Ben's Lens: An Interview With Destiny Hope

[BB]For context, it is 9:30 a.m. and I am bumping Three 6 Mafia as I sit down to write this interview. Last night Matt confirmed that you will be acquiring my “Trashterpiece” the single greatest art project I have ever created. I couldn’t have pulled it off without my team at the studio, just like I can’t manage Drinking Vessels without support from my team such as yourself. I want to start by thanking you for being a part of this. Your photos have been some of the best engaged content on my page, in addition to helping me represent diverse models (and of course bringing us the beach!)

With all that being said, I am really looking forward to seeing you next month when you come out for your next tattoo session!

Let’s jump in.

[Destiny]Thank you for inviting me to be apart of your team of creators. It's been fun shooting content for the Drinking Vessels page and site. I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am to have such an amazing piece of yours in my home and part of our collection (the Trashterpiece). We are looking forward to visiting with you next month as well!

How long have you been behind a camera?

I started shooting about 8 years ago 

As well as I thought I knew you, I had no idea you had been doing it for so long. How did you get into it?

I was working as a receptionist for a photography studio in Palos Verdes. I would watch all the photographers show off their beautiful work and wanted to create art I could be proud of as well. I requested an internship and ended up becoming a photographer for that same studio. I worked there for four years before going Freelance. 

Do you have a favorite style of shooting or a forte?

My favorite style is Boudoir hands down. I love making women feel beautiful in their own skin. 

Now that I have my own camera that is something I am also exploring. You got to see a sneak peak from my first Boudoir shoot. What’s your brand? We all know photographers tend to be all-in with one brand or another.

Haha that is correct! We are all biased when it comes to our brands. I've been working with Canon my entire career but would love to switch things up and try out a Sony sometime.

I got a Nikon D5500 that I love, but I admittedly haven't shot with many other cameras enough to know the difference. Who is your favorite photographer?

My favorite photographer is Michael Anthony @michaelanthonyphotography His images are absolutely stunning, from his creativity to his editing. Every photo is like magic. 

Thanks I was unfamiliar with his work but it is incredible! How brutal is it shooting glass compared to … anything else? haha

That's a question I don't hear often and I must say, it can definitely get difficult finding the right lighting and placement. Glass is pretty reflective so those glares get tricky.

Any suggestions for photographers attempting to shoot glass?

When working with natural lighting, play around with angles. It's hard to control lighting outside so working with a sun visor and changing angles really helps avoiding bad sun glares.

What’s it like behind the scenes at one of your shoots?

I'd like to think it's fun haha. I encourage conversation while shooting, to capture silly moments or reactions. There's always down time so my clients don't feel rushed, no one wants to feel rushed when they're trying to pull off a certain look.

The models you've shot for me say the same. After a day of shooting and editing the hour in which we all refer to as 'happy' has to be on your mind. What do you prefer to fill your cup with? 

Whiskey sours are my go-to. 

Classic. Do you happen to have a favorite on our website right now?

Yes there's a beautiful Stephan Pierce @stephan_pierce mug that I've been eyeing but I won't tell you which one so nobody else grabs it!

Any up and coming glass artists on your radar?

Not currently but I love discovering new artists in the scene through your page and @thelittleglassgallery

Most of the time we have spent together has been spent eating… For those who don’t know about @mamieats what are your favorite foods? I won’t make you pick just one!

I love Asian food. Shabu Shabu and Ramen are my favorites but I also love me some authentic tacos.

Take me to taco town! Do you have a favorite sauce?

There are so many good sauces but I have to say I probably use Ponzu and Spicy Miso the most.

What’s growing in your garden? I know about your green thumb too.

Oh I have a large variety of fruits and veggies growing from Dragon Fruit to Cauliflower and we recently harvested a Pineapple! 

Speaking of green - do you prefer flower or dabs? Do you like to shoot stoned? What about editing?

I do prefer dabs but I still enjoy flower, especially for productivity. 

Most shoots I prefer to work with a clear head so I save smoke breaks for after. As far as editing goes I definitely always take a dab before hand to get me in the zone.

I can appreciate working with a clear head but I'm also wondering, do you have a favorite flavor these days?

I enjoy most flavors to be honest, but I've always preferred OGs over anything.

They don't call them OGs for no reason.. To bring it back to our main focus, can you tell us about your favorite glass artist? 

Oh Yes:) I'm a big fan of Jared Delong's @delongglass work.

I knew that, I just wanted to give our homie Jared a shoutout and share your taste with the readers. How’s your cup collection? 

Not as cool or as large as @thelittleglassgallery but I still have some of my own pretty awesome cups.

I believe any one of us would be envious of that cup assortment..Which cup pioneered your initial collection? 

My first cup was actually a purple whiskey glass you made and gifted me when we first met. 

Wow! How could I forget? Thanks for shooting my work in such fitting light. I know you have to have a personal use favorite though, which would you say gets the most love?

I definitely use my Sleek @sleek___ cup the most but we try to rotate them so they all get the love they deserve.

Can you tell us a little bit about your tattoos and your tattoo artist, since most of the times I get to see you is when you come to Denver for a session.

My tattoos are a reflection of my spirituality and life experience, every one of them has a special meaning to me. Finding the perfect artist to bring my ideas to life took me years and then I found Zach Donn in Colorado through another artist who had passed away. Zach managed to bring spiritualism/geometry/ornamental/nature together to complete 3 stunning pieces that mean the world to me. We are currently working on a project that I'm really excited to complete. Totally worth traveling out to Colorado a few times a year.

I do feel as though us and our readers have gotten to know you so much better already, but do you have any other hobbies or interests I've left out?

I actually really love to cook, bake and make cocktails. Pinterest is pretty much my best friend. Great recipes over there ;)

How can people book you for work? Obviously you can do work easily with SoCal locals, but are you also open to businesses or artists sending you product to shoot? Are you open to travel for work?

Email dhopevisuals@gmail.com or Direct Message via Instagram @desstinyhope is the best way to contact me for bookings. I've been working with a good deal of product the last 6 months from clothing to dessert, would love to work with more artists and businesses on creating content. 

As of right now I am open to travel for work. Once the Holidays roll around my booking gets tight so book while you can! 

Anything else we should know about you?

No:)