We recently connected with Jiro Schneider and have shared our conversation below.
Jiro, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
If I can speak bluntly, you don’t get things done in this life by being pessimistic. It’s easy feeling the warmth of being wrapped in the blanket of self-doubt and negativity. I know I’d rather live feeling hopeful and positive and set goals to achieve. I want to wake up feeling optimistic and charged, and if I don’t the least i can do is make the effort. We all know there’s going to be road-bumps ahead, but it doesn’t serve you to fixate on it. Pedal to the metal. Keep your momentum and don’t forget to smile.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Why do I do this? What do I get out of it? I guess what ultimately drives me is the human connection. In one way or another I get to tell a story. Whether it’s through a magazine cover shoot of Janelle Monae, a story on third-rank Argentinian polo players, a fashion campaign where the designer is making their dream reality, or a portrait of an eerily deadly knife sharpener in Altadena you met by chance. The common denominator is getting to meet others, sharing a moment with them, and sharing that moment with the world. I’ve been at this for 20 years and I’m still here. And I want to be here for the next 20.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’m not the first person to say this, nor will be the last, but (1)knowledge is key. Once you have the knowledge, then use (2)determination and (3)resilience to hit your stride. Before I could make a pretty photo or convince someone to pay me for my craft, I had to learn how on earth to light a set, how to use a camera, what’s the inverse square law for my key light, what’s the kelvin temp under a tree vs under the sun, what’s the optimal flash duration to freeze a jumping tiger, etc? Then you learn through practice and experience how to find your subjects’ best side, how to make them feel comfortable, how to direct the drummer in the band to look cool. It’s a wealth of information to intake. But that’s what it takes, and honesty sometimes it’s not enough.
But my advice is to learn everything you can, take some risks, and experiment. If you want more, you have to put the time in.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I think it’s safe to say that the playing field has shifted. The industry has changed and the challenge is how to play ball on this new horizon. Adaptation is key. How does one compete, how do you stay relevant, and how do you survive the battle? I think that’s the challenge many in my industry are facing. The objective of the game is the same, score points. But now you have to step off the familiar football field and onto the unknown rugby pitch.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jirophoto.com/
- Instagram: jiro_sc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiroschneider/
