Smiley’s Vintage Tiny Desk Concert featuring Tynacity & The Sweats

Just think about it for just a second. Living and creating in a city that can be considered “big” and “small” at the same time yet each one of these guys were successfully able to grab a hold of the community(and world) and share their vision. Whether it be graphic design , photography, creative directing or having a fashion line we all share the same passion for art. So bumping into each other at functions, having small conversations wasn’t enough so here we have …. P A R E A!

I won’t say that we are all our city has to offer. Its not that type of write up. What I will say is we each other a different way of seeing our art. This is no popularity contest in fact I used to joke i’m Rockfords best kept secret. Well we all know me so I’ll introduce the squad. @the_real_sajad & @bon_Cantina are behind the idea, @jt.johnson3 w/ Muse brand. @madebyswede w/ Swedegallery brand. @Othxrsveryown w/ Othxr Brand. @j_lanor33 w/ @Lanor.co & @angleortizz W/ @angeldoesdesign.

This happens everywhere right? sharing Ideas, experiences, the good and the bad, possibly giving advice? No secrets No egos. Peers and conversations but most importantly a space! A space to step away from the camera ( not really obviously) a place to step away from fabric swatches to log off the computer and get a perspective from peers.

Walking into this I can honestly say its not what I expected, the idea of everyone being involved with their own brand and being so different but coming together and having conversations and no one feeling left out everyone able to contribute input. There was a previous meetup before this one so when there is another i’m definitely showing up!

I don’t know about you but I never enjoyed hearing “we need to talk’ so when I was invited to a meeting with the Brand Lanor I wasn’t to sure on how to take it. I mean I have worked with this brand over the years and have done amazing product/content work but involved in a brand meeting was another level.

Relationships involve trust. I do product photography and brand Lookbooks, with that said the brand has to trust the photographer to capture the theme in a way that grabs peoples attention, I been shooting for Lanor for a couple or few years now so we have developed a relationship that involves my creative input, so i wasn’t just invited I was apart of the meeting!

The idea of making clothes seems easy right? but what are the steps in between? Story telling must be just as important, what the brand stands for must be present in each article of clothing. As a product photographer/fashion photographer I know the photos must grab peoples attention right away and they must understand what they are looking at. Just from sitting in this one time I can say without telling too much that the Lanor brand clothing and content with be what the people need and want!!

The sense of urgency and attention to detail can’t not be overlooked, being at this meeting made me wanted to start a new book asap! having a brand or just being creative and deciding to put your work out into the world is nerve racking but exciting too. So hearing these guys speak on how they want to take design and content to the next level is dope! please pay attention to this brand now!