I have fun you yeah especially with the film like the film it's like really fun because it's like hey this may come out or this like, I may not have a photo for you. Like, you know, if I did good, I got some heat coming your way, but like, I also could have botched this. You get some ghost, you get a ghost, uh, image. Ooh, man. So Jamers and that hit me up to do the sweet chick shoot. And, um, we shot it in, you know, in the restaurant. So I knew I was going to need flash. I was like, all right, cool. You know, that's where the film can get a little bit dicey. Like,
00:38:51
Speaker
Depending on the scenario, you know what I mean? So I was like, I'm gonna shoot a digital. I gotta to make sure I got like what he needs, but I'm gonna shoot film too. So I shot two rolls of film. Get it back. And now was I was mad excited. So the place that I use for my scans, they always send by six o'clock and I was like 6.15 and I hadn't sent it. I'm like, did they forget about me? So I hate to be that guy, but I called because I was excited to see it. They're like, Oh, yo, we'll send it over right now. They sent it over. I shot, I had the camera on the wrong shutter speed. no So like with the medium format and like a lot of film cameras, the flash will only sync up to like one 60th of a second, which is super slow.
00:39:33
Speaker
So your boy shot two rolls of film, got the scans back, and it's all chopped in half because the shot didn't it sink properly. And I was so hyped. I was like, yo, leaving there, I was like, man, I think these are gonna go I think the film is gonna be it, right? And like that's it. So I shoot like a lot of film in digital like when I'm doing shoots and hoping that i I can produce the images that I want on film. But that's not always the case, you know? So I was like, you know what? I think we got the film a lot. Got the stands back and I hit like I hit the spacebar to blow the first one up. but I was like No Like it like it just like it hit me at that point that I was just moving so quick So like yeah, there seems to like film it like that's frustrating. We got think bro like 20 to $20 rolls of film and to $20 literally like a waste of like 80 to $100 $20 is film is $20 now I
00:40:25
Speaker
Yeah, depending what you use, you know what I mean? Like I would obviously and Kodak's Kodak's done. That's it, right? Well, so code like if you use Kodak film Kodak film, it's like I mean, I guess put it this way. A lot of people are probably more experimental than I am. Again, I kind of. I hate to say like go with like what's popular because that's not the case. I go with like what works, like right? Cause I don't have like the background in film for like working with film to know like, you know, this stock for this, this stock for this. So I'm like, I'm learning, but I'm starting with the stuff that I know everybody else uses. There's a reason they use it. And of course there's these like, I was actually just with um someone who was showing me, I have it in my phone. It was a Fuji stock. It's like, it's black and white.
00:41:13
Speaker
like But it's really cool because like the highlights like come through like really silver. The contrast contrast on those are crazy. You know what I mean? i'm like That's like
Photography Mistake and Learning
00:41:20
Speaker
really cool. and like like It was like ocean photos like that were like very kind of like a lot of like blowing out highlights and stuff. So I'm like, OK, cool. I see the like the purpose of the like the use in that. I'm not experienced enough to like really speak on like a lot of that like between different stocks. like Obviously, like ISO, different you know different sensitivities for different things.
00:41:43
Speaker
Figuring it out, you know, it's it's a lot of trial and error, but that's what's fun. That's fun. Yeah, that's the like as frustrating as it's like the the sweet chick thing is and having no photos to show for. It's just like, oh, well, you know. I'm pretty sure I'm going to remember next time to slow it down and double check like those settings. I hope this is true. I mean, you know, when you're moving everything when you're well, it was really cool. I love the shots that you you put up for the rule that were used for. Yeah, that was really cool. That was very, very fun. Is that your first time shooting food? Yeah. Um.
