Meet Alexi Reibman of Alexi Reibman Productions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexi Reibman.

Alexi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Ever since I was a kid I always had a camera in my hand. I grew up with family in the movie/television/broadcast/media industries, and have always been interested in visual media. I started shooting video before pursuing photography, and got a beginning with an internship at New TV, a local media center in the neighborhood I grew up. That’s where I met my mentor Melinda Garfield, who changed my life dramatically. Melinda always went above and beyond. Melinda was in charge of the education channel, where I would produce all my shows and ideas. She took the time to teach me so many important things about the industry, helping me apply for colleges and pushing me when I felt defeated.

One day I walked into the studio and told her about an idea I had for a music video. One of my classmates had recently taken her life and I wanted to honor her by making a music video as part of suicide awareness campaign with some friends in No Trace, a local rap group. We sat down and created a plan for execution. The video attracted a lot of media attention in Boston and won first place in an LA Film Festival. This is just one of the countless times Melinda has been there for me and pushed me to excellence. I really credit her with so much of my success.

I later took some classes at the world-renowned Maine Media Workshops and after a while my interests transitioned to fashion photography, where else is the best place to be for fashion and the art scene then New York City. I attended Fashion Institute of Technology, I met designers, models, photographers, makeup artists, editors and other creative. I met so many important people in New York and inspired me to set some big goals for myself

I was involved in casting and creating promotional pieces for a New York Fashion Week. I shot countless designer’s look books and commercial material and have been published in many international fashion/art publications. Today, I have found a strength in producing as well as teaching with my work partner, Amy Friel.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Launching a career as an artist is never easy, especially in NYC. There is an immense amount of talent out here. Getting seen by the right people is the biggest obstacle. In a big market like New York, where it’s easy to lose yourself. It is imperative that you have a small group of true friends who believe in you by your side. In a city influenced so much by the industry and fashion, there are a lot of people with bad intentions roaming the streets.

To be successful and not taken advantage of, you must learn how to pick your friends wisely and be aware of your actions. I’ve meet so many incredible talented people but Amy Friel and Erik Dawson are people who are especially meaningful to me and I value their friendship immeasurably.

I met Amy while on set of an advertising campaign I was shooting in Boston. We share a strong business acumen as well as style aesthetic, which is a big deal when I am looking for people to hire for productions. One of the best things I love about our relationship is how well we work together as colleagues while still maintaining a strong level of friendship outside of work. Easier said than done; it is not always easy to be friends with people you work with. However, I believe when you are able to balance these two sides out, it creates the ultimate team. Because of it, I share some of my favorite moments while working on set with Amy. From laughing uncontrollably & numerous “inside jokes” to professional goals such as writing business plans, shooting covers of magazines, styling and creating fantastic editorials, the options are limitless.

Erik Dawson is another example of how friends can guide you in the right direction and outlook. Erik, is a model and actor who can be seen on, “Law and Order SVU,” “Pose,” “Blue Bloods” Among others, as well as a range of online and print publications. I met Erik when I was looking for a roommate for an apartment, as many know apartment hunting is extremely tedious and stressful and although that apartment fell through, we became friends, working together over the years. Erik is a great example of someone who really cares about his friends.

The amount of talent and competition in New York is so amazing that sometimes I can feel myself getting down or unmotivated because of the frantic demeanor of the city. When this happens I am lucky enough to have Erik as my friend to motivate me and not let myself get stuck or down on myself. He is not the type of person to “kiss my ass” and stay silent. If he believes that I can improve on a project he will say something, he is not the type to stay quiet in fear of hurting my feelings.

Although too many opinions is unnecessary, it is important to have that one or two close friends who will provide honest feedback in case you may have missed or forgotten something, just like when you proofread a document before you send it. I am so thankful for Amy and Erik and so many of my other friends who are able to push me to survive such a fast, overwhelming city. Those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it, take the time to find out who your real friends are and stick by your art no matter what anyone has to say. We live in a world where now everyone feels entitled to make comments and state opinions. When it comes to my work however, I have created it to benefit whomever it was solely intended for and leave it on display for others who happen to come across it.

Alexi Reibman Productions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As owner of Alexi Reibman Productions, I am in charge of hiring and managing, hair, & makeup artists, models and other creative for different print and television productions. Making sure all necessary documents are up to date and budgets and schedules followed and accurate. In addition to being a producer, I also am a photographer. I’m best known for shooting fashion editorials for magazines, designer look books and ad campaigns, as well as portfolio material for top modeling agencies in New York and Boston. I also book a limited number of clientele based on project description and budget. Recently, I’ve added teaching to my resume with Amy. We have visited a number of high schools and colleges, talking to students about the industry and our personal journey passing on advice we have learned.

I personally try to always keep busy and when I do not have bookings. I am always cultivating ideas for personal projects, even taking business classes at night. The best part of my job is the fact that I get to work with my friends. I am lucky enough to work with some very talented individuals who all specialize in different areas of skills. I am very grateful for the opportunities to work on a variety of different projects and roles which have given me a chance to step up and add a different perspective than my peers.

What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or planning for – any big changes?
I am looking forward to continue my journey and see where things will take me. I’m also getting certified in Project Management so I can bring even more expertise to my clients and productions. I am looking to focus on producing while continuing to accept photography jobs on a case to case basis. This summer, I am working on shooting two personal photo book projects. More information about these projects will be out in the months ahead. I am also looking into teaching more workshops with Amy, opening up the classes to the public so that more people can sign up.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://alexireibman.com
• Phone: 617-785-0834
• Email: alexi@alexireibman.com
• Instagram: @ALEXIREIBMAN

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