Featured Photographer: Lucas Scarfone

Meet Lucas:

Lucas is a young entrepreneur who runs his own successful photography business.  He recognized early on in High School that he had a passion for photography but like most of us, took a few attempts at other career paths before pursuing photography as his primary means of income.  Like most people who do what they love for a living, the outcome has been tremendous.  This interview is an excellent example for other photographers trying to make the leap from hobbyist to professional and Lucas explains exactly how he did it.  Not only that, but he shares a few tips for those of you car photographers who don’t live where its 80 degrees and sunny year round that still want to pay the bills.

Lucas’s Gallery >>>

Background Information:

• Name: Lucas Scarfone
• Age: 21
• Location: Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: Photographer
• Website: www.scarfonephoto.com

How did you get started in photography?

I actually got into photography because of the cars themselves. When I was 13 years old I emailed the president of the Dodge Viper Club of Ontario since I had never seen a Viper in real life. He graciously invited me out to the next local meet where I started to take pictures with my parents Nikon F50 film camera, ever since that day I have been hooked.

Do you work professionally outside of the Photography industry?

My photography is a full time business for me. Living in Canada, automotive photography it is a very seasonal profession since most owners don’t drive their cars in the snow, slush, and salt during the winter. I have now expanded into other subjects including real estate, corporate functions, products, food, and my own line of personalized canvas prints to keep me busy during the non “car season”.

Did you always know this is what you wanted to do for a living?

Funny enough I always thought the opposite, asked the same question in high school I would answer “I don’t think I would be able own an exotic car by just taking pictures of them”. From there I started down a few different career paths before I figured out that photography was ultimately what I wanted to focus on.

Can you think of a time where you came up against a wall preventing you to reach the next level of your success – and how did you get through it?

The biggest wall for me was actually within myself. Last year was the first year that I had the self-confidence to accept big jobs and charge respectable rates. Since the beginning I always had a tough time with the pricing and pressure aspects of being a professional photographer. It was a big accomplishment for me to finally break through those walls and be confident in my talents, abilities, prices, and my finished images.

What kind of equipment do you use?

The bodies I currently shoot with are a Nikon D3s and Nikon D2Xs. I also have a wide variety of lenses including: Nikon 70-200mm VRII, Nikon 50mm 1.4, Nikon 14-24mm 2.8, Nikon 18-200mm, Nikon 24-120VR. I started off with a Nikon D70 and a kit lens but have upgraded when my financial situation has allowed me to.

For people just starting out what kind of equipment and software would you recommend?  What gives the most “bang for the buck”?

If you are just starting out you really don’t need the biggest and best DLSR out there. In my opinion the most important thing is to know your equipment and how to use it. Technology has come a long way in the last few years, any entry level DSLR will have all the necessary tools for beginners to learn and explore the basics of photography.

Is there a certain time of day you prefer to shoot?

I love to shoot on cloudy and overcast days. The lighting is great since the clouds act as large diffusers and also gives the images a bit of a “dark” edge when brought out in post-production. I also like to shoot when the sun is rising/setting since the light at that time of day really makes the car glow.

Do you prefer working with landscape backgrounds/cityscapes/or a certain type of environment?

I am most comfortable shooting at the racetrack. I am very lucky that I have access to Mosport International Raceway during the warmer months, it is a great place to shoot and there are usually several exotics being pushed to the limit by their owners. It is amazing to see these cars in action and capturing it through the lens is an exciting challenge.

What photo are you most proud of?

The photograph titled “First Class” is my favorite photo I have taken. It shows a white LP640 parked in front of a private jet on a cloudy day on the tarmac at Pearson International Airport. I love the attitude and the composition of the photo, I have a canvas print of it up in my bedroom.

Are their certain cars that you enjoy photographing more than others?

It seems like the easy answer but I have to say I love shooting exotic cars. There are so many curves and details in these machines and they are truly a work of art. I have grown up around exotics but I still get the same feeling in my stomach when an owner pulls their car out of the garage for a photo shoot.

A lot of your work seems to utilize a lot of post production (colorizing parts of the photo, etc).  Have you always liked doing editing?

I have always enjoyed editing my photos in order to make the final image stand out and grab the viewers’ attention. Photoshop is a very complex program and it has taken me years to figure out the editing style that best suits my photos. Selective coloring is a great effect and really lends itself well to exotic car photography, many of these cars have very vivid pant colors that really jump out at you against a black and white background.

You seem to love using black and white in your photos – something I don’t think a lot of people are doing these days.  Why do you like this effect in your shots?

I think black and white takes the image down to its bare elements and really lets you showcase a curve or detail in a very different perspective. Using black and white also lets me convey a certain attitude to some of my photos that have very dark clouds or skies. It’s easy to get caught up in the bright colors of these cars, but when you take a step back and explore some of the details in black and white it really makes the photo stand out.

Do you always try new things in your work or have you found a niche of shots and techniques you really favor?

I believe that photography is one of the most diverse professions out there, this makes it necessary to constantly test out new techniques in order to produce the best results. Whether it is learning to shoot different subjects, using a unique new editing style, playing around with the settings on a new camera, or using a different filter, there is no limit to what you can learn about this industry. I would say my “niche” shots would be my detail photos. I love exploring these amazing vehicles though photographs and showcasing their unique features that people often overlook. It may be a section of the headlight, a simple brake rotor, or a ray of light dancing down one of the many curves, they all make for great photos.

What has been your biggest success thus far in your life?

I feel that my biggest success would be turning a hobby and passion into a full time business. It is amazing that a camera can open so many doors and offer so many great opportunities. I can say that I absolutely love my job, it’s always nice feeling to have my clients tell me that I have the best job in the world! My business was also featured on the front page of my local newspaper last year, it was cool to see myself in print and I received a lot of positive feedback from the article (http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/19725–auto-focus-pays-off)

Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you?

“If everything seems under control, you’re just not going fast enough” – Mario Andretti

Do you set goals for yourself?  Can you give us an example of a goal you set and achieved?

One of the biggest goals I set early on was to get my photos published in a magazine. I contacted several editors and did a lot of leg work, but it finally paid off when I photographed a feature article for “Modified Luxury & Exotics” magazine. It was an amazing feeling to open up the pages and see my name along with my photographs. Since then I have had my work appear in Forza Magazine, Dolce Magazine, UMM Magazine, Northern Prancer Magazine, as well as the Toronto Star, and the Hamilton Spectator newspapers.

What does the future hold for you?  Are you planning or working on anything we should know about?

Every year seems to present new and exciting opportunities in my business. I am working on a calendar for 2012 as well as a coffee table book in the future. I have also upgraded my camera equipment so I am looking forward to producing more exciting images!

We would like to thank Lucas Scarfone for interviewing with us and setting a great example for others transitioning into professional photography. Are you an amateur or professional automotive photographer that would like to have your work featured on Legit Lifestyle? Do you know of a photographer we should feature? If so – Contact Us!