Jonathan Grado

I decided to do some last minute self-portraits to play around with hard light and high flash photography. This was on a whim so my usual studio was booked (can you believe waiting till the last minute has repercussions??). So in my search for a new spot I came across a bar/event space with availability, and more importantly red velvet. Clearly, I love shooting on velvet - looking at you Saint Citrus and the Overthinking videos.

So I booked it. The next morning at 9am I was experimenting with direct flash and being blinded by the sun when I left (because I forgot I started at 9am). I've been in front of the camera a bunch of times (Buzzfeed; American Express), but I never fully get used to it.

Oh and yes my mom is mad I'm not smiling in most of them. Disco balls are serious business.