Modern Model May 2014 | Page 13

The
 411
 on
 218

Photography

Story
 by
 Brian
 Thornton

Photos
 ©
 218
 Photography

Lead
 story
 photo
 ©

 Kimberly
 Love

Story
 by
 Brian
 Thornton

Photos
 ©
 218
 Photography

Lead
 story
 photo
 ©

 Kimberly
 Love

  When
  Lincoln
  Park,
  MI

Photographer
  Aaron
  Gripe,
  Owner

of
 218
 Photography,
 asked
 us
 if
 we

would
  be
  interested
  in
  publishing

some
  of
  his
  images,
  we
  reviewed

his
 poroolio,
 and
 were
 amazed!

  218
  Photography
  stood

out
  to
  us
  because
  it
  is
  what
  we

consider
  a
  “what
  if”
  agency
  –

instead
  of
  just
  taking
  standard

photos,
  it
  was

  obvious
  that
  Aaron

would
  consider,
  “what
  would

happen
  if
  I
  do
  this?”,
  and
  then

would
 go
 out
 and
 experiment.

  “I've
  always
  been
  into
  art,

painJng
 and
 drawing
 and
 I
 first
 got

started
  by
  doing
  odd
  and
  crazy

things
  to
  photos
  of
  friends
  on

Facebook,”
  Aaron
  said
  of
  his

decision
 to
 become
 a
 photographer.

“I
 did
 that
 for
 a
 while
 but
 it
 started

to
  get
  harder
  and
  harder
  to
  find

good
  poses
  or
  the
  right
  sefng
  for

Modern Model Page 13

the
 ideas
 I
 had
 rolling
 around
 in
 my

head.

  I

  borrowed
  a
  buddies

camera
  and
  asked
  a
  friend
  if
  she

would
 pose
 for
 me
 for
 an
 idea
 I
 had.

From
 that
 day
 on
 I
 was
 in
 love
 with

the
 art
 of
 photography.”

  Expanding
  his
  photography

range
  and
  services,
  Aaron
  now

offers
  portraits,
  poroolio
  work,

c o m p o s i t e
  w o r k ,
  w e d d i n g

photography,
  and
  “preay
  much

anything
  else
  that
  gets
  me
  behind

the
 camera.”

 Working
 to
 conJnue
 to
 hone
 his

a r J s J c
  s k i l l ,
  A a r o n
  s a i d
  h e

appreciates
  being
  able
  to
  always

rely
 on
 the
 support
 of
 his
 family
 and

friends.

  “I
  have
  a
  preay
  supporJve

group
  of
  close
  friends
  and
  family

that
  have
  been
  giving
  me
  great
  love

in
 this
 path
 I’m
 trying
 to
 take.
 Most

of
  all,
  I
  thank
  my
  wife
  for

understanding
 the
 art
 form.”

  The
  most
  important
  lesson
  so

far
  is
  that
  the
  perfect
  photo
  is
  olen

worth
  waiJng
  for,
  Aaron
  offered,

adding
  that
  during
  a
  photo
  shoot,

models
  should
  remember
  to
  be

professional,
 and
 also
 have
 fun!

 “If
 there
 is
 one
 thing
 I
 have

learned
  as
  photographer,
  it's

paJence,”
  he
  explained.
  “
  When
  a

shoot
  is
  set
  up,
  try
  to
  be
  on
  Jme

and
 ready
 to
 work.
 Be
 open
 to
 ideas

but
 stand
 your
 ground
 on
 the
 styles

you
 will
 and
 will
 not
 shoot.
 Most
 of

all,
  remember
  to
  have
  fun.
  The

more
  fun
  you're
  having
  and
  the

more
  relaxed
  you
  are,
  the
  beaer

the
 photos
 will
 turn
 out.”

  Having
  fun
  and
  gaining

experience
  with
  each
  shoot,
  Aaron

said
  he
  was
  surprised
  to
  find

support
 from
 other
 photographers.

  “I
  would
  really
  have
  to
  say

that
  the
  most
  posiJve
  thing
  is
  the

photography
  community
  as
  a

whole,”
  he
  said.
  “I've
  done
  a
  few