CHAPTER 25
25. Starting out Lou Roole Style
Roole Style
Starting out as a professional photographer does not need
to take tons of money and a huge studio filled with equipment.
All it really takes is talent, belief in yourself, commitment, and
lots of time. Ask Lou Roole; he’s got it all going.
Eighteen years ago Roole was a man with a degree in archi-
tecture and no interest in using it. He joined the army, bought
a camera, and began to shoot the people and places he saw.
Roole completed his army commitment and, four years later,
decided to get serious about photography. He signed up for
courses in lighting and composition, attending night school at
Miami Dade Community College, all the while selling real estate.
While others might have complained loudly about having to
work so hard, Lou simply did the work that needed to be done.
While taking photo classes Lou looked at lots of photography.I loved the masters, but Weston and Mapplethorpe
were my favorites. It was Mapplethorpe’s portrait of Grace
Jones that nailed me. It was incredibly powerful and
I knew then that photographing people was what I wanted
to pursue, but I knew I needed to know more about
the craft. I had the belief that I had talent but I knew
I needed to learn more about photography. There was no
choice; I had to work and I had to shoot. I was not ready
to be a photographer; I knew I needed to know more.Chapter 25.qxd 6/25/07 7:24 AM Page 159