I am very much an aesthetite. Photography, especially fetish photography, seems to be a natural extension of that. It allows me the ability to create and capture what is visually appealing and then make it even more so in post-production. It’s all about the visual, and hopefully my images are visually appealing to others as well.
What particular challenges do you face with erotic photography as opposed to other genres?
The vast number of flakes and fakes makes it difficult for legitimate models and photographers to do their thing. I don’t like to be lumped in with dudes that want to get touchy feely with or demand sexual favors from models... or worse.
Do you prefer to shoot with film or digital?
Digital.
How did you become interested in fetish/BDSM?
I have to thank Julie Newmar as Catwoman for that. I was an impressionable young lad watching syndicated reruns and there was just a certain something about Julie’s knee-high boots and skin-tight suit that made me all tingly. The only problem was her devious little plans were always getting foiled. I mean, she’d have Robin all tied up ready to make him her little slave boy and that pesky Batman would show up to save him. I think both of them would have been much better off at the end of Julie’s leash lapping at her heels. And don’t get me started on Linda Carter and her golden lasso.
Do you enjoy fetishism/BDSM play in your personal life, and if so what are you into?
I wish I had the extra energy.
Do you think pinup and fetish are becoming part of the mainstream culture?
I think there’s a difference between pin-up photos, fetish fashion in the media, fetish porn and fetish with BDSM undertones. Pin-up has pretty much always been part of the mainstream culture. Fetish fashion is “in” these days, although the mainstream doesn’t attach a sexual connotation to a pair of Louboutin red bottom thigh high black leather boots or to Lady Gaga’s latest stage costume. As soon as you view those objects with an eye toward sexual stimulation, however, it instantly becomes “abnormal” and taboo. People with an interest in fetish porn or fetish with BDSM are usually portrayed as mentally deranged serial killers in most mainstream media.
Are there any other creative mediums you work in?
I write, produce fetish video, build sets, and dibble dabble in some graphic and interior design.
What do you like to do for fun?
I like to play “hand under the blanket” with my two kitties.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a new website called highonheels.com, which will feature (you guessed it) photos and video of girls wearing high heels — mostly of the extreme custom-made variety from Europe. I needed an outlet for my photography work since I don’t normally like to work on commissioned projects for others. With high heels as the central theme I can do pin-up type photos, fetish fashion, bondage and S&M related stuff rather than being pigeon holed into one certain fetish genre.
Besides doing your own thing, there are very few paying gigs out there for fetish photographers and fetish photography is not a very inexpensive pursuit. And I’d rather munch on broken glass than photograph weddings or senior portraits to earn a living.