Name:Michaela Reed
Major:Communication B.A.
Hometown:Long Beach,CA
What’s your Favorite Color: Purple and any color within the purple spectrum.
Describe yourself in three words: Soulful, nah that’s basic. Ok. soulful, passionate and creative.
Who is your biggest role model?
My biggest role model would be my wait..just one person? I just have many different role models and people that inspire me – Friends,family and other artists can’t but I can’t think of any names on the top of my head. If I could I would say my parents.
Why Cal State LA?
I came here because I was a basketball player on the team straight out of highschool and for a few reason(s) I am not on the team so I decided to stay at school and pursue my education even though I was not going to be an athlete. I had gotten a scholarship and that was obviously a reason. It was close to home and away from people I grew up with. I wanted to be in a different environment with diverse people. I never know who I am going to meet. I don’t know anyone here from like where I am from. It’s different to be in a place so close to home yet so different.
How did you get into photography?
I got into photography because my mom always gave me cameras to use and when I finally had the time to do more with it I took initiative into making it an actual passion.
Were your photos ever featured in an exhibition?
I did one art show earlier this year for a movement called “Rise Long beach” and it’s a group of people who highlight the positive things that are going on in Long Beach.Whether it’s through sports, art, or business. I was featured in an artshow that Rise Long Beach hosted. I have a friend from Long Beach, a guy that created “Snowy in LA” that is like hot new hip hop and he has new music out and you can download it from his site. So, they put together this collaborative art show that I was apart of. It’s a local thing so people recognized the faces of the people in the pictures and locations of where exactly I took the picture at long beach. Like “Oh, I know where that’s at I live by there”. A Lot of people were able to connect to the images that I used.
Most famous photography event you covered as a photographer?
“The Day and Night fest” at Grand Oak Park in Santa Ana. It was in August. It had artist like Asap Rocky, Bryson Tiller, Young Thug, Post Malone and many different hip-hop artist that are big right now.
How did you get into that position?
I was selected to be a photographer there through a business who hosts and cover events. It’s called “LA Hip-hop event” and they were looking for a photographer and my name came up. They looked through my work on instagram (@_soulfull) and that’s how I was chosen.
How did you come up with your alias “Soulfull”?
I came up with that name when I was trying to figure myself out. I was going through stuff and I was like “ok Michaela is my actual name, but I wanted more definition to my name. “So, I am like I need a new name for what defines me more. And something that defines me. So, I’m like soulful. It’s kind of basic so then I added the extra ‘L’ to say that my soul is full. People were like “oh yea that fits you”. Other people that don’t know who I am in person and follow me think that’s really my name they say “it fits” or they just call me Soul.
What’s your latest project?
Um .. I guess 21Souls. But that’s my own project I put together kind of to express myself. Initially, it started off for my birthday when I was turning 21 to have something to show growth as an artist but then it turned into an actual project and I plan to keep it going. I was like, “my birthday is coming up and I have to do something fun.Something for people to acknowledge me because i’m 21 and its a big thing.” So, I wanted to do something big because I don’t really do pictures of myself or how I express myself.
How discover your passion for photography?
I was always into taking pictures whether I had my phone or camera and then I started doing it more with my friends. I really got into it a couple of summers ago and with the culinary I was working on it just evolved from there. People just kind of gravitated towards it. Then I started doing series and projects and more themed artistic work.
How did you discover a love for Culinary?
Being around family that always cooked and eating out a lot – I always wanted to be apart making good food so I started getting into the kitchen and making things. My parents taught me and then I got into tv shows like “chopped”. Have you ever watched chopped? Yeah chopped is cool. So, yea I think i’m going to go to culinary school when I graduate this school year.
Do you have any favorite photographers?
Right now I have a couple of favorites. Priscila Fajardo and Richard Billick. Renell Medrano from New York I like her alot. I also like Helmut Newton he is an older photographer. I think he passed away a couple of years ago. And other people I see/find on instagram and I like. I obsessively go through their page to get new ideas. I can’t think of their names but I can give you instagram names or something later.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I see my career expanding becoming worldwide or at least within the country. Creatively I think I will have my own brand that people could tangibly access whether it is culinary, photography, or fashion. I think Soulfull as a brand will grow and be its own empire or something.
What is your idea of a Dream date?
Well my dream person will be Asap Rocky. I love him. My dream date will be going out to eat at some fancy restaurant with some jazz playing and some wine, dim lights, candles lit, something like that. You know I’m in a nice dress, he is in a suit. If it is Asap Rocky we have to do some kind of photoshoot or something or something crazy right? Then go to the beach to chill/relax and that’s it.
Favorite place in LA?
I’m really from Long Beach so I only really come to shop or business stuff. I would have to say probably some mall. No, I like to go to the flea markets in LA for them deals and good food.I’m going to say probably West LA I like it alot.
Name a crazy life experience that happened to you recently?
I went to jail. It’s kind of extreme to say. It wasn’t fun it was nerve wrecking. But that was an experience that I have – Not for anything that I did personally but that situation that I was in. I was obtained as a suspect. So, when I was released I viewed the world differently. Like you can do stuff freely and eat what you want and be able to walk around freely. When you’re in there, you are really in there with someone else’s control. That happened recently about a year ago.