Five years ago, Alister Oliver never thought he would be a wanted man for shooting in K Street's Sacramento Art Complex, in fact it was only a few short months ago that he even heard of the Art Complex. Alister is shooting people with his camera and his very quick wit.

Alister is the owner of a new photography studio called "Alister....." which is located in the center of the new Sacramento Art Complex. I met Alister while I was helping my girlfriend, artist Lori Wylie at her textured metal art studio located just below his studio at the complex. Alister would come down and put his two cents worth in with humor and some great suggestions into better ways that I might be able to perform my duties as an artist slave. LOL...(oh the things we do for love, but I enjoy helping Lori no matter what Alister says). Anyways, Alister was so interesting that I thought that his story would make a good story for the Sacramento Press readers.

Alister is not your typical photographer. He appears to be very Hollywood with his good looking Guy Fieri look, but he is definitely Sacramento, and his Fieri hairstyle is actually his own, color and all. His photography style is all his own as well and that is why many people want Alister to hit them with his best shot.

Alister, 35, now married with two children ages 4 years old and 18 months, came over from England in 1986 when he was about 12 years old. It was when he was five ears old that he picked up his first camera and began taking pictures of worms in the yard. He was learning how to make worms smile and strike a pose when most boys his age were still learning how to tie their shoes. Just for the fun of it he started shooting all kinds of subject matter and was in the early stages of defining his future, and at that time he didn't even know that was what he was doing.

About five years ago he lost his job, when losing a job was still taboo, he realized his love for photography could be his "sweet spot" in life. Typically as a professional photographer you shoot whatever will get you a paycheck and so Alister did the usual people, wedding, events and a host of other shoots. But Alister also had another love in this life and that love was with the automobile. He really enjoyed taking pictures of cars. Aahhhhh, now this is the life of Alister. Taking pictures of automobiles with people for money. Now that was a match made in Alisters dream and his bank account.

Alister discovered the Sacramento Art Complex a few months ago and believed that his work with the camera is really "art" and so do the people who use his artistic talents behind the camera. He belonged at the art complex with all the other complex personalities that make up the colors on the canvas there. As a contributor for the Sacramento Press, I hope to feature a different artist at least once a week. Alister went ahead and rented a space at the complex and his business immediately began to expand and his presence in the photography world was beginning to create a clearer picture for his future.

Alister mentioned that one of the reasons he enjoys his work with portraits of people so much is because he likes to hear from them what their story is and the purpose of the portrait he is doing. He also said that he is very entertained when a soccer mom looking woman will come in and want him to do boudoir shots for other activities that they are involved in besides soccer. You will have to read between the lines on that one which could be another story altogether. Photographers get all kinds of request for special pictures. Sometimes the best thing to do is to not ask questions.

On May 19th at the Complex, there will be an event that Alister will be doing the photography that is called the "History of Her". He will be shooting professional body painters who will do live body painting on women's bodies to make them look like historical men of "fame and fortune". This should be an interesting event and you will want to mark your calendars.

Today Alister is preparing for this weeks Second Saturday Art Walk where hundreds or perhaps thousands of people will fill the downtown streets and enjoy the fruit of the labors of many local artist which also includes musical artist as well as other forms of art. Rain or shine the Art Complex will be full of people looking to see the talents of the Sacramento areas artist.

In case you have never been to the Sacramento Art Complex it is located at 2110 K Street. It is open daily but not all artist are in there daily. Even if they are not there you can still walk down the hallways and see their beautiful art through the windows of their private studios and get an idea of what they do.  Better yet, join them this Saturday. Activities start in the late afternoon and continue until about 9 or 10pm.

Except for the few pictures I took(which are obvious), all photographs shown here are by Alister with his permission. If you would like more information contact him at 916 521-8846. View his website www.alisteroliver.com