Meet Gregory Metcalf | Costume Designer and Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gregory Metcalf and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gregory, how do you think about risk?
I feel that when you are a creative artist risk taking becomes part of your innate behavior. I’ve molded and changed in my career several times in my life, all with the risk of it not working out. Somehow in my mind I think I am not a risk taker because I have no desire to jump out of plane, but often jump with risk in my career. Once, several years ago, when I was making a big jump in my career a friend told me “jump and the net will appear.” I have loved to live in this philosophy since then. At the time I was moving from a well establish commercial styling career, which I still love and do, to dipping my feet into costume design for films. This mindset has helped me grow in my personal life, career, and health.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I work creatively as a stylist/costume designer www.greorymetcalf.com and as a still photographer www.gregorykeithmetcalf.com Through my art I try to be show authenticity. Whether its through a character that is being creative, a musician who is trying to bring their album and voice to vision, or an individual who wants a portrait. I try to show something real and something that others can connect to and see.

With creativity, sometimes it comes easy and other times you have to really hone in and focus on the project. In general thanks to a supportive tribe I haven’t had a ton of challenges working as a creative artist. My biggest challenge was probably taking the risk to move from my small conservative town I was raised in to a big city like Los Angeles. It took a lot of courage for me personally to make that shift, and if it weren’t for my family and all their belief in my success I don’t know how I would have taken that jump.

As stated before I just want to express truth, honesty, and authenticity in myself as an artists as well as in my expression.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In Atlanta: Dinner in Cabbagetown and a walk exploring the murals
Shopping and Walk through Little Five Points
Stone Mountain for a scenic walk and hike
Food Culture is so important in Atlanta, so I would base the trip on some of my favorite spots to eat.
A Day at High Museum
Skateboarding through Piedmont Park
How much time do they have? I could keep someone busy for at least a month in Atlanta

In Los Angeles:
A full day at Huntington Library followed up with some drinks at the Langham Hotel
Surf morning in Manhattan Beach followed with the best breakfast burrito I have had at The Great White in Venice
Hike up Griffith park to the Observatory and then a meander through Los Feliz and Silverlake shops
sushi Dinner at Hama in Downtown Los Angeles after spending an afternoon at Hauser & Wirth Gallery.
Again how much time do we have? I could keep the list going.

Thankfully my best-friend has done these explorations with me and can back me up on all these recommendations.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A lot of my success has come from my family and their constant support of my creative endeavors. I’ve had amazing mentors in both my career and personal life. Some to mention are Ashleigh Thompson, Federick Parrera, Kendra Kay, Beatriz Sobral, Antonio Barbosa, Michelle Posch, Anthony Franco, Marlene Stewart………and so many more friends and colleagues. Really anyone I have come into contact in growth has had a hand in helping build this life I live now.

Website: www.gregorykeithmetcalf.com www.gregorymetcalf.com

Instagram: gregorykeithmetcalf

Image Credits
All photographs by: Gregory Keith Metcalf