It's September 28th, 2008, and this is the Candid Frame.

Today's guest is Lou Lesko.

And Lou has been many things in his career.

A photographer, a writer, a director, a software developer, a businessman, and for some in the industry, a lightning run for controversy.

But for me, what makes Lou's career interesting is not so much what he's accomplished, but how he's done it.

There's often a mistaken belief that success in photography can be achieved by following a well-worn and clear path and almost paint by the number system for becoming a professional photographer.

That's a fantasy.

If there's anything simple about this business, it's that you have to work hard and put yourself out there. It's those two things

that allow you to take advantage of luck when it finally and inevitably crosses your path. Lou Lesko

is a perfect example of that. So sit back and enjoy our conversation with Lou Lesko.

Welcome to the Candid Frame.

First question for you is, when did you know that photography was going to be your life?

Your life's passion.

It started by accident.

My friend Lisa Currith, who was a model in San Francisco, had modeling test pictures done,

and she asked me to take her to the photographer's

studio to pick them up.

And when I looked at him, it was like this beautiful girl with makeup on, like, laying

down on the beach and then, like, standing on the train tracks.

I thought, oh, that looks like fun.

So I got my dad's circa in 1965 Nikon F2 out and shot a picture of my friend Ingrid who was gorgeous with big

boobs and threw all my parents carpet and litter with these old photo floods that my dad had

...