RM: How long have you been shooting?
JR: Currently, I have been a photographer for two years and a model photographer for only a year, but as you will tell my previous knowledge of photography made it an easy transition that has grown at a rapid rate and to most people’s surprise.
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RM: Where do you get some of your inspiration for your photos?
JR: While I was growing up I always read the typical guys magazines like MAXIM and FHM and always said I’d love to take pictures like that. Only one day I started to say I CAN take pictures like that and started using that as inspiration to better my skills with every passing photoshoot. Also, by saving pictures from professional photogs whose work I love and admire and try to emulate those shots and capture the same emotion and feeling.
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RM: What are some of the challenges that photographers face?
JR: Some of the challenges that photographers face are capturing the shots that they really want. Sometimes there are just certain walls you hit in terms of the technical side and the know-how of how to attain certain shots. There’s also the problem of getting yourself and your work out there through networking, which some photogs don’t realize is the fundamental core of being a professional photographer and in the business. Being an Advertising major undergrad and having my MBA grad degree in Marketing realize how important networking is and incorporate it into my everyday working as a photographer.
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RM: What is your definition of the perfect model?
JR: Well, first off I’ll say that there is no one perfect model that photographer’s look for. It all depends on what kind of photographer they are, whether it’s alternative, high fashion, glamour, candid, dramatic, etc. Each genre of photography has its own type of model it goes for and to pick just one would be silly. Instead, I will talk about the personality of my perfect model: a girl who is professional, on time, hard-working, comfortable in front of the camera and a general blast to work with having a fun, people personality that I also possess.
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RM: What is your definition of the perfect photographer?
JR: My definition of a perfect photographer is someone who possesses the skills and talent needed to capture true moments in time and make people see and feel exactly what they saw when they took the photograph. They have the gear to compliment their know-how and skills and know how to use their gear to the utmost of its abilities helping them capture topnotch shots that make people wonder just what kind of gear they have and wanting it for themselves, just because of what you showed it to be capable of doing.
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RM: What is the one thing you would change about the industry if you could?
JR: I would have to say the one thing I’d change would be the huge egos, both of models and photographers alike. There’s some people in the industry that are so caught up in themselves and how great they are that they forget why they started in photography, the passion for it all. I’ve always said that if I ever got a huge ego to the point where I thought I was better than everyone else and just shot for the money, that I’d quit all together and stop shooting, because once you lose sight of the passion behind it and just do it for the money, you’ve sold yourself out and should be doing something else.
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RM: Your best tip you can give a model/photographer getting started in the industry?
JR: The best tip I give models and photographers alike is that they should first pick out the kind of photography they want to get into. Once they figure that out, then they shoot make profiles on various sites such as ModelMayhem, OMP, Model Launch, and MySpace all dedicated to their work. Using those profiles they’ll reach out to models and photographers and try to book as much TFP work as possible to start building their portfolio. However, they should take the necessary precautions before booking the shoot such as, contacting any models/photographers and MUA’s they have worked with and asking them how their experiences went, meeting with them in a public place to go over some more of their work and talk about possible shoot ideas and themes, and ask them for a copy of their release form for you to look over and keep for yourself. Every established photographer should have one and if they don’t you should ask them why not, because in the end it’s insurance to save their own ass. Once you starting building your port then reach out to other models/photographers and try and network as much as you can.
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RM: Are there any current projects or upcoming projects you are excited about?
JR: Yes, I currently am going to be shooting with a few models that I am excited about. The first is going to be the first “celebrity” that I will ever shot with, Toasteee (Jennifer) from VH1’s Flavor of Love Show and Mo’Niq’s Charm School (featuring all of the girls from the Flavor of Love show). I got the shoot through a fellow networking friend from Philadelphia, Vic, the owner of VBLAZIN magazine, who called me up and told me he wanted me to shoot her for the cover bad and hoped I’d be interested and I said of course. The next two are models out of Canada and the United Kingdom who are coming all the way to NY to shoot with me, which was quite flattering. I have known and spoken to them for the better part of a year and both of them have seen my work progress and have been very supportive so finally getting to shoot with them is going to be very fulfilling for me on both a personal and professional level.
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