Commercial Portrait Shoot in LA's Chinatown
As a San Francisco commercial photographer, I'm always looking for shoots that push outside the usual context — and this one delivered. A few weeks ago I was in Los Angeles with friends @jessiqap, @blakereed, and producer @fboulaire, who found an incredible location in Chinatown. While he handled video, I was on portraits — following our storyline and working the space. It got hot during the day, but we were happy enough with the results that we stayed well over time. There's always something good about trying a new location, and this one had a particular magic to it — classic race cars, strong light, and the kind of atmosphere that does half the work for you.
Some locations have a quality you can't manufacture in a studio. This shoot in Los Angeles's Chinatown neighborhood was one of those — a space layered with texture, history, and the kind of light that makes every frame interesting before you've even composed the shot.
Scouting the Perfect Location in LA's Chinatown
I was in Los Angeles shooting with friends Jessica and Blake Reed, with producer François Boulaire leading location scouting. He found an extraordinary garage in Chinatown — the kind of space that only exists in a city like LA, where vintage culture and industrial grit sit side by side. We scouted the day before to understand the light conditions and plan the visual story.
Shooting With Vintage Race Cars
While François captured video, I focused on portraits against the backdrop of classic race cars. The cars weren't just props — they gave the portraits a sense of era and atmosphere that would have been impossible to replicate in a studio. Shooting alongside vintage machinery requires patience: you're working with fixed elements, harsh midday light, and limited space. But the results are worth it.
The Creative Team
Collaboration is central to how I work as a commercial photographer. This shoot was a joint effort with Jessica, Blake Reed, and producer François Boulaire — each bringing their own eye to the project. The heat on set was intense, but we stayed over time because the images demanded it.
Commercial Portrait Photography in Los Angeles
I'm based in San Francisco's Mission District but regularly shoot in Los Angeles and throughout California. On-location shoots like this are some of my favorites — when the environment itself becomes a character in the images.
Based in San Francisco and shooting throughout California — [contact Marc] to discuss your next on-location commercial shoot.