00:42:17
Speaker
Yeah, no, like in like, and I mean granted, it wasn't like super in depth. You know what I mean? But I use the toothpicks and, you know, I mean, I shouldn't say in debt, like they went crazy. Like, you know, I mean, kind of piece in the sandwich, guys so like looked good, but in terms of, I guess like it wasn't like. Super like hot like high-level like commercial like a McDonald's shoot like a McDonald's shoot you always hear that's everybody It's probably shot in a bunch of different plates and stuff like or like What is it like or like Pizza Hut where they're like? Yeah, they mix the cheese with glue so that they get the ah pool So I had the pleasure of working with like what I would consider like really high-level
00:42:58
Speaker
commercial photographer that worked and did a lot of like ads and stuff like like ah cocktail as you would see in like Cosmo and cosmetics and I assisted her for a few months and I learned more so talking about learning I learned the more in that few months and I didn't like almost a year at go because it's just the same job, right? Yeah, I mean like this like I've seen that so like the drop, you know, I mean like i Like dropping drops out of set like it the intricate things that you would crazy pretty tooth like toothpick and stuff in the place like it was really impressive but it opens their eyes like okay this is how a lot of this is done and even How much I could take away from that too and apply to sneaker photography and like really any aspect it's Yeah, there's there's really like levels to the photography. Yeah, bro. It's it's pretty wild so like alright
00:43:50
Speaker
Cause I need to know the places you've been in and the stuff you've done. But like, so you started at Kip and that's where like, that's, well, you started at the walk-in closet. Yeah. So like, you know what? Like I have a retail background, like i always wrote retail. So like I worked at zoomies, you know what I mean? and I worked at champs sports. So like, that's like, I always met a lot of people like working in the malls, you know, I was always a sneaker guy, like for a long time I could be your sneaker plug. You know what I mean? Like, that's how you presented it. No, no, no, no, no, no. If you knew me, if you're like the homie, you know what I mean? Like, you come get a pair of sneakers from like the champs, I worked like it was talking different times. You know what I mean? Like very, very different times. But that's like kind of like what I would say, like kind of set me in like this, like on the sneaker path, like that direction, like anything kind of like adjacent to like sneakers and footwear. And yeah, like I said, like the first like little gig
00:44:47
Speaker
little mom and pop shop and like and then that ballooned into kith but like were you just were you like part of the photography team at kith or were yeah so my experience at kith was like very interesting because um again i mean they've grown exponentially since i was there i was it's been about five or six years since i worked there but Um, I believe if I remember correctly at the time Tyler was the only photographer Just like overloaded him. So I originally got brought on to do women's and kids footwear at the time They didn't sell kids footwear online. You're right. Um, it's just a me the store. Was it the kid kids kids store yet?
00:45:27
Speaker
No, that didn't open. Were you in? You didn't work out at Atrium? Like, you know, no no I remember Atrium, but no. So um I worked there right pretty much like right after the Lafayette flagship. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, so that was cool. That was again, like a crazy, crazy learning experience. You know what I mean? Like, you know, working with Tyler what's great like you So that's the thing, like right there's levels to everything. right Within like our realm, kind of without going you know without starting to get into like bigger agencies and people that like are shooting like Nike's like yeah like images and e-com stuff, like at this level, Tyler's absolutely the like the best person shooting footwear.
