MY WORKPLAYCE: BRIAN CLEAVER
Name: Brian Cleaver
Location: Lower East Side NYC
Occupation: Photographer/Artist
Affiliation: I Do Me 24/7
Background: Brian is a photographer originally from Toronto, Canada. I’ve known him for about 4 years now; having done the very first 10.Deep photoshoot. As in any creative industry, being in photography requires long hours and hard work. Brian stays constantly on his grizzly, having assisted with television and high-fashion shoots as well as photographing shoots for brands like Swagger, 10.Deep and Mishka. Most of Brian’s time now is spent freelancing as a digital assistant, handling most of the technical processes during a shoot. Here’s what Brian’s working with.
What’s on his desk:
1. Mac Pro 2. Wiebi Tech Raid 3. Some Neggs and Mark up pencils 4. Rocket Blower 5. H2 Hassy 6. Eizo CG211 7. Wacom Tablet 8. Pocket Wizard 9. Fire Wire cables
Q1. What are you up to now? Any freelancing?
BC: Last year was a total bummer for work but… this year has been amazing. I will always be a freelancer… I don’t have it in me to do a full time hustle. The one dude I work for the most is Joshua Jordan. He’s a commercial-fashion guy that has been around forever.
Q2. How would you describe your style of photography?
BC: I’ve been a strong digital guy for the last 9 years. Computers and tech are my hobby and… I’ve had a lot of success combining the two. Recently, with the whole industry shifting towards video, I find myself torn and heading in a different direction. I’m all about having a instant hard copy these days.
Q3. This work station looks pretty intense. Can you briefly describe what’s on it and how it pertains to your everyday hustle.
BC: I don’t traditionally assist… I’m a digital assistant. I basically handle the camera, the digital back, processing, archiving and printing all in one. The first Mac Pro is for digital capture and the second is used as back up and occasional printing. Photographers need all this on set so they can function. Digital workflows are a pain in most photographers butts.
Q4. Is this one of your customized stations? Do you lug this station around with you everywhere you go?
BC: Yup… I built this just for Josh. All the equipment fits inside and this gets shipped anywhere we shoot.
Q5. What’s a rocket blower? Sounds like a sex toy. No homo.
BC: The black thing with the red tip shaped like a rocket. It’s used as a cleaning tool and blows clean dust free air.
Q6. Do you ever shoot film at all?
BC: Yes, for personal projects I have recently decided to start shooting film again. Walgreens CD and processing is amazingly affordable.
Q7. What companies and or designers have you done shoots for?
BC: Personally I haven’t shot much in the last five years. As tech I have worked with every television network and fashion related company around.
Q8. Other than myself, have you worked with any other famous models? LOL
BC: I get to work with some amazing people. I never geek out on set but… once i bumped into a actor form the tv show Star Gate on the subway and lost my shit.
Q9. I know you love your gadgets and gizmo’s, what’s the one thing that you love having at one of your shoots?
BC: The Eizo screen… best color correct screen on the planet. I can see, and have full control over anything and everything.
Q10. If you had one person to shoot at your choice of destination, who would it be and where?
BC: The one model I would like to shoot above all others is Freja Beha. For the location… off the coast of Florida, at this little island called Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas.
Q11. Do you work with any particular studios? or are you pretty much all over the place?
BC: I like to travel and being on a beach is always nice. When I’m stuck in New York… Milk Studios is hands down the best place to be creative on the East coast.
