Skip to content Skip to footer

Finally Focused NY to LA: Episode 5 Photographer Ace of LA

“The image that we create enhances that person to be bigger than life.”

Ace of LA

Ace of LA, black Commes des GarƧons tee on, black snapback faced backward, speaks from his studio in a reclined black chair.

As he speaks, it is clear he is reflecting on his journey, with a visceral understanding in a solemn tone that he always wanted to be a photographer, and thus was always going to be.

“I knew my purpose at a young age. And that’s what I wanted to do no matter what.”

Ace of LA

Photographer Ace of LA takes the first step towards success…

Ace of LA is a photographer based out of Los Angeles. Born in Mexico, from an early age there was never any doubt about what he wanted to do.

“The changes that I went through defined who I was as a person.”

Ace of LA
View this post on Instagram

THE ETERNAL

A post shared by @ aceofla on

He dropped out of high school at an early age to become a photographer. And amidst family members and peers thinking it was a hobby, temporary, or just fun-and-games, photographer Ace of LA stuck with his craft because he knew it was anything but.

He started taking pictures of people he wanted to photograph; “people that gave you that magnitude in front of the camera…” He then transitioned into photographing models, often with no pay.

But Ace of LA doesn’t see free work as just that, because that endeavor is always going to end up in securing a bigger paid opportunity.

View this post on Instagram

IN MY MIND w. @queenofblood

A post shared by @ aceofla on

“That’s one of the biggest things to me, just knowing the value of yourself, what you bring to the table.”

Ace of LA

Ace of LA has shot for Ty Dolla $ign, Wiz Khalifa, Common, Nipsey Hussle, and many more in his career. And he’s just getting started.

“We are in a never-ending journey,” Ace of LA says solemnly. There isn’t a day that goes by where he does not learn something new about himself and his craft.

“The only thing I can tell that young shooter is just to keep being hungry, keep wanting to create, and keep wanting to excel.”

Ace of LA

Ace of LA’s ability to live in the moment enables him to stay grounded and focused on the task at hand. Treating every project like it is a big-budget blockbuster means he is always seeing the best work emanating from his eye and fingertips.

Stay tuned for more of his work and his fashion line here, and check out the rest of our Finally Focused series below.


Watch the entire season of Finally Focused below

The first ever Vegan Fashion Week might’ve set the trend for the drip

This year LA became the largest US city to place a ban on the selling of furs and host the first Vegan Fashion Week.

With that said, it’s easy to see that thereĀ is a group of fashion revolutionaries emerging to uncover the ethical, social, and environmental effects surrounding the use of animals in the industry.

Curated by veteran fashionista Emmanuelle Rienda the Vegan Fashion Week was designed to educate those seeking alternatives to the exploited luxurious aesthetics that they incorporate into their lifestyle daily. For sure this is the future of fashion. Rienda told Harpers Bazar,

“I want to ignite conversations and debates within the industry by educating, elevating and drawing connections between our most important values: our respect for human life, animal rights, and the environment.ā€

Highlighting this very woke movement in fashion and setting the trendsĀ were over 54Ā vegan companies. Over the course of four days, a differentĀ kind of drip was presented to those curious about stepping away from the basic trend of leathers, feathers, and furs.

The NYT caught wind of the Vegan Fashion Week and recalled a piece by Edna which was an ItalianĀ  “faux shearling made with multilayered acrylic fleece and a machine-washable wool-free tweed.”

Another collection included pieces byĀ Johanna Ohayon Zenou who designed a rack of wedding dresses made from recycled organic cotton and dentelle de Calais French lace. There was even a backpack being shuffled around the room that was made from cork.

Ary Ohayon told the NYT about how he used the material as an alternative for leather, he said,

ā€œItā€™s made with cork, an amazing material replacing leather. Itā€™s very ethical. The tree is not killed. You just take the skin off the tree.ā€

More vegan vibes were emitted throughout the room as animal cruelty videos were played and included in the presentation, proving that this is a serious movement people really care about.

This is definitely a trend that can and will probably take over as newer generations are more supportive of fashion brands that are not only cool but are designed for a good cause.

With the buzz from the first Vegan Fashion Week ever hopefully, Rienda can take the experience and educate the world about dope, cruelty-free, and sustainable alternatives to the fashions we wear all the time.

Maybe clothing companies should be required to have an ingredient label stitched into each article or piece from a collection that they release. It’ll help people understand exactly what they are wearing and might even inspire all brands to make a transition to vegan.