Bitchin' Interview: Carrie Schreck

Bitchin’ Interview: Carrie Schreck

This week we had the chance to chat with the very talented photographer extraordinaire, miss Carrie Schreck. We kind of fell in love with her when she shot the SB lifestyle look book a couple weeks back. Her laid back style works so sweetly with the Skinny Bitch vibe, it was kind of a match made in photo shoot heaven.

Ars Lumina @Sancho Gallery. Carrie Schreck (far right)

SB Editor: We already know you’re one rad chic, but in your words how do you strive to exemplify a Skinny Bitch who is strong, confident, poised, successful, and motivated?

Carrie: I guess I’d say really strong people can admit they feel like any one of those qualities is lacking occasionally. I’d say real strength is being able to wake up in the morning and give yourself confidence. If I don’t feel like a success, I set a goal that will and I follow through, that’s strength to me.

SB Editor: We love your attitude. Now how do you feel your style of shooting fits with the Skinny Bitch look?

Carrie: To me, the clothes represented street style, an easy cool, nothing too forced or posed. So I scouted out some great spots around the building but let the model sort of improvise, find a casual space. That’s definitely my style, letting natural moments happen, not forcing it or faking it.

SBA 2012 Lifestyle Look Book

SB Editor: Which is what we strive to represent, real girls, real moments. What do you love to wear when you’re not busy being a badass photographer?

Carrie: I’m a thrift-store shopper for life. I dig the way fashion is re-interpreted year after year by fresh eyes. I also love thinking that each item has as history and a story that I’ll never know.

SB Editor: We heart vintage too! What got you interested in the industry? How did you get your start?

Carrie: As a kid I had an old Kodak Signet, but I studied Documentary and Experimental Film in school. I didn’t get back into still photography again until someone broke into my car and left a stolen camera. I genuinely tried to find the owner but I ended up just keeping it, I shot 1000’s of photos and sort of re-discovered still photography.

SBA 2012 Lifestyle Look Book

SB Editor: Stolen contraband aside, what is the craziest photo shoot story you have experienced?

Carrie: Definitely Cambodia. I was shooting for a friend’s documentary near the border of Thailand. The night we were shooting we hired a moto driver (basically a large scooter that fits 3 people) to drive us to a few locations. The director and I didn’t have our Passports or Visas and without realizing the driver took us over the border illegally into Thailand! We had to explain in very bad Khmer that we were breaking the law and he had to smuggle us back over the border. He rolled his eyes and found us a back alley where we could sneak across, it got pretty hairy. I’ve got a picture of him somewhere.

SB Editor: We do love a good chase scene. When you’re on this content, what is a challenge you’ve had to overcome as a photographer in LA?

Carrie: I think like anything it takes a certain period of time to pay your dues before you feel comfortable and established. You just have to come knowing that there’s gonna be a few years of living on french bread and veggies. Moving to LA is like hitting a reset button on your career, but the struggle is worth it.

SB Editor: No gain without a little pain, agreed. Do have any words of wisdom for other photographers trying to break into the fashion industry?

Carrie: On the subject of photography in general- It’s an art form. Like anything else, don’t waste your time trying to make what other people have decided is the right kind of photograph. There’s a distinct lack of original voices in an over-educated, over-saturated field. Just get a damn camera and shoot everyday, shoot anything, shoot all the time.

SB Editor: What is your biggest inspiration for being unique, shooting creatively?

Carrie: Ha I guess not having a lot of money for a long time, when you’ve gotta use a desk lamp for your key, you will get creative. Film and photography is 50% problem-solving and thinking on your feet, learning to work with what you have is a fine art. I’ve also discovered the photo/video section of the Make Magazine website, there’s a lot of fun, cheap, inspiring ideas there.

SBA 2012 Lifestyle Look Book

SB Editor: What do you have in the works? Are you working on any exciting projects?

Carrie: Yes! Lately I’ve been doing portraits of people using an old VHS camera. I’ve been degrading the images and taking hi-res stills with a 5D, the results are haunting, so I’m planning to have a show of those soon. My boyfriend, who’s also a photographer, is having a solo show Ars Lumina in January at Sancho gallery, so that’s been a big goal. Also on Valentine’s day I’ll be collaborating on a performance piece with a video projection, so yeah, Winter’s been busy!

SB Editor: Sounds like something we’d be into, keep us posted. If you had to define yourself with one saying or mantra, what would it be?

Carrie: Get’r done.

SB Editor: Well said. Now last question: What is your ultimate weakness?

Carrie: Starburst, probably, but I guess it would be photography. You could take everything else away and put me in a cardboard box with a camera and a card reader, I’d get up tomorrow and say, “I guess I’ll take pictures of cardboard boxes now. Neat.”

SB Editor: And there you have it. The reason we love this girl. Cardboard boxes are neat, by the way.

Carrie’s all over the place, but you can keep in touch any which way you like:

You can check out my site at www.carrieschreck.com

You can find me on facebook under Carrie Schreck

You can e-mail me at carriemakesmovies@gmail.com

You can call me at 415 730 1146

Thanks Carrie! xo

By: Lauren Jewel/ Trumanity.com