Behind the Lens: Meet visionary Photographer K. Visual
The skilled shooter is on the rise
During April in NYC, a recent yet highly anticipated tradition takes place amongst the local creative community. K. Visual Open Studio Day for many, is an opportunity to work with one of NYC's most brilliant photographers in an invite only setting in Long Island City. For Karl Jean Baptise, this day is not only a chance to work creatively, it's a reminder of when all of this began. Karl recalls the day with precision: April 1st, 2015 was his first official day in his photography journey. Hundreds of influential shots later, it's pretty clear that he's been headed in the right direction ever since.
K. Visual approaches his craft without boundaries, and his body of work -- which includes Portrait Photography, Concert, Streetstyle and more -- is proof of that. His work in Portrait Photography stands out to us especially. By now the style is his signature: There's the constant presence of vibrant colors, either via the backdrop, his muses, or at times both. There's the pristine quality, and of course, there's a visual comfortability with each of the subjects that he showcases. K. Visual understands that an important yet underrated element of photography is relationships, and the work that he does to make his models and muses feel at home is evident in his shots.Ahead of this year's K. Visual Day, we got to speak to the mind behind the movement to learn more about how it all began. We talked about his journey, his creative process, his approach to his signature Portrait Photography style and more. We're going to be on the lookout for what comes from his brand and his camera going forward. If you like what you see below, you definitely should too.
1. It's always great to feature a fellow NY representer on this platform. Let's start from the beginning: What was life like for you as a youth? Would you say you came up in an environment that helped nurture your creativity?
As a youth bouncing between Long Island and NYC, it was a constant push or pull between the norms and the outliers. Being a child of divorced parents was a blessing in disguise creatively as I was exposed to a lot more at a younger age. Weekdays on Long Island and weekends in Queens/Brooklyn someway, somehow balanced themselves out plus or minus the longevity in time I've spent in either or. Being around inner-city neighborhoods with youth that had no issue in expressing themselves creatively provided great influence on how I would step forward into Art let alone photography. That along with the early 2010s music and fashion that MTV and BET used to play all day was of great influence. It became evident to me from young not to let my various environments define me. Thinking global and not local became a staple mindset for me from young.
2. When did you pick up the camera? What was it exactly that made you know that photography was something you wanted to stick with?
From youth, I would make a habit out of using my family's point and shoots as my own personal cameras although those times would be short lived. Officially, Wednesday, April 1st, 2015, which is also known as K. Visual Day was the first day of my photography journey. I have a profound appreciation for memories and cementing legacies. While videos show motion, I prefer stills more. I photograph nouns: people, places and things. While there's no definitive number put on a human life, they only last but so long while photographs last forever. I believe that aside from my own personal purpose, photography is part of my purpose. Being able to help someone further advance their artistic journey and or aiding others in capturing photographic evidence of their lifetime is the greatest fulfillment to me.
"I look for opulence in one's individual features, distinctive differences that you probably would not see in your typical person"
3. How would you describe your style of photography? What would you say defines a shot from Karl Jean Baptiste?
My style of photography is pictorial and dynamic. My photography can give you the resemblance of a photo you might see on the front cover of a magazine or a photo that belongs in an assortment of certain photos depending on the concept. You will almost always find a strong focus on crisp-clean quality on my photos. You can blame my brother B. Rambo for schooling me on photo quality early on in my photographic career. My photos are the photos that you wake up on Sunday morning and just awe in amazement. Colours. You will always find an array of rich colors on my photos as no photo that is dull ever gets released from me. I photograph a lot of portraits of individuals so you'll also see my focus on the features that make each and every individual that I photograph unique and beautiful.
4. We see you were looking for muses and models to collab with. As a photographer, what traits do you look for in a potential collaborator?
When I am scouting a model or a muse, I look for opulence in one's individual features, distinctive differences that you probably would not see in your typical person, and lastly their persona. It is effortless to deem someone pleasing to the eye but it takes on a different meaning when it comes to how they look against a camera, my camera for that matter. I ensure that the person I am collaborator shares a devout interest in creating everlasting images and has a profound appreciation for art as a whole before I move forward in engaging in a photoshoot. I personally can not fake the funk, if the connection is there, it's there but if not, the shoot will likely not see the light of day, if it even still happens that is. The photographer-model/muse connection is like a chef with his kitchen. Once the chef has the proper tools and ingredients, he's good to go in creating a great meal just as I'm ready to create great photos with a set model/muse.
"I remind my model/muses of the beauty and integrity that they possess from the moment the shoot starts."
5. Out of all the shoots and models you've worked with, what's been your favorite moment on set?
My favorite moment on set came from a shoot I executed in LA with my brother Ryan 'Rhydizel' Butler which resulted in my first magazine publication. We were in Hollywood Hills overlooking the city near one of Kanye West's former properties. Overlooking the city of LA, in that moment caused a lot of things to come full circle for me in realizing how far I've come and how far I've yet to go. Initially, we were executing a mutual collaborative effort which eventually led to the magazine publication. We went on to doing the shoot and it eventually was published later that Summer. That's a moment that will forever be engraved in my photography journey memory and has just empowered me to do better and be better photographically and as an artist overall.
6. One of the most underrated parts about photography is making your subject feel comfortable. How do you manage to achieve that?
Both the photographer and the model/muse have a job to do and more importantly, they complement one another. A model's success is contingent upon not only their physical but their social and mental as well. I make it a point to get to know the individuals that I work with. It is also important to me that I hone in on their likes, dislikes, their securities and more importantly, their insecurities. It is essential that the individuals that I work with are confident and comfortable within their own skin let alone in front of my camera. I remind my model/muses of the beauty and integrity that they possess from the moment the shoot starts. Photographers are strong within their cameras whereas models are strong within their image. There isn't a shoot that I've published where the model does not have the full support of myself and the full confidence within their own self. Sometimes, photographs teach people more about themselves than other people do.
"I have a profound appreciation for memories and cementing legacies"
7. For those who are interested in working with you, what's the best way to connect and get in touch with you?
The best way to contact me is via DM @karljeanb or my email : karljeanb@gmail.com. I'm a people person so I have a 24/7 Open Door policy. I've had people inquire about a shoot at 2 in the morning before so yeah, DM or email. Just don't call me off of Instagram, I believe that's a little weird especially if we're not acquainted.
8. Last question: You told us you're aspiring to take your photography to the next level, what does that level look like for you?
The next level in photography includes a multitude of things. I want to put out images that would give anyone who lays eyes on them a wow factor. The next level also includes expanding my concert photography as well as my editorial and beauty photography. Working with new individuals who share identical artistic visions as myself and working with individuals who are aiming for the moon. I look around at those who are in my same line of work and realize that some of those high echelon positions that they may be in, I should be in. One shot at a time, like Maya Angelou once said, like dust, K. Visual will rise.
For more dope content, including filmmakers, street photography, portrait photography and more, read on.