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The Artists Project, formerly known as The Starving Artists Project, captures press portrait photography. This project provides press photo sessions for celebrities and then donates the rest of the day for artists, musicians, actors, or anyone in need of portrait photography, all on a donation basis. If attendees cannot afford to pay anything The Artists Project will provide press photography for free. This project uses the leverage of brands and celebrities to help get photography to starving artists. These press photos are taken in Los Angeles in the home of the project's founder Michael Bezjian, who is a Getty Images contributing photographer. Bezjian not only photographs celebrities, who are referred to as "posing heroes", but artists who have not yet broken into their careers, referred to by the project as "the artists".
"We don't want their money. We will also set people up if they can't afford transportation."
- Michael Bezjian, SAP founder
The Artists Project also offers internships to those interested in gaining experience with photography, media coverage, production, videography, stylizing, editing, graphic designing, professional hair and make-up, and all umbrella aspects of the project and its respective industry, entertainment. An article in LA Weekly provided an ambiance for the project
History
In 2014, the press photographer Michael Bezjian started The Artists Project from his house in Los Angeles, California. In 2015, The Artists Project has had three additional articles describing what the project does and can do for both celebrities and artists. By July 2015, there had been over 500 artists helped, according to the website.
In early 2016, the comedian Denise Vasquez met The Artists Project for a portrait session. She met the producer and photographer Tasia Wells for a Q&A session.
References
- ^ Welkos, Robert (June 21, 2015). "A Top Getty Images Photographer Gives Struggling Actors Their First Break, and It's Free". LA Weekly. Los Angeles. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
- "Getty Photographers Band Together to Help Starving Artists". Haute Content. Los Angeles. June 29, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
- Chow, Joyce (August 12, 2015). "The Starving Artists Project". CNN iReport. Los Angeles. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- Cece, Jane (November 9, 2015). "The Starving Artists Project Working Together To Help Artists". High School Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved February 26, 2016. - Bezjian, Michael (July 2, 2015). "The Starving Artists Project (Website)". Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- Vasquez, Denise (February 20, 2016). "The Starving Artists Project Working Together To Help Artists". Examiner. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016.