Creative focus

As a young Marine, visits home for Arturo Carillo included reaching for his parent’s Nikon camera, so it wasn’t much of a surprise that when he left the military, Arturo gravitated to that camera and his passion for photography grew. The rest, as they say, is history. Not that art was foreign for Arturo—far from it. Growing up he’d immersed himself in art in all of its forms: drawing, painting, sculpting and graphic design.

Arturo says that low-light photography chose him. As a co-owner of a construction company with his dad, 12-hour workdays left little time for shooting during the day. He explains, “Often, my only option was to create at night. So, I adapted and learned to master lighting, using it as a medium to express myself. The more I experimented, the more I fell in love with the control I had in shaping scenes and photos with continuous lighting.”

Continuous lighting is Arturo’s go-to solution for illuminating a scene.

Nothing rivals the complete control that continuous lighting offers me over every scene. As an artist, I thrive on the ability to witness the final result unfolding in real-time. Continuous lighting enables me to see and adjust details instantly. This immediacy not only enhances my creative process, but also deepens my connection with each artistic vision, ensuring that every detail is meticulously crafted to perfection.

Flash photography, on the other hand, isn’t as immediate, since you need to shoot first and review the lighting on a scene on a display screen.

The Art Factory is Born

The Art Factory was born from a collective group of seven strangers who, one by one found each other, to create a space where creators/creatives could come together and push their creative limits. “We had the desire to build a supportive environment where photographers could connect, collaborate, and thrive.”

The creatives behind the Art Factory understand firsthand the challenges that new artists face when it comes to accessing resources. So, they provide the space and resources that allow creators to create freely through photography meetups, workshops, photo walks and the recently added Creative Retreats. “What makes us special is that all our themes revolve around low-light and continuous lighting,” he adds.

We just hit our first year and we’re excited to announce we are now helping brands and studios tell their story through our unique storytelling and use of continuous lighting. We’ve cultivated a creative family here at the Art Factory, and now, we’re venturing beyond to empower brands to foster similar families within their own communities.

We wanted to know what drives the group behind the Art Factory.

I can speak for the entire team when I say this: every event leaves us with a renewed perspective on life. The bonds we’ve forged with fellow artists at these gatherings transcend the photos we capture and the techniques we impart. The real joy comes after the event. We see artists honing their skills and securing new opportunities, all thanks to the knowledge they gained and the connections they made with us shortly after the event.

Arturo explains, “The most rewarding feedback we receive is a simple yet powerful question: ‘When is the next event?’ Those five words fuel our passion and drive us to create the next experience.” Photo walk participants range in age from 18 through 72 years old, and they’re artists of all kinds—models, designers, photographers, videographers, business owners, and more.

The team at the Art Factory want to ensure that every individual finds something valuable, gains new insights, and leaves the events feeling like part of the family. By specializing in the art of low-light photography, he says, “We provide a platform for artists to master this demanding niche. Mastering lighting is just one of the many crucial elements in creating an image that makes the viewer feel immersed in the scene.”

Events at the Art Factory

The 2-3 hour meet-ups bring creators together for collaborative photoshoots, where everyone can explore various perspectives on the same set, to ignite fresh ideas among participants.

The one-day workshops offer more personalized mentoring. Tailored to meet the specific needs and interests of attendees, these workshops offer a full production setup with the Art Factory team acting as assistants to help participants realize their visions. With a maximum of six attendees, each creator gets dedicated 30-minute increments to control the set while others observe and learn. This simulates the pressure of a real-time production environment in a supportive and instructive setting. The newest offering, Creative Retreats, hones in on all aspects of being a creator. They are 2-4 day getaways focus on storytelling, landing dream brands, effectively managing social media, and balancing life as a full-time creator.

Doors Opening

The LED Door photos drew inspiration from an anime showcasing a mysterious door standing alone in a grassy field. To create the image, Arturo constructed a door frame out of 2×4’s that he attached light tubes to. “I wanted to convey the resilience of nature compared against technology,” he explains. The door frame was then elevated above a low laying tree, which created the illusion of the tree breaking through the door. “This project symbolizes the harmony between natural beauty and technological advancement, urging viewers to contemplate the coexistence of these seemingly different elements,” he adds.

Slow is Smooth, and Smooth is Fast

In a world that moves so quickly, especially due to social media, one thing has stayed with Arturo from his military days: “’Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.’ This saying serves as a powerful reminder that each of us is on our own unique journey. We often compare our success to others on social media and feel the pressure to move just as quickly, if not faster. Remember, ‘Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.’ Embrace your own pace and trust in your process.”