That is where a good quality shot matters. In my mind, any subject wants to look good in their photos, and that is my mission. The lighting, color, contrast and sharpness all matter to me. I expect quality in my work, so that is almost as important to me as conveying the humor. My training was very formal and commercial.

Michael Schwartz (Ice House): I have a BPS degree in commercial photography with a minor in portraiture from - at the time - the finest photography college in the world, Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. When people make themselves or other people laugh, that’s the best. My best work is documentary-esque, taking photos of people who are enjoying each other’s company. I’ve found if I focus too hard on making a photo “funny,” I end up either irritating the comic with bad suggestions or just taking a photo they’ll never use. Jill Petracek (Dynasty Typewriter, the Elysian, UCB, Largo): My instinct is to get a person’s character into a photo, whether it be goofy, gritty, messy, chic. What are the challenges in conveying humor using only still image? Recently, we spoke with a handful of L.A.’s busiest comedy scene photographers about what makes their job so unique.

Video content might be king for clicks, but it’s the local photogs peering from shadowy corners through lenses and screens, hearing it all again but still laughing at the best parts every time, that truly foster the connection between commerce and comedy artistry.

In certain cases, they capture art from the act of art being made. They provide a sense of being there, laughing in the moment amid a sea of strangers. Clubs are hard-pressed to advertise lineups without the protographers shooting in the trenches. scene’s post-pandemic rebirth, the ever-changing venue landscape and our current live boom as a whole.Ĭomedy photographers can provide talent headshots, images for fliers and social media posts. Though they may not be as well-known as the talent they snap, they are vital in documenting the L.A. What’s the best way to photograph a joke? How can a still image convey stage presence or audience connection? Whether it’s capturing special moments backstage at a comedy show or the biggest headlining experience in the life of a stand-up comic, the photographers working behind the scenes at Los Angeles clubs are time-stamping the scene, one still image at a time.

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