LAUNCHED AT 3RD WARD: Darryl Calmese’s growing photography empire

Europe hit him like lightning. 3rd Ward Unlimited Member Darryl Calmese went on vacation with a camera and left with a flood of photographs and a lifelong passion. Inspired and hungry to make a change in his life, Darryl asked around and found 3rd Ward.   

He began by shooting headshots for the people he knew, including the network of performers he built while acting in soap operas and touring internationally with Aida. As business boomed, he looked to fellow Member Alexey Yurenev for pricing advice, and Chiun-Kai Shih for editorial inspiration. At 3rd Ward, Darryl not only found photo studios, but -- more importantly -- a sense of possibility. From outlining the fundamentals for his company, Art-X Studio, in the Business Plan Workshop, to designing a logo in the Branding & Logo Design class, to expanding his skills in the Product Photography and Makeup Techniques classes, Darryl says, “I literally built my business here.”


 

Three years later, Art-X Studio has made a name for itself with dramatic portraits that bring entertainers to the top of the casting pile. Darryl now shoots headshots, fashion and editorial work, textiles (a highly subtle art), and everyday inspirational style in the Essence Magazine street style blog. The latest phase of his business is Art-X Gallery, an online portal that showcases and sells photographs from Darryl's world travels. Darryl believes in “Art. Responsibly” and prints his work on archival paper made from bamboo pulp. 

What’s next? Darryl is expanding his client base to L.A. and will manage his bi-coastal business from his headquarters in NYC. As we chat about his next moves, we can’t help but notice his expertly lined and tailored coat that he just happened to make himself.
 

To see more of Darryl’s work, visit www.artxphotography.com 

and www.artxgallery.com.

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