Photographic Stories

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Mariella –  Why did you decide to step behind the camera and go from model to photographer?

Todd – The last 3 months of my final year of study for my biology/anthropology degree were spent in Kenya. I always had a strong desire to travel and explore the world, but when I came back from Kenya, traveling was the only thing I wanted to do. Modelling was a means to an end for that, since fairly large student loans did not leave me with much  extra money to be traveling around the world with. I did over all enjoy modelling and I can thank those years for being able to afford – both financially and time wise – to  travel to quite a few countries. However, despite the possibility that male models are able to have an extensive career as long as they age well, I didn’t have a desire to be a life long model. I had other ideas and other interests I wanted to pursue. On traveling the path to what it was I wanted to do, I first came back to my education and with my sister being a nurse some thought was given to obtaining a medical degree and opening a practice together. I also tried out a few other interests – writing for a few magazines, getting certified as a personal trainer, certifying to be a dive instructor and shooting some travel photography. There was ultimately an epiphany moment when I finally realized that no matter what I do, no matter if I am rich or poor, what I really want to do is follow my life long hobby and make taking images my full-time profession. The joy I derive from my images and the process of making them far exceeds anything I experienced with modelling and my level of job satisfaction is through the roof. I will shoot until I drop.

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M – Your work showcases lots of colour and movement, is that because of the way you work or do you prefer photography that way?

T – I definitely move a lot when I am shooting. I am not a big fan of the tripod unless is really necessary. I am an active person by nature and this energy is something that is applied to my physical self when I am shooting which I think comes through in the images. I like there to be a sense of movement in my shots, I like to try to avoid really static images. I strive to achieve a vibration, if you will, which conveys life and the aura of an individual. I want my images to breath or feel like they are. When it comes to colour, I like my colour images to be big, strong, rich and full of contrast. When shooting colour I like to take time with the stylist to really consider the colours being used, what compliments, what contrasts – virtually getting the colour wheel out. Colours, along with shape, expression and movement all play roles in telling the story and evoking emotion.

M – You travel a lot for your work, what is the most inspirational back drop for you?

T – It is going to seem clichéd and typical but I like to spend time in Paris. In Asia I always get a good vibe in Tokyo. However, I can tell you that despite some of the challenges and that China on a whole is a developing market, there is a tremendous amount of energy in Shanghai and I really feel that push and take it all in to fuel my own creative desires. For compete relaxation of my mind and renewal, nothing can beat going back to Canada. We have a home just outside of Toronto and a few weeks in the outdoors breathing fresh air is most definitely rejuvenating. Interestingly, I am a real beach person. So any chance I get to go to a beach I take. One of my favourite beaches is Boracay in the Philippines. Sitting on the beach listening to the waves rolling in usually has my mind dancing with ideas, thoughts and dreams.

T – That is a tough one. As a general statement, I usually like shooting on an inspiring location rather than a studio. That said, one of my more memorable shoots to date was photographing NBA basketball star Steve Nash. I like how we shot him since it was a fashion shoot and not a typical sport shoot – we shot him in a fashion style that still retained his energy and athleticism. My most memorable editorials for 2011 are the shoot we did in an old section of the Bund in Shanghai, an editorial we did in a pool hall and another very colourful and hot editorial we did in the Peninsula hotel.

Another stand out shoot for me that really exemplifies all the elements that I would say make up my personal style is a shoot I did for Uma Wang – a  quite recognized internationally Chinese fashion designer. The combination of freedom I was given to shoot, along with movement, energy, sexuality and a touch of aggression all blend together into images that I am very happy with.

Uma Wang

M – What do you have in store for this year?

T – In 2012 I will continue to do a lot of traveling and shooting from our Shanghai base. We have specific travel plans for Tokyo, as well as a couple of trips to New York and Paris. Also a few weeks in India are planned where we may shoot something with Indian Vogue. Outside of that we will continue to work with our regular clients as we have some exciting shoots coming up with them, in particular Indochino and Uma Wang