Digi-Tech Q&A with Phoebe Solomon
This Q&A series is all about shining a spotlight on people in the industry. The goal is to learn about them and share their insights with you. There are many talented people in various markets around the world, and hopefully this series will help you get to know them better.
Q: Who are you, where are you based and what type of jobs do you work?
Phoebe Solomon, owner of Grey Cat Media. Based in Los Angeles and teching commercial and advertising jobs. Occasionally I'll take an editorial (but not at a discounted rate) job but only with repeat photogs.
Q: How did you become a Digital-Tech and how long have you done it?
I started out as a one man show as a photographer. I did my own styling, lights, and teching. I found that my favorite part of the whole process was the capture one workflow. I always wanted to work on the biggest coolest jobs out there, and I knew my personality wouldn't get me there as a photographer, but it MIGHT get me there as a tech. In January 2019 I found George Brooks (master of SEO), took him to breakfast and asked him to make me tech. From there it was baptism by fire and now I'm on jobs the size of which photog Phoebe could have only dreamed of.
Q: What do you like most about your work; what do you like least?
Most: the high pressure situations I find myself in being responsible for both image integrity and security
Least: Being asked to color match screenshots from ARRI still frames. Second place, explaining to clients why the Eizo screen doesn't look like the Macbook pro screen
Q: What do you feel is important to learn for anyone starting out or what do you wish you knew when starting?
Set etiquette! When it's appropriate to use your phone and when it's not. In my very very green days I probably lost a client because my phone was out at the wrong times. Now I use an apple watch so I can glance at important messages without having my phone out in front of the client. Humbling!
Q: What’s one item in your kit you can recommend to everyone?
SUN SLEEVES!
Q: What piece of equipment would you like to never see on set again?
The photographer's digital kit. I don't take no kit jobs and when a photographer tells me we'll be working on their kit on a big commercial client job, that is usually the first and last sign I need to respectfully decline.
Q: If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?
I recently had a very foul conversation with an older white digi guy. He spoke to me as if I and all women should be grateful for the work the men do to "make things equal" . I would like to see that mentality wiped out and a culture of more fair exposure of opportunity to women and people of color from the start.
Q: What was your best day on set?
Probably with The North Face at sunrise in Telluride, CO. One of the most special experiences with excellent people.
Q: How do you explain what you do for work to family/strangers?
I tell them I keep the photos safe
Phoebe Solomon
@graycat.media
phoebeshoots@gmail.com
818-231-7576
You can read others in the Q&A series HERE