00:46:16
Speaker
That A-Rab Lincoln? Yeah. Okay. Yes, A-Rab Lincoln. Tyler Mansoor, I believe is the proper pronunciation, but... You were saying, you were dropping it like I was just like, I was like, he's saying he's definitely talking about A-Rab Lincoln. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Nope, A-Rab Lincoln. That's what everyone knows about, but man, he's the guy, right? That style is so unique to him. So it's like, I feel very fortunate to work and learn from him. Yeah. It's also like a double-edged sword because his style, I would say, is... Very unique to him to him. Yeah, and it's it's obviously very emulated. Mm-hmm But nobody can do it better than he can do right? Yeah so of course like as someone who worked side by side and like learn like some of the I guess like the most important like things that I learned were like working with him and like, you know, just attention and I kid like attention to detail like little things like dust dust on a shoe that like, you know, I mean like stuff like that like
00:47:16
Speaker
All I can think of all these like little things that I learned along the way that I feel like have kind of like lead me to where I'm at now. But. um She lost my train. So then you went from kid working with we to like working Tyler like very like, you know, I mean like eye opening experience. Like, so the biggest thing I kid was my job there. Like the biggest project I work on was to launch help them launch the
Contributions at Kith
00:47:40
Speaker
website for kids kids. So it was photograph, I think it was like a list of like 60 to 75 kids skews. Yeah. So the the site can launch like
00:47:50
Speaker
you know, with a good amount of stuff on there. And it was cool like that. That was where I felt like start to feel like, OK, I bring something to the table because they're like, you know, how do you want to do this? And I was like, yo, it's kid stuff. Yeah, we should shoot it on colored paper. Yeah. You know, like like seamless paper, you know, I mean, like white is always a clean look. And this is when kids are doing everything outdoors. Right. So like it for kids, let's clean it up. You know what I mean? And like. Dumb stuff like would shoot like butter Tim's on like a yellow like like kind of like a yellow paper. Yeah, I mean like ah Like red vans authentic on red paper they this was when spongebob vans came out Yeah at one point shoot that on like yellow papers blue papers and stuff and they like loved it and that's that's how the website launched originally was all the different colors and stuff and
00:48:40
Speaker
coming in and being like, okay, this is like your project. Like Tyler's doing this. This is only on you. You have to go pull the shoes. You got to shoot the shoes, you know, da, da, da, da, da. And like that long, like when that launched, you know what I mean? That was like a big deal to me. Cause I'd never been a part of like anything and like me myself handled that. So again, like another like little, like checking the box where you're like, all right, you know what I mean? Like I'm on my way. I'm like doing, doing the right things, like making the steps and uh, So when I worked there, I was living upstate. Okay. So I lived upstate and come down here. I would take the train two hours each way. But I only worked part time. I was like, kind of, they brought me in part time. Let's see how it works. Like they knew I was living upstate. Like, let's see if this is like kind of takes the work off of Tyler and such. And it was like a very, very awesome experience. But I was also working retail at the time. So I worked Oakley. So I was literally working seven days a week. I would do
00:49:34
Speaker
as Granted crazy. I was very very fortunate because at that point Mm-hmm. I had it like I was a seasoned of retail like associate, you know like it's like assistant managers key holders and stuff I brought enough to the table there and like that people would work with me, you know what I mean? So when I worked at Oakley, it was, I worked four days straight at Oakley, three days at Kith, like seven days a week, like a grind, you know what I mean? And the manager, like I worked to under two different managers at Oakley and they just both knew like what type of time I was on. And I would like to tell you that I,
00:50:09
Speaker
My passion like for what I was trying to do was very, very evident at that time. like I was a hungry dude. like there's I have a photo on my Instagram of me in Grand Central at midnight on my birthday by myself, because I went to the city to shoot an Adidas event and just came home like by myself i'm like on my birthday. Because I was like just grinding, really, really grinding. You were hungry for it, yeah. yeah real random story, but going going back a little bit. When I worked for Zoomies, that was like my job, like being a skateboarder or snowboarder. I was like, this is the world for me, like right? So they um when you work there, and I don't know if they still do it, I gotta imagine in some capacity they do, but they had this contest that they ran. It's called 100K. Basically, if you sold $100,000 worth of merchandise from January 1st to December 31st, they had this big ass trip that they took you on. wow okay take you to key At the time it was Keystone, Colorado. I think he's gonna say Key West all the way. It's like a three day trip and you know you basically go out there, snowboard, they provide you with a pass and all this and there's a big party. like right So the first night you get there, there's like an employee only party. I think it's... Probably about like a thousand people. You know, it's a lot, a lot of people. But then the second night, like the second day that it's all like they bring in like all the brands that they sell. You can demo all the equipment and stuff like great, great time. You get to meet some pros and stuff like this was figure.
00:51:37
Speaker
Oh, oh eight, oh nine, oh 10, like somewhere in there. Like JP Walker was like a huge, huge snowboarder at the time. I remember meeting him and stuff, but then the second night they do this big dinner and awards show. And basically the people like the top seller in the company gets hooked up. Like top 10, they give them all this stuff. Long story short though here, after that, they have this big ass party. yeah Never seen it. Like I don't think I've ever seen a party like this, but you got to figure like, A lot of people might not know this, but like all these skate brands, most of them are owned by skateboarders. So then they're sold, you know, back in the day, they're sold in zoomies. You know what I mean? So zoomies taps in like, Hey, you know how we like carry all your stuff? We need you to show up to a party for our employees. You know what I mean? And do bro. The amount of people that I met at that party, like.
