This World-Traveling Photographer Takes On Every Creative Experience That Comes Her Way
Lisa Bevis has lived an incredible, eclectic life.
She has wandered to all ends of the planet, explored every creative path you could think of, and rose to the top of every industry in which she has delved.
Lisa’s free-spirit soul led her into photographing some of the most beautiful interiors in Los Angeles and beyond, and she doesn’t plan on stopping there.
Born and raised on the East Coast, Lisa left after graduating high school in Baltimore to move to Europe, where she resided for 15 years. She was unstoppable in her European adventures and tried everything creative, including fire-eating street performances in Germany.
On her artistic path, Lisa built and owned recording studios in London, sang, recorded, and toured with a British-Spanish punk band. She’s walked on runways for top designers, and graced the covers of Vogue and other magazines as an international fashion model in Paris, Milan, Tokyo and New York.
After being in front of the camera for so long, she took her perspective behind the camera as an assistant director, producer and director for commercials and film. This is where she got her first paying job, shooting models in Spain.
When she was done in Europe, Lisa made her way to Los Angeles — where she used her experience as a model to shoot fashion and portraits, before moving into interiors. To say she is adventurous is putting it lightly.
Currently, Lisa resides in a charming 1943 triplex that she purchased on the same block where her dad grew up.
“Although I grew up on the East Coast, my family has been on this block in Burbank since the 1930s,” Lisa says.
She fell in love with interior design even before she picked up the camera. As a child, she helped her dad renovate homes by stripping wallpaper and buying supplies for their house at the lumber store with him.
“The thrill of changing a house for the better seems to be in my DNA,” Lisa says. “As a teen, I helped my brother restore homes in Baltimore, and the sense that we needed to undo the bad decisions others had made to bring the houses back to their glory really made an impression on me — the concept of honoring the space and enhancing it.”
Lisa’s first assignment in the interior design industry was for a redesigned bus company.
“I was creating video and photography for a newly designed bus company’s corporate offices, and I needed to shoot the interiors as well,” she says. “That was back in the film days, and although I had to gel all the fluorescent office lights, I still loved shooting the space.”
Becoming a professional photographer was an easy transition for Lisa, given her knowledge and history. The most challenging part was the investment in obtaining the professional gear it takes to produce a quality photograph by industry standards.
“Designers are thrilled to see professional photography of their work and I am always excited to shoot a new space,” she says.
Lisa is inspired by light, form, color, design, space, symmetry and the unexpected. Her favorite part of this industry is working with the interior designers and seeing their visions come to life.
“I love being in a well-designed space,” she says. “It just makes my body and soul feel great.”
For aspiring photographers, Lisa’s advice is never to stop learning their craft. She says you should take classes, assist other professionals, get mentors, keep improving your skills, and always be nice to everyone.
Her current projects include shooting beautifully designed corporate interiors with designer Jana Rosenblatt of Jana Design Interiors. Jana and Lisa are also collaborating on a book together.
As for her future goals, Lisa wants to continue combining her travels and photography, shooting more eco-friendly projects around the world.
Quick Shots with Lisa:
Camera of Choice: My workhorse, the Canon 5D Mark II
Favorite Type of Lens: Canon zoom lens 16-35 millimeter usually shooting at about 24 millimeter. I also love my prime 50mm 1.4 for some details, as well as a 75-to-300 millimeter to really see details in a different light.
Interiors or Exteriors: I love interiors for different lighting and color palettes and being able to shoot sweet design elements, but I also shoot exteriors, and I love to shoot ecological projects especially.
City or Suburbs: I am a city girl who enjoys spending time in the wilderness, but I love the excitement of our cities all over the world.
Favorite Room to Photograph: A deliciously designed bedroom is always a joy, or an unexpected corner to relax in. I also have a thing for marble showers — clean stone with a bar of soap can be very zen!
Favorite Piece of Furniture to Photograph: I love to shoot chairs, as they can be so versatile and bring in a real design element. Even when empty, they seem to hold the history of everyone who has spent time with them.
Favorite L.A. Neighborhood: I love driving through Hancock Park, as the homes there remind me of the Baltimore neighborhood I grew up in. I love living in Burbank because I can walk to shops and restaurants, and it feels like a small town with great mountain views, but I am only 10 minutes from Hollywood and all the action.
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