Episode 11: Isaiah Mays - Photographer to the Stars

Liss’N Kristi

In this episode, we sit down with our long-time friend and renowned photographer Isaiah Mays for a journey through the lens of his Hollywood career, and learn how he captures the spirit of his subjects. He shares tales of photographing some of the most legendary figures in showbiz, including Pamela Anderson, Anna Nicole Smith, and Nicola Simpson.
We also remember his late wife, the pioneering makeup artist Alexis Vogel.
We celebrate our two-decade friendship and the incredible talent Isaiah possesses, which belies his humble nature. A natural storyteller, Isaiah tells of some potentially disastrous encounters which became cherished memories. We also reflect on the transformative power of photography, the art of capturing beauty, and Isaiah's ability to make every subject feel at ease.

STORIES:
00:00 - Start
00:11 - Introducing Isaiah, humble photographer to the stars
01:28 - When Kristi met Isaiah; remembering his late wife, the amazing make-up artist Alexis Vogel, and how the "wedding photographer" began working with Pamela Anderson
04:14 - Rescuing Pamela's hair, and shooting at the L.A. River
05:58 - They wanted to create a "banned ad"
09:06 - Dealing with a volley of paper mache
14:50 - How Isaiah makes people feel beautiful
16:19 - Jaded by L.A.?
22:42 - Advice for would-be photographers
23:20 - The gift of confidence
25:15 - What happens when you tell a woman she's beautiful
28:33 - Choosing when and where to shoot a subject, and developing your style
29:25 - Artificial Intelligence, how it might change the game, and the "happy medium"
34:30 - Isaiah starting out in photography, in sound bites
40:44 - How to reach Isaiah