A side profile of a woman in a russet-colored turtleneck and white bag. She looks up with her eyes closed.

“Even Serge Lee’s pop editorial shots have something a little edgy and mysterious about them. Just having great looking models does not an interesting photo make. Lee teases out an attitude that engages the viewer.”

— Christopher Harrity, Advocate.com

I think with pretty much all professions, I certainly know with mine, one risks becoming ineffective and even redundant if they think they have acquired all the knowledge they need for their job. With not only the advancements, but the speed to which they are occurring these days, remaining a student, no matter how long you have been doing something is both wise and necessary.

To me, Los Angeles based fashion and portrait photographer Serge Lee could himself be a teacher. His work is strong, professional, mature and classic while at the same time unique and impactful. Lee’s teachers, or those that have provided him inspiration include; Herb Ritts, David LaChapelle, Annie Leibovitz, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Markus Klinko & Indrani, Vincent Peters, Stefan May, Mariano Vivanco and Tony Duran, I think I see Ritts influence most strongly, especially with Serge’s black and whites.

The artists passion for photography goes back to his childhood as outlet to explore his creativity. Serge got serious about shooting in 2007 after obtaining his first professional camera. Serge began as an event photographer but quickly felt he was ready to take his profession to the next step. Serge focused his concentration on fashion photography and worked on calendars, catalogs, commercial shoots, editorials and modeling and actor portfolios.

I sometimes feel photographers who have experience with shooting fashion, have an inherent skill, possibly a different way at visualizing and shooting the human form. In fashion, the body, usually a woman’s, is used to best display the fabric. There are elements of this way of shooting that permeate in Serge’s work. Even with a model without a stitch of clothing there is an elegance and grace in the way Serge poses and presents the human form.

Tye Briggs, Favorite Hunks & Other Things