Krissy is Photographing Light and Love One Picture at a Time
COURTESY OF KRISSY SALEH INSTAGRAM
Based in LA, Krissy Saleh (also known as Krissy) is the next it-photographer, from working with Juicy Couture, Converse, Pull and Bear, to Tower 28, Puma, Aeropostale, and so much more, she has accomplished a monumental amount at just 26 years old. Her love of photography started at a young age and she has been pursuing it ever since she could remember. Krissy got her push through social media, which is where Brandy Melville found her work, and everything fell into a domino effect after that. Strong in her faith her Lebanese roots, and her work, Krissy has been an active push and a light within the photography industry and her work speaks for itself. Getting to know Krissy has been such an incredible opportunity and getting a deeper look into her life and the photography industry as a young woman has been truly inspiring.
How did you get started in photography?
I always loved playing video games as a child and my dad was super into engineering and I grew up in an environment where I was curious about electronics. I started coding my own websites and profiles, where I started learning a lot about HTML and eventually, I started playing around with my parent’s point and shoot camera. My parents have always been very supportive of any interest or hobby I had so they bought me photoshop elements. I really loved it and eventually they bought me photoshop. In middle school, I really started getting into photography, and I would take pictures of my friends during my free time and my best friend soon turned to my camera/photography. My parents started investing in me by buying my first DSLR. During high school, I started wanting to do photography as a career. I love the way people feel when I photograph them. They light up and they feel so confident and beautiful and empowered. Living in Irvine, I never thought I could pursue photography, so I decided on becoming a therapist because I loved people and connecting with them. As years went on, my love for photography never stopped and I wanted to do it as a profession. I decided that I could impact people the same way as a photographer as you could a therapist. In my senior year of high school, there was a photography workshop being held at my church and Michelle Kim sought me out and asked me to be her intern. This was such a special moment in my life, and it felt so surreal. She introduced me to the idea of posting my photos on Instagram and tagging brands. That’s how Brandy Melville found me and started my career and from there everything started for me. I was Pacsun’s first social media photographer, featured in Teen Vogue and Seventeen, etc.
COURTESY OF KRISSY SALEH INSTAGRAM
COURTESY OF BRANDY MELVILLE
COURTESY OF KRISSY SALEH
What are some challenges you have faced in becoming a photographer/as a photographer right now?
For me personally, I undersell myself and am really hard on myself and it’s really a blessing and a curse to be hard on yourself. I always want to improve and continue to grow and mature as a photographer and a person. I started out as a professional photographer at 18 and I would say that some people would take advantage of my age because I was so young. Either I wouldn’t get paid enough or I wouldn’t be taken seriously. Photography is a hard job and it’s not talked about enough. I would be up till 4am editing or trying to prove my worth to people, or people not realizing my talent. At the end of the day, I am very fortunate to have this job and to do this as a living and pursue my passion.
Who are your biggest role models?
My parents have always supported me, and I am very privileged to have their support. They always pushed me and never thought my dreams were too big or too small. Michelle Kim also as a women photographer whom I looked up to so much and as a mentor because she just believed in me before anyone else. Also, people who helped me get to where I am today and guided me.
COURTESY OF KRISSY SALEH
COURTESY OF KRISSY SALEH
COURTESY OF KRISSY SALEH
What is your favorite project you have worked on/one you are very proud of?
In 2018 I was approached by Forever 21 who did a collaboration with Kodak film and I was able to direct and produce and cast all the models and put an amazing team together to photograph a campaign that I had full creative freedom over. We photographed in a garage with vintage cars and a fog machine with all the outfits. I shot it all on film, which I was super nervous about. When the film came back it turned out even better than I expected. Forever 21 also hosted an art event where me and four other photographers attended, and I was the only woman photographer. I felt so honored to represent women photographers and to show that you can be in a male-dominant industry and still be on the same level as all of these other photographers. There was also a billboard in Times Square in NYC of the Forever 21 x Kodak campaign and we all flew out to see it and it was such a surreal and special moment to see that I finally made it and I got to experience it with my family and friends. It was such a pinch me moment.
What is something you wish you knew when you started photography?
One of the first things I would say is to intern or assist because you learn and grow so much. That’s where I absorbed the most was during my internship. I have an intern right now and it’s funny because I learn so much from him. Another thing is that there’s room for everyone in this industry and there are times when you would want to give up but there’s a reason why you are here and doing what you’re doing. The industry is hard and there are lots of tears, no’s, rejections, but then all the yeses are so amazing and it makes everything that much more amazing. You meet so many new people and experience things you wouldn’t otherwise experience. The last thing is don’t compare yourself. I find myself comparing a lot and when I compare to other photographers and their style, I tend to copy their work. I find that I start losing myself almost and as a person, you are integrated into your photography. At the end of the day, don’t compare yourself to anyone, work super hard, and stick to your own feel and style.