MS: What are your favorite parts about what you do?
LB: The process, truly, it’s the time I conceptualize something from the scribbles on random pieces of paper to discussing ideas with the talent to buying the props and outfits and then eventually clicking the shutter that I enjoy the most. 

MS: What made you want to be what you are now?
LB: In my mind since I was a child I always dreamed of being able to create things that would inspire thought and provoke change within my community and hopefully the world. 

MS: How did you get started/where did you begin?
LB: My mother instilled the arts in me at a young age. I have been drawing, singing and dancing since I was about 4 or 5 and messing around on my step father’s drums since I was about 7 and ever since then, I've been hooked.

MS: Do you have advice for people interested in the same field?
LB: My best advice for myself and for others is to keep on persisting, try something different and unorthodox to move to the next place on the game board and create without limits.

MS: What is something(s) you wish you knew in the beginning?
LB: How much money never mattered to my creative ability and that being a set back for me early, thinking I needed so much in order to create what I wanted.

MS: What is your favorite quote(s) and why?
LB: I guess it really depends on the day and how I’m feeling but at the moment it’s a lyric from Tyler, the Creator's latest album, "When I rise to the top, I’m telling you right now, I'll show you something.”

MS: What is your ideal day in the work life?
LB: I wake up, answer back to inquiries about bookings (turning a bunch down and only taking ones I really like creatively) going for a hike, making a few posts over my social media because you have to, then dropping off or picking up film and prints for clients and then sitting back down at the desk to edit and conceptualize new shoot ideas. For my ideal non-work day, I would say I’d wake up, cook breakfast, still probably answer emails because I can't help it, watch some anime, maybe go for a hike with my girlfriend and hang out at a park somewhere while we have boba.

MS: What are some things that keep you going?
LB: My children, they push me to want to be better, they are the reasons I continue to strive for my goals, my innate drive and my very large desire to help change the world

MS: How do you approach a work life balance?
LB: Take days off, pace yourself with needed breaks and allow yourself to fail.

MS: What does supporting local mean to you?
LB: It means a lot, it means helping local families as opposed to major corporations get more money they don't need. I try to regularly source props, clothing, and building materials from local retailers if possible. My advice is to go to your local stores within a 5-mile radius and look around. I bet they sell more than 90% of the goods you use at either a reasonable or cheaper price than the major chain.

MS: What is your definition of success?
LB: Being able to allow myself to dictate my schedule at will, being able to drop everything to take my kids somewhere at the drop of a dime and not think twice of it. I view that as success because being able to manipulate how I spend my time and energy at will is the greatest thing.

MS: What does being a part of a community mean to you?
LB: It means a plant to nurture, it's not something that left unattended will grow but in fact you must continue to rotate it so that it receives sun from all sides and water it regularly and nourish the soil for it to sprout. Sometimes that means losing a few leaves and buds along the way but ultimately the overall growth will be there and visibly seen. I try to allow my work to tell stories of people who are of all backgrounds and not let people remain unseen throughout my work.

“I try to allow my work to tell stories of people who are of all backgrounds and not let people remain unseen throughout my work.”