I've always enjoyed taking pictures of people. In early 2006 I was working for a heavy metal magazine covering death and black metal bands, and I bought a Nikon D50 to shoot the bands. In 2007 I transitioned over to shooting models due to my interest in creating art and fashion and did about a thousand shoots in 3 1/2 years. A lot of hard work and a big investment in upgrading my gear, camera, all of that, but it's been a blast.
What particular challenges do you face with erotic photography as opposed to other genres?
Mainly where to market it. I shoot for a couple pay sites here and there, but I don't shoot a lot of erotica otherwise. Since I'm primarily a high fashion and glamour photographer I'm focusing on those markets, though I do enjoy and love shooting art/glamour/fashion nudes and erotica. With erotica, I would just have to look into how to sell it other than websites, be it publishing a book or selling to collectors. I'm definitely interested in that though.
Do you prefer to shoot with film or digital?
Digital only - I enjoy film and the entire process of it, but it's not something I incorporate into my own business.
How did you become interested in fetish/BDSM?
I like the fashions; I love latex, collars and everything that comes with it. The market I shoot often for also has a lot of clientele interested in the same, so it kind of came naturally with what I was shooting. My own personal life didn't really have much to do with it. I just happen to photograph the style well and know many clients who love it and buy into how I shoot it.
Do you enjoy fetishism/BDSM play in your personal life, and if so what are you into?
Well, I won't get into much detail, but I'm a very, very dominant person. Take that for what you will.
Do you think pinup and fetish are becoming part of the mainstream culture?
They're both just huge markets now. Pinup is all over the place, you see so many girls wanting to wear vintage dresses and pose next to '50s hot rods. But it's definitely a big fad, and it's very oversaturated. Its appeal is that it's very fun and has several different elements to it - such as cheesecake or burlesque - and people definitely are buying into that. I think fetish, well fetish fashion specifically is more mainstream. You see latex and bondage fashion used in music videos and on the runway, and in magazines worldwide. Japan for example has been all over it for years. And you see it a lot in America now - there is tremendous talent designing the apparel, and fetish conventions everywhere for both the fashions and lifestyle. Where people didn't want to talk about this stuff years ago, it's become more and more prevalent now that the fetish culture is a lifestyle to be encouraged, and it's often best expressed artistically in photography, film, music, etc. I enjoy the large talent pool that's been created out of it, that's for sure!
Are there any other creative mediums you work in?
I'm an average musician/aspiring singer and I want to get into shooting video more. I think it'd be something I'd really enjoy. I also have writing on the backburner...it was what I was doing before I got into photography, and I want to eventually try it again someday, be it writing a novel or being a columnist.
What kind of music do you like?
I'm a punk kid at heart. Skater, hardcore, ska, I love it all. I'm fond of metal quite a bit, mostly death, black and thrash. I also enjoy '90s alt-rock being that I grew up on it, and several different MCs in underground hip-hop. If I had to list 10 favorite bands right now...Streetlight Manifesto, Tool, Against Me!, Smashing Pumpkins, Shining, Municipal Waste, Pig Destroyer, Aesop Rock, Katatonia, and Radiohead.
What do you like to do for fun?
My photography. It's my career and I love it to death. I also play way too many video games, jump around while listening to my iPod, eat and cook - I love cooking - and I enjoy life and the people I share it with.