Edward: Tell us about your background

Ryan Gordon: First off, THANK YOU for allowing me to introduce myself to your viewers. My name is Ryan Gordon, and I am a California native. I am 29 years old. I started photography about 10 years ago, around the age of 19.  I had an ' elcheapo' camera and would take it everywhere I went. As many artists, I usedmy form of art as self-expression. While it took me a while to realize that was the reason I spent countless hours taking photos of things, I can now look back at my very first work and get a feeling of where I was in my life by the things I would photograph. I started shooting male and female friends of mine just for fun while on hiking trips or another adventures I woulddrag my friends on.

Edward:  How did you become interested in a career as a photographer?

Ryan:  Honestly, I never dreamed I'd be a photographer. I went to Premedat the University of Utah and wanted to pursue that as my future. After doing that for a few years, and among some other personal reason, I came back to California. I was working as a manager of a high line health club for quite a few years and still taking photos on the side.  It wasn't until that I started to focus more on male and female fashion photography that I really thought I could make something more out of what I had previously considered a hobby. 

I had always viewed the works of Steven Underhill, Bruce Weber, Greg Gorman & Herb Ritts. I wanted to transform my photography as something similar. To date, I was just published in a photo book called Visions (Bruno Gmuender).  It's their 25-year anniversary issue, using all the photographers they have been working with for years plus a few 'up and coming' photographers.  Now my work is graced among the pages with the photographers that I strived to be more like just a few years ago.

Edward: Share your special interests as a photographer.

Ryan: One of my interests is always doing better. I suppose like most people in any sort of profession, there is always room for improvement. With each new person I shoot and each new client I come in contact with, I always want to do better than the shoot I just did hours before with someone else. It's an unspoken personal challenge that I do with myself.  Kind of like a 'dare' if that makes sense.

Edward:  What do you look for most when selecting models to shoot?

Ryan:   'Marketable'... that's one of my most common words. Whenever meeting with models, I explain to them the ins and outs of modeling, what to expect, etc. It's very important to me when finding new models that they are very willing to keep an open mind. Have trust in my experience and me.  I like to start with someone on a clean slate.

When I meet a new model, Ialways tell them to meet me in the most basic clothes, nothing done to their hair, etc.  I almost think of them like a canvas, to see what I can come up with.  With each shoot I do, as you can see from my photos, the models are going thru multiple looks and outfit changes. This is all done by myself. I use my experience with modeling agencies and my countless amounts of photo shoots with past clients to bring a new and fresh idea to the table each time.

Edward: You seem to have helped a number of models with their careers. Tell us about this part of your life.

Ryan: To me, that is the most rewarding part of my job.  Granted I don't do TFP (time for print) work, so there is a bit of a financial benefit from doing the shoots but above and beyond that, I think one of the most important parts of life is to treat people how you want to be treated I use that in every shoot. I put myself in their shoes, with their trust in my work and me.

My models have got work with Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, O'Neill, Seafolly, Calvin Klein, Adidas, and Nike etc etc etc.  This is very rewarding to me. 99% of the models I work with have never done modeling before. So for them to go from nothing to working with some of the highest brands in the world based upon the photos I have taken of them is very exciting.

Edward: What advice would you give to young models?

Ryan:  Be yourself!! There is nothing worse than working with someone with a 'Diva Complex'   (that's another one of my words).  For my models, I tell them to think of modeling like a 'normal job' you need to spend at least20-30 hours a week taking care of yourself.

That includes going to the gym, taking care of your skin, eating right and 'acting the part'.  Modeling is a very tough and intense industry with a ton of competition.  You need to be someone that stands out in order to get noticed.  Some of the agencies I work with receive 100+ model submissions a day.  It¹s crucial that you stand out when they are looking at you, so you aren't shuffled under the table.

2nd advice is always be cautious of who you work with. Unfortunately I have come across countless photographers that are very very shady. They promise the models all these great and wonderful things with absolutely no merit. My biggest challenge as a photographer is over coming the gross amounts of dishonesty that is unfortunately involved in the industry.

Edward:  There must be special moments when you feel that you have captured a perfect picture. Share your passion with us.

Ryan: Yes, this happens quite a bit (with out sounding overly cocky). I shoot all digital on a Canon Mark II N, which is one of the best cameras made. I can look at the photo immediately, share it with the model and that starts a trend of excitement.  I have quite a few photos that I consider my favorite.

Without sounding too cheesy, some of my favorite photos are those that took the most amount of work to complete.  Often times the models are nervous, they are new to all this, so to get them to a  'zone' where they are relaxed to the point where I can take what I would be consider to be a market quality image, I am happy.

Edward:  If a model wants to work with you, how do they get in touch?

Ryan: Simple ­ This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or http://myspace.com/rgphotography

Edward:  Share some of your special moments as a photographer.

Not only do the models consider me their 'photographer' but also one of their friends.  We all hang out a lot, go to movies, or go to dinner.  One of my biggest questions I get asked is how do you make your models so comfortable.  I have shot over 800 models now, and of that amount a very large percentage are people that I will continue to know for years.  It's their comfort level with me, and mine with them that makes the photos turn out so well.

Thanks again for the interview, I really appreciate this. I hope to have many more of my models featured on the Connex247 website and will look forward to getting emails from any of your readers.  I am always willing to help in any way I can. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

God Bless!!

-Ryan Gordon
RG Photography All photos copyright 2006.