Joel Dubroc is an up-and-coming photographer from New Orleans whose work is inspired by his life growing up in the South.

What inspired you to pursue photography as a career or hobby initially?
As a kid I would always make my family members dress up and act out a character from the “Wizard of Oz.” Nothing has changed. I normally just take pictures of friends and family and make them act out a character I had imagined for the photoshoot. My dad taught me how to use a camera. My Dad really enjoyed taking photos and it definitely rubbed off on me. I remember being a busboy at a local Chinese restaurant and a co-worker there had a part-time job as a photographer. She told me I should really consider making it my career and I responded with a dumb response “Photography will never be my profession, only my hobby.” I really wanted to be an architect at that time but also have a really cool Instagram. I would be lying if I said Instagram didn’t play a role in me taking photography “seriously”. I always wanted to have the coolest Instagram. Still to this day I look at my Instagram as a reflection of myself. In some ways It’s more personal than some would think. Even though there isn’t a single photo of myself on my feed. My photography reflects my mind through different stages of my life. I think that's way more personal than a selfie.

How was your experience studying at SCAD, and what did you learn from it?
I loved SCAD. It's cool and aesthetically pleasing with all the cool buildings and classrooms. I loved my professors, they were the best part of SCAD for me. Tim Keating and Rebecca Nolan were extremely impactful in not only my artwork but also in my life in general. I also met two beautiful friends in Savannah and Hong Kong, Audrey Edwards and Nina Berbrick. They broadened my view of the world around me and taught me so much along the way. When I graduated from SCAD I connected with some fellow photographers who went to the Atlanta campus through an opportunity given to us by the chair of photography Michael O’Brien. Shan Shi, Kourtney Iman, and Wisdom Warner are wonderful human beings who showcase their extraordinary talents and life's stories through the art of photography. I look up to them first of all just because of who they are, but also their photography skills are unmatched. Can’t say enough good things about them. My time at SCAD was also influenced by the direction that Michael O’Brien has given me. Although I never had him as a professor and we were at two different campuses, he has always lent me a hand out of the kindness of his heart. I will forever be grateful to have had him during my time at SCAD.

Who are your biggest inspirations in or outside of the photography world?
My personal world and photography world are the same. I don’t differentiate the difference between the two. My inspiration for my imagery starts with what is happening in my life during that time. The people who surround me on a day-to-day basis are extremely influential in my photography. I hold on to whatever they say or do and get inspired by a phrase they have said or a silly action that they performed. I surround myself with incredible friends that like to sit in the car and listen to my biggest inspiration Lana Del Rey. Every time I listen to a Lana Album it reflects sonically the time in my life when that album was released. I also find inspiration from the shows I watch. I think that the real housewives raised me in a way. Phaedra Parks taught me how to read, Sonja Morgan taught how to have fun, and Lisa Rinna inspired my hustle. Powerful women inspire me generally.

What are some of your favorite projects you’ve worked on?
My series “Blue Book” and “Anonymous Bellocq Figures” are definitely my favorites. I created my environment as living beings by capturing loved ones. Although these false idols of mine are advanced intellectuals, in the photographs they are simply just creations of thoughtless thought.

How would you describe your photography style? What inspires you?
My photography style reflects the world around me. I’m a culture fanatic and I digest and spit out everything around me. My photos are just beautiful chaos. Although I don’t think my imagery has a profound meaning, It might be perceived like it came from some deep place that is actually non-existent. With every photo concept I'll have at least two competing visions that wind up marrying each other in the end. I believe my photo work is heavily inspired by southern culture. “I believe”, because I don’t know where exactly my inspiration comes from. I'm lying thinking that I have figured that out, but I do really love Dr. Seuss.

What do you like best about working in the creative industry?
You meet a lot of like-minded individuals. Which could be bad or good. No one is cooler than some creative freak. I love seeing how people interpret the world around them. Learning from the ones that have a slightly different mindset from the rest. I hold on to and cherish their individuality. I love how little people have in common. The world's worst party is a party filled with like-minded individuals.

Tell us about how your childhood has affected how you approach your work.
My childhood is the biggest source of inspiration for my photography. It’s probably the only time in my life where I can slightly remember being free. For the majority of my life, I have performed a character of my actual self. I see myself through the lens of others on a day-to-day basis. My photography reflects the way I see someone from a character I have created for them to perform as viewed from my perspective.

What was your experience like working at David LaChapelle Studios?
David is the coolest. He taught me a lot. He was an incredible mentor in life as well as photography. My experience was electric and I always dreamed of being in the same room with people I idolized. It was an odd feeling to be immersed in an environment you only dreamed of as a young person. It doesn’t make sense to me even now. He opened up his world to me and I will forever have the utmost respect for him as a person and artist. I think he is a true genuine creative genius; there are few genuine artists left in the world.

Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers?
It really depends on the personality of that photographer. Everyone has a different outlook on life and a different way that they use the camera to view the world around them. I would say for a fashion photographer though, you have to perform in every aspect of your craft a couple of times. You can’t rely on someone to create your vision when you never created it yourself. I think photographers as a whole shouldn’t allow people to tell them what to create. It’s important to show the world what you see, not what a boardroom full of people see.

What other aspects do you like to be involved in creatively during shoots?
For the most part I do all of my photography myself. What I mean is that I act as the hair and makeup artist, the set designer, the creative director, the art director, the stylist, the lighting technician, and I do all my postproduction myself . The only “team” I have used is when I did two shoots for Photobook Magazine here recently. I’m involved with every aspect of my photographic process because I do every job that it takes to create the final result myself. I love making wigs, I love doing the models’ make-up, I love photographing, I love creating art.

Do you have any hobbies aside from photography that inspire you?
I play the piano roughly, just piano chords, but that brings me happiness. I have always loved music. I write raps to boost my self-confidence and play the piano to release my love for Jazz and Soul music. Music is a huge source of inspiration for my photography. There’s about 80 Amy Winehouse quotes I would like to say right now but there's no time for that. I do think Amy was a true gem to the world especially with her song writing. Her sentiment about how you can’t sing soul music that’s written by someone else is how I feel about photography. You can’t capture a vision or an idea that was thought of by someone else. Why would you want to sing music that was written by a dead person? Write your own story, create your own art, just like you breathe your own air not someone else's. I think oxygen is shared, hopefully a semi good point was made.

Are there any exciting projects you’re working on we should look out for?
I will just continue creating imagery. A new vision I have in my dreams or in the shower will be exciting to create. I haven't had a really good one in a minute. But when I do, I have to create these visions or it would drive me nuts. My photos don’t have a bullshit meaning or concept; they are simply visions that sometimes have substance, which is open for interpretation. The only motivation for these visions or photos is the feelings and emotions I have in that exact moment. I guess at this exact moment I'm thinking of water and Elizabeth Taylor so that photo should be interesting.

What are you most proud of looking back at everything you’ve accomplished?
I haven’t accomplished anything yet. I'm proud of being a wonderful grandson, an okay son, a loyal friend, and a weird brother. These qualities have made some wacky photographs that inspire me to accomplish something in the near future.

Where do you see yourself in the creative industry in the next five years?
I want to be a child again. I want to be extremely free, so free I don’t even realize that I'm free. I don’t see myself as a bird on the shelves of a Petco with a price tag attached to me. I see myself creating imagery doing what I love and, of course, I would also want a Vogue cover.

Social Media.
Instagram: @joeldubroc

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Photographer: Joel Dubroc
Talent: Joel Dubroc
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Renata Salazar, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine