Artist Interview: Lia Cecaci
Lia Cecaci is a photographer who lives and works in California. She is immensely talented, and I just love her airy, light filled style. You can visit her website right here.
How did you get into photography?
When I was little my favorite thing to do was look through all of my mom’s old photographs. Albums, yearbooks, stacks and stacks of old photos…I loved it. I’m starting to think maybe this has something to do with it. I had my first darkroom class in 2001, when I was in the 8th grade.
Why do you like portraiture?
AHHHhhhHHh. I’ve only recently realized that is what I do for a living. PORTRAITURE, so strange / I’ve only just started being okay with telling people that I’m a photographer. I’ve been taking photos forever and it’s weird that it’s turning into REAL LIFE! I mean, I’m into it, don’t get me wrong.
I like photographing people because of what I can pull out of them. So when I nail a shot or emotion or look, I feel super accomplished. I don’t think I’d get that from a landscape or a fruit bowl or something… those just are not my thing. People for the most part don’t like being in front of a camera & I get that, so being able to create photos for people that they love is just so rewarding. I love doing that.
What has been the most memorable experience you’ve had on a project to date?
Oh man, you guys I have a real bad memory. I’ve been scanning as much of my personal work as I can handle (it takes so long!) and compiling it onto a cargo collective site. I haven’t shown more than a handful of people yet but it’s work from when I was 16-17, till now. It’s been a fun to kinda warp back into time and find all my old photographs. It inspires me, really. I look back and know what it felt like to take those photos, how much I was just learning and taking it all in and wasting film on experiments, modifying toy cameras, figuring out how to make polaroid transfers. Time was infinite back then I wish I could be 17 again.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A hairdresser, straight up. Don’t believe me?
Do you have a favorite subject? If so, who and why?
When I have bat shit crazy ideas or a crazy need to shoot I call up my friend Perri. She’s gorgeous, and can pull off so many different looks it’s crazy. Love her!
What photographers inspire you?
I’m attracted to work that looks nothing like my own. I’m not super in the know of names really, a fault of mine for sure (I’m kind of the worst). I love whimsical-looking images, dreamy & flowy.
The only name I can think of is Damon Loble. I randomly found his photographs through Tumblr. Not safe for work, sorry!!
Are you a full time photographer?
Nay. As of Thursday I went from 3 jobs to 2, Hallelujah! I currently work for myself, and I work part-time at a community college in the Photography Department. I run the darkroom, keep the kids from blowing themselves up – the usual. The biggest thing I struggle with is not having enough time.
What does a typical day in the life of Lia look like?
Oh man, I love sleeping, so it starts with as much of that as possible. I get up, feed the dog, make coffee. Eat accordingly. Depending on the day of the week I get as much I Love That Glove work done in the AM as possible. Usually out of the house by 11:15, off to work! In the darkroom I take care of all the chemistry prep & clean-up. I help our students as needed with developing, printing, & give them tips. I have two days during the week that I have to myself, so those days I get all my freelance work done. Weddings on the weekends, and it starts all over again with getting as much sleep as possible.
What’s your favorite thing to do other than photography? Why?
I love to sleep and I love to eat. I’m doing my best to travel as much as I can and since this past summer it’s been going pretty well. I have the best friends in the world for understanding that for however many months out of the year I’m kind of just unavailable. Although it’s really the simple things of being able to hang out with them, whether we’re doing nothing or watching movies or whatever – it’s definitely time cherished.
