There are numerous photographers whose work inspires me and makes me jealous [in a really good way 
]. Looking at other photographers’ work is one of my pleasures; it’s so fun to peer into other people’s lives and see the world through their eyes. So I have decided to do a few interviews with some of these artists and I hope they will inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me.
This first interview is with the super talented Alice Gao. I first encountered her on Flickr and instently fell in love with the clean, quiet feel of her images. Without further ado, I hope you enjoy our interview:
1. Who is Alice Gao in three words.
Hedonistic city dweller.
2. Where is home?
I have a hard time answering this simple question, because although I live in NYC and can’t imagine going “home” to anywhere else on a daily basis, I often still consider the house I
grew up in (and where my parents still live) to be home. And nothing beats home cooking from my mom.
3. What was your first experience with a camera like?
Growing up, my family owned a dinky point and shoot film camera. I don’t really remember my experiences with that, but I do vaguely remember our first digital camera. It was a clunky Kodak and probably had a whopping two megapixels or so. More memorable to me is my first Canon point and shoot which I saved up all my babysitting and tutoring money for in high school. I was fascinated by its macro mode and started taking photos of my food… everyone thought I was crazy back then.
4. Do you have some favorite work you can share with us?
5. What camera(s) do you shoot with?
99% of the time, I shoot with the following three cameras: Canon 5Dmkii, Contax 645, and my iPhone 4S. Other favorites include my first film camera – the Minolta X370s, my Canon 1V (a beast of a 35mm film camera), and my Polaroid SLR 680.
6. How important is editing in your final images?
Editing is very important to me. Many times, I take photos in horrendous restaurant lighting, and those images can only be saved with intense processing. Moreover, editing down the number of images to give to clients and to present on my blog is also very important. I only want to display the best work. I definitely think it’s more important to show one or two good images than ten so-so ones.
7. What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
Probably this insert. I can put this insert in any of my normal handbags (I like big bags) and instantly have an inconspicuous camera bag. Sometimes I use it even when I’m not toting around my camera. It makes it a lot easier to find things in my large bags!
8. With an afternoon all to yourself, what would you do with it?
Visit a cafe with tons of light and great decor, have a leisurely lunch and coffee, then go prop hunting at antique stores or flea markets, and of course, shoot a roll of film.
9. What is the best advice you have ever received?
Only buy coffee beans roasted a few days ago… I am serious about that. Oh, you mean photography and career wise? Well, I don’t really think I can narrow all the advice I’ve received down to a one-liner kind of motto. Plus, good advice can only go so far. I do wish that my current self had told my younger self to always shoot in RAW though!
10. Can you tell us about any current or upcoming projects you are excited about?
Well I contributed to the most recent issue of Kinfolk which was exciting and a ton of fun to work with stylists who make my job incredibly easy. I have also been wanting to create a visual guide to the great cafes of NYC for a while now, but haven’t quite eked out the time to do that yet!
11. If you could create anything with an unlimited budget, what would it be?
This is a boring answer, but probably something along the lines of building a giant loft studio somewhere in the city where the light is magical. I would fill it to the brim with amazing props and design-y furniture. Whatever crazy idea a potential client could have for a styled session, I would be able to cater to it (well, within my style/aesthetic of course).
12. What is your favorite image you have shot recently? Can you describe its creation in regards to location, lighting, gear etc, also your thoughts when creating the image and what it means to you?
This image is from a late Sunday afternoon visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. To me, the image evokes a sense of a nice leisurely New York City afternoon. My boyfriend and I enjoy walking museums whenever we get the chance in hopes of being inspired from all the great artworks. I shot it on black and white film with my Canon 1V, and few things are better or make me happier than black and white film.
13. Who are the most inspiring, creative people you look up to?
Ditte Isager, Mikkel Vang, and the oldies, Richard Avedon and Edward Weston. Also there are too many peers to name, but a number of photographers or bloggers who I have “met” online (and if I’m lucky, in person!) continue to inspire me daily with their work.
14. Something you’re saving up for?
Ahh the list is ENDLESS – currently the top includes a Hasselblad kit and the 45mm TS-E lens. Oh, and on the trivial spectrum of things, I’m always saving up for a new handbag – hey, we’ve all got our vices.
15. The most challenging part about photography…
For me, it’s dealing with different and unpredictable light and knowing how to use flash to create the most natural look. I despise the look of flash but I think that’s the case because I don’t quite know how to make it work for me in every situation.
16. What ambitions are you still working to achieve?
I would like to master film or at least get a much better grip on it than I have now. I also hope to more firmly establish my style. Sometimes I feel like I experiment with certain techniques or processing that are just not very “me,” which is ok once in a while, but I’d like people to be able to look at an image and recognize it as an Alice Gao creation.
17. If you had one wish…
Well, I really wish shooting film were free.
18. And one last question; if you weren’t doing photography, you would be…
Probably richer and much less happy. Haha, no, but hopefully I’d be doing something else cool that still involves being creative (so much for my degree in Economics and my stellar grades in Linear Algebra 
). I’m no stylist, but I would love to try my hand at visual merchandising or the like.
Where can we find Alice Gao?
Published on Dec 18, 2011
Filed under: Photography
| 3 Comments
Comments
I loooove her photos!
i’m so glad I discovered her as a photographer… am always looking for inspiration in photography, so thanks so much for this interview!! it was a great read.
what a lovely interview, I love Alice’s work
I was able to view pictures from the July 18, 2011 Sugarland corcent in Everett, WA. I attended the show but did not have the ability to take pictures. Are you willing to sell me prints of those you took? I would really love to have a picture record of one of the best corcents I have ever attended.Thanks!Kristine