As I lay here at 6 - something in the morning, dealing with severe back pain, my brain begins to wonder. I have come to the conclusion that there are many of you out there that don't know why I do what I do. So, I have decided to conduct an interview...with myself. 

Why did you decide to become a photographer?  

Many reasons, but the main reasons are:

1. Follow in my grandfather's shoes. 
2. I want to be remembered for something I love doing. 
3. It's makes me happy. 
4. I am my own boss. 

How has your photography changed from when you first started to now? 

I am more focus now on what type of work I want to do. When I first started I wanted to do everything. Fashion, cosplay, glamour, alt, etc. I love a lot of genre in photography, but I realize in order to make it and to get more paying clients I had to focus on 1 or 2 genre. That's why I only shoot fashion and glamour now. 

With that I have made some people mad at me or they express disappointment because I don't shoot other genre anymore. It's apart of this business for me. I had to let go and lost friends because of it. I still would like to go and shoot other genre if I have time and a really good idea came about.  

 Let's talk about Zivity-

Next question... 

...but the people want to know... 

 Okay...What has been inspiring you lately?

Good question. Nothing really. I mean mostly I just have random thoughts and I just put them together to create something. Most recent inspiration was based on reading, "The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials".

Then driving in the business sector of Washington DC made me think of doing shoots that showed the big city appeal of DC and combining that with some really good fashion attire and putting a story together from that.

 What are your goals for 2015? 

To finally make it as a in demand fashion photographer. Maybe get an agent. Doing more traveling along the east coast, not just New York or New Jersey,  but also Florida and Georgia too. Lastly, I want to at least bang 15 or more editorials out this year. I got one in the bag so far. 14 more to go for now. 

Years ago, you picked 3 models you wanted to shoot. Did that ever happen? 

Yes sir, I remember those 3. It was Ofelia Linh, Alexa Poletti and Roxanne Hire. I never got to shoot with Alexa.  I honestly think the only reason we never shot was because my work wasn't up to snuff to work with her. She actually didn't live that far from me at the time. I did shoot Roxanne once at a meet and greet. Ofelia I have shot numerous times and she is a great friend.

Do you have a new top 3 now? 

Hmmm...yea, but it just me aiming too high right now. My choices are Nina Dobrev

Then it would be Leanna Decker...

Lastly Aaliyah...R.I.P. Babygirl

Tell us about your videography...

I have been working with videography since I was 14 years old. During high school I was always in the TV/Audio studio class and I was working for Time Warner Cable in their production department. I have done a ton of video camera work, editing, writing and directing. So, it actualy more natural to me than photography. My older work can be found on Youtube and newer stuff can be found on VImeo.

What do you look for in a model?

Generally, it depends on the project I am working on. I would have to say the first thing that gets me is if the subject has a wide range of expressions with their face. Their eyes, hair, lips and jaw structure is something I focus on as well. I am a type of person who often looks people in the eye when they are talking to me, so I think in my work it is equally important to put a heavy focus on the eyes. I like to think that when people are viewing my work they start by looking at the eyes of the subject and then everything starts to settle into place around the eyes.

As far as bodytype? I don't really put too much emphasis as a requirement in this area. I don't always care about height, weight, curves or hairiness. My only demand is that the subject shows they take care of themselves in some sort of way. Even if it just taking care of your skin, or having healthy hair, just show you give a damn about yourself before you consider working with me.

To photoshop or not to photoshop?

First of all, I taught myself photoshop, I went to college and got a degree in Graphic & Web Design, but I didn't learn anything. I just needed the paper saying I knew what the hell I was doing. When I taught myself and I started using people in my images I overdid it by today's standards. I was never for the minimum changes to the images, but then again I was more into mashups and surreal images. I often resort to recreating and making new images of Ewa Sonnet. 

Nowadays, I try to stick to only fixing colors, contrast, etc. As for the subject fixing blemishes, etc. However, I try to make sure that when I shoot that I avoid having to doing so much work in post production. So, I try to make sure that lighting is perfect and subject make up is perfect. My workflow is really fast and clients really love the fact that I have a very fast turn-around time frame. 

Why don't you shoot male models?

{laughs} It not that I don't shoot male models, the male models I have approached don't want to work with me. However, that is mostly in the past, more experience male models are more willing to work with me for editorial pieces. That is  another thing I want to accomplish this year, to have more male models I work with. Aside from that I just appreciate the woman body as an art form more than men. 

Last question, what are the biggest misconception that have been said about you?

I actually ignore about 95% of what people's misconception are about me, but I would have to say these are it:

• I'm a pervert
• I don't let models bring an escort
• I only care about money
• I don't stay true to my word
• I only want to shoot someone nude***
• I'm impatience
• I don't photography African Americans or male models

I would say those are the biggest misconception I hear, all of them are not true. I don't care as one might think I would about nudes. I don't react or care if someone has a wardrobe malfunction on set or if the subject is nude. It just doesn't bother me. My 16 year old self is screaming at me as I type this, but its true. I am a grown man and I have someone to have my perverted thoughts and experiences with and I am married to her. As for being impatience...believe me...I am very patience. 

Lastly, for African American (already address the males models) models, in my areas most of the African American females shoot Eye Candy. That's not my style and I really don't care for it. I have tried going to my fellow sisters and offer them shoots with a sense of fashion in it and I have been turned down more often than not. So, it not me, its them. If anything this is the biggest misconception I get even remotely offended about. Being a African American myself, you actually think I would forget about my own culture? Seriously...?

That's all I got for now, the pain meds are taking hold, finally...

Comments are welcome!!