Robert Torrence, Sr. is one of the most well-known photographers in the Greater Los Angeles area with one motto in mind, “photography by design with a tasteful richness in mind.”
From red carpets and photographing the stars to the turf and taking shots of athletes, Torrence has done it all with 40 years of professional experience to prove it! However, his favorite thing to capture are the expressions on children’s faces.
“Nothing makes me happier than watching people looking at my work, smiling and discussing what was going on in the photo, also how and when did I take it. I always say ‘I don’t take pictures I capture moments in time,’” he said.
Recently, Torrence was honored by actor Ro Brooks as the Premiere Celebrity Photographer for the month of June.
“I have watched others be honored, even photographed the first NAACP photographer’s awards which I was left out of, as I was proud of my colleagues, I always wondered how they felt to be recognized for honing their craft, to be the stand out, well now I know,” said Torrence.
“I love photography so being honored for doing something I love is the best feeling in the world. I put a lot in my photography trying to make every photograph the best it can be and for others to recognize it makes it all worthwhile!”
Some of the most memorable experiences in his profession have come from traveling.
“Traveling as a professional photographer has given me some of the best memories of my life,” he said. “My cameras have taken me almost everywhere I’ve wanted to travel. I have found in my travels that cameras are the universal language, no matter where you are and what kind of people are in front of your lenses, nothing stops them from hamming it up. You don’t have to speak a word of their language, just hold your camera up!
Torrence’s other cliental include: The Los Angeles Sentinel, Taste of Soul Family Fesitval, L.A. Watts Times, The Tuskegee Airmen, The Magic Johnson Foundation, NBA, Heartfelt Foundation, James A. Smith Scholarship Foundation, The Urban League Los Angeles and Pasadena, Ladies Of Distinction, NAACP Images Awards, Wheels 2000 Magazine, Modern Bride Magazine, and Photo Visions to name a few. Torrence is also a contributing photographer to PR Photos Wire Service.
As far as advice is concerned, Torrence tells aspiring photographers to learn more about photography.
“Well with all of the new cameras and cell phones everybody thinks they are a photographer, but [they] get caught in a tight and have to use manual [then] all hell breaks loose. My advice to up and coming photographers is to first learn more about photography then just auto including auto focus and exposure. Photography is bending light and learning how to control it, and making a photograph say what you wanted to say,” he said.
“Second, equipment makes your life easier. The better your equipment is the easier it is to capture the shot you need and want. So every time you make money from a shot, put some back into your business in the form of better equipment. You will thank me for this piece of advice. Last, attitude equals altitude! The better your attitude is, the higher you will get in life and that goes for photography as well.”
