It’s All In The Details: Thinking Outside The Box With Drue
If you’re a photographer (portrait or product, especially), you know that the right lens could make or break a shot. I mean, think about the condensation that drips down your ice cold Coca Cola bottle or the way sunlight sits on a person’s cheek — you want that shot.
Drue Schnelle, also known as druephoto, is a Kansas City born but LA-based portrait and studio photographer who knows how to think outside the box. How? It’s all in the details. He focuses on them.
Interview with Portrait Photographer Drue Schnelle
When did you first realize you were passionate about portrait photography?
Roughly 3 years ago.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
From other creatives! Not just photographers but anyone who makes amazing art inspires me whether it be the colors used or even just how it was captured. But really inspo can be drawn from anywhere if you’re looking for it.
When it comes to your photos, you tend to think outside the box. Not only is that inspiring and motivating for others who are looking to work on their craft, but it makes you stand out from the rest. Is it hard to come up with these photo ideas or does it come naturally? Absolutely, I think the hardest part now is my mindset of continuously wanting to see progress in my work so everything has to be better than the last. It’s becoming harder and harder to impress myself but I’m enjoying the grind. Sometimes ideas come naturally other times I’ll sit on an idea for weeks trying to come up with something.
Do you feel like social media influences what you create and how often you do it?
Unfortunately yes it does. Social media is a game that I enjoy playing though. I guess what’s nice about it is that it does keep me wanting to post better and better and I enjoy seeing my progress in my own work.
What do you use to shoot portrait photography?
I just use a canon 6D primarily with prime lenses my favorites are the 24mm and 35mm f1.4 prime lenses. I primarily use natural light and bounces but I’ve been dabbling in external lighting to really pop my subjects.
What do you hope to accomplish before the end of the year? Do you want to work with a certain brand or have your work published in a magazine?
I hope to make this my career by the end of the year and I’d love to work with any big name companies like Adidas, Nike or even Coca Cola.
You definitely have a lot of people looking up to you. Any advice for them?
Practice practice practice! If you put time and effort and have the mindset of wanting to improve you’ll see your work grow. Try not to get discouraged by people who already have a following or amazing work I know for sure I get discouraged at times feeling like my work isn’t where I want it to be. But I do know if I continue to learn and try new things I’ll see change and growth in my work.