00:52:25
Speaker
And like, not like fanboy, but like being so in the skate and snowboard culture, I was like, oh, this is what I need to do with my life. I like a very like, bro, this is 19, 20 years old. So from there, it was like, okay, how do I like do this? Like, you know what I mean? Like, how do like, this is where I feel the most at home. Like these are my people. You know what I mean? And slowly but surely that would like once I hit like the photography and I got a shout out my guy. So he worked at hype. It's a dude named ah Robert Marshall. Very, very good dude. But when I was on the photo thing again, like I would I would like to tell you that people saw that I was hungry and working hard. So he was at hype. It's at the time and hit me up. He's like, yo, you want to go to ah agenda Miami and shoot for us.
00:53:08
Speaker
i Did you know what I mean it's like another experience like all these experiences like you just like pick up like, you know so much on the way but yeah That was the the next experience where I was like, okay This is this like adjacent to like the 100k like this is where I belong. You know what I mean? So I You know, I guess that's kind of side, like, you you know, sideways from. But then you get in like kids, you get d like these opportunities, you're like, OK, like, you know, when did I feel like I but like belong here? Like, you know, I mean, like once I got a kiss and got like really wrong, I'm like, OK, this this is like where I belong, you know, so then. um
00:53:48
Speaker
I knew someone that did marketing at Packer and they had remodeled their store and she looked around a party like, with the you know, come down, you know, pop up, say what up and da da da and meet some people here. So she had kinda introduced me to some people there and was like, yo, we looking for someone to start showing some apparel. We're bringing in more apparel brands. And it's like, ah, cool. You know, like, like it would be part time to start, you know, I still was working at Oakley. So I was like, all right, cool. Like I can navigate like this, you know what I mean? And I did that about a week. They're like, yo, our full time guy, he's leaving. You want the full time gig.
00:54:30
Speaker
This was probably October, like November, like maybe like late October, early November, but i' it's about to be the holiday season retail. So I'm like these people, like, like at the time was a dude named Sean. I was like, this dude has held it down for me so much. I'm like, yo I'll take this job, but I can't take it till after the holidays. Because I'm like, I can't leave the suit high and dry who has enabled me to kind of just chase after like what I'm trying to do, knowing that at some point I'm leaving him. Right. You know what I mean? Like I'm a valuable member of the team and like, I'm just here till I'm not, you know what I mean? So to leave him in a bad spot. So long story short, like the, at the top of that next year, I started full time with packer and.
00:55:06
Speaker
That's, that was kind of what changed like my trajectory. Like obviously like the kid thing was cool and, and very, very like important. You know what I mean? For like my journey, but the, like the Packard thing, like really turned things up, like Kith is like, you tell people you worked at Kith and they're like, Oh, yeah there's there's obviously like some level of like, there's a prestige behind it. Yeah, for sure. Um, I guess put it this way, as a photographer, be like, oh, yeah, I did photography. I kept him like, oh, OK. You know what I mean? Like, there's some sort of like association like with it, which is cool. You know what I mean? But like for me, I feel like I really, really like got my feet wet. Pack that Packer. Yeah. I mean, shout out Packer. I love Packer. I've.
