#slumbeautiful in St. Louis, Missouri
Demond Meek is a portrait photographer by trade. But the stars of the slumbeautiful series are houses, not people. Following the same techniques he uses for taking portraits, Demond captures the character of the buildings he photographs. See all his amazing shots at @dmeek.
Place you live: St. Louis, Missouri
Can you sum up St. Louis? It’s rich, and it’s poor. It can be beautiful, and it can be ugly at times. It’s blissful, and sometimes it’s depressing. It’s regal, and it’s humble.
Place your Instagrams were taken? Mostly within the city limits of St. Louis.
What is a perfect day in your spot? Everyday is perfect, but to be specific, this past week has been glorious. The temperature has been between 70 and 85 degrees everyday, with lots of wicked clouds. Dramatic clouds are very important to me. I will skip a shot if the sky in the background isn’t dramatic.
If your city was a person or character who would it be? A beautiful wise older person of character who has been through a lot, seen a lot, and has the wrinkles to prove it.
How long have you been using Instagram? Approximately three years.
Do you shoot with your phone or other cameras or both? I only use my iPhone for Instagram. All additional effects are conducted with my iPhone as well.
What is your editing process? I use a HDR app to take the shot, then I use a series of separate apps to add the effects. I use the same filters on every picture. I’m a creature of habit.
Do you create images outside of Instagram? I’m a full-time commercial photographer. Most of my commercial work involves photographing people. I use Instagram as a little break from my daily routine.
Has Instagram affected how you shoot? No, I think my shooting style is pretty consistent across the board. I’m a portrait photographer. I photograph houses the same way I photograph people. I love composition and symmetry.
Can you give a couple tips to aspiring Instagram photographers? Shoot what you love. Try not to concentrate on the number of followers you have. I was well into my #slumbeautiful series before it was recognized.
Also, travel as much as you can. I know this concept isn’t popular right now, but I would suggest taking as many solo trips as possible. No obligations, no expectations, you make your own schedule. That approach allowed me to interact with people and visit new places I hadn’t heard of. When traveling, use Airbnb as much as possible and try to immerse yourself in the local culture.
Who are your three favorite Instagrammers? Sang Han – @sanghan_, Jomayra – @visualmemories_, January Jones – jonesjanuary
Name:Demond Meek
City:St. Louis
Best place to eat:
Hammerstones for breakfast. Also check out A1 Wok, McGurk’s, Imo’s Pizza, and Seoul Taco.
Best place to drink:
Local tip:
Stay in an Airbnb in any of St. Louis’ great neighborhoods. Try to eat at the neighborhood mom-and-pop establishments, and check out our great local breweries. Also visit Forest Park and our world class zoo.