Alan Schaller, From a Crush to Photography's Golden Boy & the Birth of Irys

Paris Chong Show features acclaimed photographer Alan Schaller, who discusses his journey into photography, starting from a crush on a girl to becoming a "golden boy" in the industry. He shares insights into his practice, including his initial investment in a Leica camera and his dedication to street photography, which he attributes to an "obsessive maniac" approach and a flexible freelance musician lifestyle. Schaller also introduces his new company, Iriys, an "ecosystem" designed to support the photography industry. Irys aims to offer book publishing, an agency, galleries, a magazine, and a social media application for photographers. He highlights the company's mission to address challenges faced by photographers in the age of AI and video prevalence, and to create a supportive community where artists receive fair compensation for their work, such as a 50% royalty on book sales. The conversation touches on personal anecdotes, including humorous stories about dropping cameras and a "midlife crisis" purchase of a vintage Aston Martin during lockdown. Paris Chong expresses excitement about Iris and her involvement as a curator, emphasizing the need for such a platform and Schaller's generous approach to sharing knowledge within the photographic community. Show Notes: www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/alan-schaller-from-a-crush-to-photographys-golden-boy-the-birth-of-irys Chapters: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:11) Alan Schaller (00:06:06) A Funny Meeting (00:07:16) Irys Photo App (00:11:32) Lockdown Experience (00:14:30) Irys, but for real this time (00:19:33) Book Publishing & PopUp Galleries (00:25:09) When is the launch of Irys? (00:27:24) Traveling Life (00:29:16) Featured Print & Sponsors (00:33:18) People are obssessed with Alan (00:37:25) Explaining the Photo (00:39:30) How we met again, but different. (00:46:56) Irys Launch Party (00:48:03) Playing with Chaka Khan (00:50:02) Outro 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com