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KEEPING UP WITH

Writer's pictureiamteejay

The Referral King: Anthony Nex

Updated: Oct 21

Photographer Anthony Nex
Photographer Anthony Nex

One key reason we have yet to pay for advertising is a network of referring clients that continuously and reliably feeds our business. Anthony Nex, a photographer and the owner of Helms Daylight Studio in Los Angeles, is the King of this network. His network has been instrumental in our success, making him one of the six godsends for my business.  


It's Not What You Know. It’s Who You Know in Los Angeles


In this court, we have Craig Stephens, Jeremy Kidd, Steven Shmerler, Linda Larsen, and Eileen McDargh to thank for caring for the business over the last thirty years. We talk about each other in other posts, but for now, the attention is on the most down-to-earth man in the business, Anthony Nex. His significant role in our business's success cannot be overstated, and we owe him tremendous gratitude. 


Motivational speaker Mimi Donaldson of Marina del Rey discovered us through an ad offering a free website to the first ten clients in 1998, just as the "dotcom" boom was blossoming. Mimi Donaldson, in turn, referred us to Linda Larsen, a motivational speaker based in Sarasota, Florida. Linda Larsen subsequently referred us to Juliet Funt, daughter of Alan Funt of Candid Camera and keynote speaker in her own right. Juliet, referred her husband and photographer Lorne Resnick, who ultimately referred us to Anthony.


We were blessed to be able to provide good service to each other along the way, which allowed us to reach the person with a large network of professionals. Jeremy, Linda, Eileen, and Anthony are active clients on our roster. Rest in peace, Steven Shmerler.


Who is Anthony Nex?


As a teenager, he was an avid skateboarder. After an accident, he borrowed a camera and quickly found his passion. His first submission was on the photo editor's desk at Skateboarder Magazine by the time the stitches and casts came off.


Skateboarder David Ferry
David Ferry, Marina Del Rey, Fall '79 — with David Ferry at Marina Del Rey Skatepark '79-'80.

Over the years, he specialized in photographing kids and young adults, and when COVID hit, he began involving himself with cosmetics, still life, liquids, and foods. 


Bleu Advertising of tube against orange background with water droplets splashed around it
Ad for Bleu - Photo by Anthony Nex

Anthony is an avid scuba diver, equally comfortable shooting underwater as on land. His passion has taken him worldwide, and he has spent considerable time in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the South Pacific.


Anthony Nex scuba diving

The one thing that we have both enjoyed together is spending a day at a ballpark enjoying America’s favorite pastime, Baseball. 


What We Have Done for Anthony Nex?


We began serving Anthony in 2007. Although we have never built a site for Anthony Nex, the photographer, we have been designing, publishing, and delivering email campaigns for him.


Mai Tai can surrounded by blue smoke
Ad for Villager Spirits

We did, however, design, develop, and publish a site for his Helm Daylight Studio, a rental studio for the photography, film, and advertising industries.


Open space studio with natural sunlight
Helms Daylight Studio in Los Angeles

Conditions of a King of Referrals


We always remind our clients of our offer to grant a referral commission when they refer a friend or colleague to us. Usually, the commission is 20% of the first contract we have with the referred client or 10% cash payout. Only once has someone accepted the latter. 


Anthony has referred over thirty clients to us but has declined any commission. He believes in surrounding himself with like-minded professionals who offer dependable, quality service. Thus, the value lies in enriching the network and those within it. 


Here is a partial list of those he sent our way. 



*The numbers after the names represent the referrals the referring clients have made.


We welcome you to check out the photography of Anthony Nex and his Helms Daylight Studio in Los Angeles. You know whom to reach if you ever need to rent a studio in Los Angeles. 


Knowing Anthony is knowing he’s got your back in business and as King of Referrals, he'll send business your way for sure.


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