About A Guy: Meet Alex

A man with an eye, and a kind heart…

I think anyone who knows Alex would agree that this one-of-a-kind dude is talented, and a good human to have around. He’s an associate photographer here at Free People, and one of the nicest people I’ve had the opportunity to work with. I first met Alex a couple years ago when I interned in the web studio. Since then, we’ve crossed paths a few times on a couple different projects, and I always seem to leave with a new piece of photography knowledge. For someone who is surrounded by lights and cameras all day, a tip or two from him is a tip well learned.

We would always talk about featuring Alex on the blog, and the perfect time presented itself since he and his girlfriend, Leanne, just moved into an incredible new spot in Philadelphia. This past weekend, I made my way over and got to kick it with these two over some icy beverages and the perfect 5 o’clock sun. They moved into a neighborhood a stones throw away from mine, and stepping into their plant-filled, brick-lined loft confirmed just how much I love the area of Philadelphia we live in. Average looking buildings from the outside reveal incredible spaces that hold so much character upon your first step inside. I love doing these features because it allows me to get to know a little bit more about the people who work right next door to me, and seeing what their life is like outside of work is always so fascinating. Meet Alex!

Where are you from? How long have you been living in Philly?

I was born in Baltimore, MD and spent some time in Houston, TX when I was younger, but I would say I grew up in Bethlehem, PA – It’s just over an hour northwest of Philly. I went to school at Drexel University and have been living in the city for just over 8 years.

How did you find your way to Free People? How long have you been working here?

Leanne actually recommended I apply for the job at Free People – she had been working at the Urban Outfitters in West Philly. I’ve been working here almost two and a half years.

What does an average day on the job look like for you?

A day in the studio for me could range from photographing our apparel and accessories flat, to shooting our shoes on a model in the studio or out in the city, or shooting fashion on model in-house. I’m also planning for upcoming shoots, whether it be location scouting, finding inspiration online, or testing lighting and equipment. Otherwise, I might be in New York shooting on location and assisting with one of our lookbooks. I’m thrilled and really grateful I have the chance to work in so many different aspects of our photography.

What first sparked your interest in photography?

I think my mother really inspired my interest in photography and art in general – she’s been working as a painter most of her life in almost every discipline.

If you could only own one camera for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Definitely a tough one for me. I have a lot of cameras I love, but if I had to pick I would take my Yashica T3. It’s such a simple and spontaneous camera.

What has been one of the coolest things you’ve had the opportunity to do since working at Free People?

I’ve had the pleasure of working on the Pet Project for freepeople.com – I have to say it’s always a lot fun working with so many different dogs (and cats!) and their owners, and supports a great cause as well (check out some behind the scenes photos from a shoot we did with PAWS earlier this year!).

You recently moved into a new spot in Philly. What excites you most about living in a new neighborhood?

I’m just really excited about getting to know the people and the neighborhood. I love our new space as well; we have a lot of opportunity to really make it our own.

Who do you share your space with?

My girlfriend Leanne and our two cats, Captain and Charlie.

How would you describe your personal style?

Minimal/simple I would say – truthfully I’m not thinking about it too often. I like clean lines and mostly neutral colors, and quality over quantity. I’ll get one pair of shoes or jeans, wear them out completely, and only then replace them.