00:55:50
Speaker
Still mad I wasn't able to get those Emon Shumper Crazy Eights, man. The orange. Yeah, I wanted them so bad. I wanted them so bad. That's that's how I know you've been like, you're like really into this. I've been doing it like a minute, you know what I mean? Like ob'mscure he talking like obscure. like yeah i mean I mean, I was talking to somebody on TikTok. he Before I forget, not to shout out pack, those are my peoples, you know what I mean? Like I worked there, how to I would say, you know, we had a good run together, you know what I mean? um Yeah, love them people, let's go peoples. But that's a good cutoff because I was going to end up going into a tangent, but I should ask you the last question that I ask everybody when they jump on and it deals with a little bit of visualization. um I want you to think back to when you were
00:56:36
Speaker
I don't know, you said the high school? last high like out of You were in high school about to get those J-Paks, right? Yeah, yeah yeah sometime in high school. And now you're you behind yourself, your younger self. What would you tell them as they open that box, as they open that that that pink Nike SB box? Bring them back. Return of them from the way I'm not. Oh man, that's a tough question. I mean,
00:57:07
Speaker
That's that's a that's a great question, honestly. And it's funny because you're going to laugh at me, but um I'm just a very honest person. like right So I go to therapy and I'm always talking about therapists about it, like, you know, the pressure I put on myself, like, career like, with like career goals and such. And I'm like, you know, Sometimes it's like hard to like wake up and feel like I'm not doing enough because like what I have already feels like so much. You know what I mean? So like, you know, I guess that's irrelevant what I would tell like a little kid, but like I think about it. I'm like,
00:57:42
Speaker
I can't even like fathom like, not that of like, I don't like big upping myself. That's never like my move. If people, if you know me, I'm not like that, but I can't, I guess I just wouldn't have imagined like, this is like what I would do yeah as an adult. You know what I mean? Even at 18 years old, like saying like, Oh, you know what? Like I didn't end up going to like art, you know, like art school, but you'll end up becoming a self taught photographer, working with some of the brands you grew up loving. yeah Like the so I'll leave you with this one, like the sweet chick thing, like right? Not a, like, not a, like a huge ordeal. Like, right. Jamerson hit me up. We want to shoot some food. Absolutely. Like I'm always down for a new opportunity, but as a kid who grew up upstate, you know what I mean? Like I remember my trips to the city. So I'll be married six years this October.
00:58:27
Speaker
September. this okay Don't get bill get yelled at. My birthday's in October, so no, our anniversary's in ah September. So you figure, it was like sit six years ago then? Yeah. Long story short, my bachelor party, as I do from upstate, you come to the city, you know what I mean? So I have pictures of me and the homies in Sweet Chick during my bachelor party. Just like eating, you know what I mean? Again, like it's not Oh wow, but it's very cool. Like it's a very, like very, very cool, like little like full circle moment for me where I'm like, you know what I mean? Like these are the things that are like happening for me like now. So when I think about like big goals, like, you know, I have them.
00:59:05
Speaker
And there's definitely things i I want to do and check off the list, but I'm like, yo, I could have never imagined that it would go as far as it has already. You know what I mean? So any like I literally tell myself in my I'm going to sound like a cornball. My therapist is all the time. Like anything like additional now, it just feel like a plus. yeah Like it really, really does. And like I tried to have that mentality of just gratitude, like right? Like I said, like It wasn't the most interesting job and like fulfilling job for me, but like I still was getting paid to shoot sneakers. yeah you know mean that That's not a bad day at work. you know i'm not I'm not working in the heat construction or just and just doing something. Like I said, like it can be monotonous, but I genuinely love it. like What else would I rather be doing? like
00:59:50
Speaker
photography for he did like a different brand, you know what I mean? But like it's like like it's kind of like semantics. I'm getting paid to do what I love. How bad is that? Exactly. But let everybody know where they can find you. ah At Jordan Kaiser on Instagram and at Jordan Kaiser on Twitter. That's it. No TikTok. Yeah. if If you're looking at some very well shot sneakers, you probably have shot them. Yeah, so you can find me on the internet on some some pages. yeah Exactly. And then ah you know where to find me. I am who is hot on all social medias. Follow the podcast on my first kicks pod. If you have a my first kick story, hit me up, please. I would love to read it to a guest. My first kicks pod at Gmail dot com. ah And if you're listening to this, you're going to have to go on to the YouTube's my first kicks on YouTube's. because this has been an in-studio episode. And thank you so much for jumping on, Jordan. Of course, man. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. I'm glad we made it happen. Yo, for real. And for everybody out there, you know what we say each week, wear your kicks. Absolutely, bro. We got some got some heaters on. Yeah, they got the heaters on.