Welcome to Showcase Los Angeles, brought to you by Production Paradise. This issue features some of the leading creatives and companies working out of Los Angeles. 

More creative professionals and facilities for photographic and film production are available in our Los Angeles Photo and Film directories.

Brands and publications including Spotify, Acura, Vogue, Toyota, Fruit of The Loom, and BMW among others, have trusted these professionals with their latest advertising campaigns and editorial shoots.

Be sure to catch our recommended events:

• The History of Photography 2021: Genre by Genre: ongoing series on the history of photography by Los Angeles Center of Photography. The series are divided into the genres of photography: street photography, still life, landscape, documentary, and more. Until 26th October.
• Nick Brandt: The Day May Break, an exhibition of new works, made in 2020, as part of the first in a global series of images portraying people and animals that have been impacted by environmental degradation and destruction. Until 30th October at The Fahey/Klein Gallery.

Our cover image was shot by Anton Watts.

Cherry Li is a food photographer and director who has been specialising in food and drink for over 10 years. After a decade of having had home bases in Hong Kong, Beijing, Paris, and Los Angeles, while Cherry is delighted to travel anywhere on assignment, she is excited to create delicious imagery for new and existing clients from Boulder, Colorado, where she has just started her new studio, surrounded by the Rockies and local farms where the freshest ingredients can be sourced. 

Cherry's unique visual sensitivity and a keen eye for detail has won her multiple professional awards and gained her clients such as Anchor New Zealand, Lady M, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Travel+Leisure, Condé Nast Traveller, GQ, Malaysia Airlines, Dragonair, Wall Street Journal, Theme, Wallpaper, The Cleaver Quarterly, Qatar Airways, British Airways and Australian Gourmet Traveller.

James Russell is a commercial photographer and director based in Los Angeles and London. Working with advertising and corporate clients in lifestyle, sports, government, branding for entrepreneurs, retail fashion and bespoke image libraries in still and motion.

James' team thrive on challenge and are experts at producing complex still imagery and 4k motion footage productions.

Russell Rutherford is full production; including: budget management, location, experienced crew, equipment hire, accommodation, transport, catering, props, wardrobe, sets, carnets and casting, in city or remote.

Donald Graham is an internationally recognised portrait, fashion and fine art photographer who works in the worlds of fashion, movies, music, magazines and advertising. 

His photographs have appeared in over 400 publications, including Vogue and Vanity Fair, and he has done advertising campaigns for many Fortune 500 companies, including American Express, Visa and Levi’s.

In 2021, Hatje Cantz published an award winning book of his black and white portraits entitled, “ONE OF A KIND.” Also, in 2021 his photography received awards from the International Book Awards, Monovision Awards, Spotlight Awards, and American Photographic Artists, Los Angeles. After 25 years in New York City, Donald is currently based in Los Angeles, California.

Hans J. Paul is a renowned published fashion and lifestyle photographer, director and executive producer based in Los Angeles, New York and Europe.

Photography is his passion since his father gave him his first camera at age 15. With his European aesthetic and upbringing, he creates storytelling images and videos with high impact.

Recent work of David’s includes automotive-lifestyle work shot in Malibu, CA, featuring the Porsche RS America. Contrasting light conveyed elements of story and emotion between the car and the talent while the reflections of sunset accented the red of the car. 

Additionally featured is the Audi R8 V10+ photographed at Sebring International Raceway. David captured the car in heroic stature, using surrealism and retro-modern post-production techniques to produce a final series highlighting the bold and beautiful nature of the exotic supercar. 

David continues to capture the true essence, design, and style of automobiles. His kind and approachable nature combined with his strong scalable production background highlight the design elements of the brands he works with. To view more of David’s work, please feel free to visit his website here or check out his Instagram.

Mr. Location Scout provides premium location services throughout California. With offices serving the Big Sur / Monterey, San Francisco, and greater Los Angeles areas. Providing over 25 years of experience specialising in location scouting, film locations, and film permitting services.

"Our location professionals offer a broad range of location production services for commercials, television, features, documentaries, fashion photoshoots, web content, and events. Our vast location library includes a diverse makeup of luxury estates, ranches, commercial properties, and the best scenery California has to offer. Our seasoned experts hold over 1,000 production credits in more than 50 countries worldwide."

Mr. Location Scout is a member of Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) and the company’s owner, Jeff Clark, has served as both president and chairman of the Monterey County Film Commission and has remained active on their board of directors for over 12 years.

Mr. Location Scout's clients list includes: Food Network, Mercedes, Porsche, Amazon Studios, Google, eBay, Nissan Titan, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Sony Playstation, American Express, Unilever, Nissan Cube, Toyota, L'Oréal, Nescafé, Sony, T-Mobile and many more.

MP Curtet is a husband and wife, photography and director team based in Los Angeles. Marlyne and Patrick work in a symbiotic relationship and their combined talents add a unique depth and quality to their images. The emotive resonance of their partnership allows them to excel as storymakers with a cinematographic vision. 

Patrick Curtet’s career has spanned more than 30 years and 76 different countries. For a time he concentrated on sports and reportage photography, before becoming best known for automotive and lifestyle work. Patrik's focus on proper technique, expertise in controlling lighting, and effects lend his worth an acute cinematographic quality.

Marlyne graduated from Peninghen Art School in Paris where she studied art and graphic design. She has her own graphic design studio, L.A. Creative Team, and has worked as an Art Director. Her graphic vision has played a crucial part in elevating the duo’s work to where it is today. Additionally, she also operates as the creative coordinator, ensuring the styling, wardrobe, set design — every imaginable element of the scene — remains in line with their collective creative vision. Marlyne also serves as second photographer.

Charles is a commercial advertising and editorial photographer specialising in fashion, beauty, action sports and underwater photography.

Chasing those in between moments just before and after the peak of action is where the true story lies. With a strong technical knowledge of lighting and cinematic techniques, Charles creates unique story telling imagery for agencies and direct clients.

Charles has a demonstrated ability to lead teams and effectively communicate between subject, clients, and creatives. Team collaboration is a key component to creating a shared experience that results in remarkable photos.

Kip walked into a photo studio while studying at Ringling College of Art and Design and knew he has found his calling. He spent the next decade working in darkrooms and assisting top-level photographers. His first paid gig was photographing punk rock bands. He liked the chaos, lack of control and capturing the instance it came together.

For the last 20+ years Kip has refined his craft in the controlled chaos of the photo set. He is inspired by light, angles, styling and the latest technology. There’s no situation Kip can’t handle. His confident and collaborative approach has earned him the loyalty of his clients among which are luxury textile and furniture brands, hotels, resorts, top designers, architects and builders. He is also a Hyatt approved photographer.

His work can be seen in Architectural Digest, Milieu, House Beautiful and Traditional Home. He still devotes personal projects to the rock scene.