Words: Nic Jimenez | Photos: Jeremy Cliff Photography
eGarage was born from the idea of collaborating with photographers and videographers in hopes of taking good ideas and making them great. But constructive criticism isn’t for everyone and creative professionals are often treading the line between creating art and selling that art. In our first year, we searched for a photographer in the Chicago area we were referred to Jeremy Cliff. As described by our friends at Four Feather Racing, “He is young, he is quite good, but above all he is hungry!”
Jeremy and eGarage have since become close friends, we text daily and we are constantly sharing photo edits, and of course we talk cars. His enthusiasm is tangible, his love for his art is pure, he collaborates and accepts feedback as a professional should, and his eye for how best to capture his subjects is maturing quickly.
We have seen a great deal of photography through his lens:
– RARE 1967 SHELBY GT500 CONVERTIBLE
Jeremy is not another guy with a nice camera. Automotive photography is his full time gig and between his shoots for several popular magazines, aftermarket companies and eGarage he enjoys “curating” unique beer as well as spending time with his girlfriend and their German Shepard Mya.
Q& A with Jeremy Cliff
Who inspired you into a world of cars or photography?
They both started around the same time actually, In 2006/2007 my girlfriend teamed up with my parents to get me a Canon Rebel XT, somewhere around there I picked up a 2004 Nissan 350z as well. I was 18 years old at the time. I used the camera to take photos of my friends and at the skatepark, it wasn’t until I started going to car meets that I took an interest in Automotive photography. Once I got more involved in the local car scene, I’d bring my camera to every meet, each car show, any drive and post photos up on the forums. The photos were nothing more then snapshots, but people enjoyed looking at them and I enjoyed taking them. I started taking photos of my own car, experimenting with post processing and it grew from there.
Inspiration comes from many different places. I would, and still do, browse tons of different websites. When I first started out, the people I followed quite a bit were; Jeff Creech, Will Stern, and a few other guys. Not much has changed since the beginning as far as inspiration except I’ve added many more people and websites to my favorites’ list. The local guys I shoot with like Matt Magnino, Brad Sillars, Ginash G, and Johan Lee are also a very big inspiration to me. Seeing my peers creative growth pushes me to want to evolve my own work. It’s also awesome having these guys around here to bounce ideas off of, lend a helping hand, etc.
What are your favorite shoots to date/why?
Pros and cons of being a full time photographer?
Which gear/camera is your go to?
Where do you want to be in the next 5 years and what sets you apart from most Automotive lensman?
In a collaborative working friendship; egos are set aside, there is a great deal of trust and respect. Nothing is left on the table and this is the best way to bring out the results. For 2013, we are hoping to continue bringing his impressive body of work to eGarage.
