Tim, first of all thanks for your fantastic work in preparing our special about Super Bowl 50 and shooting the cover photo of our March issue. We like to know, who the photographer behind this amazing shots is. Please tell us a little bit about yourself to begin with. (How old are you, where were you born and where do you live now, What is your profession and do you have other besides photography?
I am a 61 year old retired Military husband and father of 4 grown children and 4 grand-sons. I am originally from LA California but after I retired from the Navy I stayed in Waco Texas. I currently own two businesses, an Insurance agency and an upcoming Modeling agency Modelemi and magazine. Previously a Wedding photographer, and now a model photographer, my new passion is Fashion and Glamour photography. Currently Modelemi is a model management and mentor company where we help models get paid gigs, get published and or be represented with an agency. I really appreciate the opportunity you have given myself as well as my models .

Have you been involved in the arts in some form other than photography?
No, I have always been fascinated with photography in general even as a child.

Seeing your remarkable work, I am curious where your creativity comes from?
My daughter once asked why I shoot beautiful women all the time. My response was “God made women beautiful and I love showing the world how beautiful these models really are “

Could you share with us how you first became interested in photography?
As I said I have been playing with photographer off and on since I was a child. I didn’t go pro until about 15 years ago and didn’t start working with models until 2010

What equipment are you using now and with what did you get started? what is your favorite lens?
My “go to” camera is my Nikon D4 with backups Nikon D3x and D700

Can you tell us about your work flow from the point you first step onto the street until you showcase the developed picture?
I always use Natural light with either a gold, white or silver reflector. I seldom ever use a speed light or any other light source however, I have become found of the new ICE-LIGHT2 .

Do you see a particular influence, be it a photographer or school on your work? Any subject that attracts you?
I have become more and more attracted to Fashion photography and love shooting for Street Fashion Magazine. Steve Elinger (an agency photographer in Dallas) is one of my mentors .

What would you say characterizes your work in comparison to other photographers?
I would like to say I ‘HELP” more models then most photographers in Central Texas in that I truly do care and try and help these models to best of my ability

Among your works, which is your favorite and why?
My fav is actually working with your magazine, it pushes me to be more creative. I have 4 or 5 models that I consider my inspiration and one that I would call my MUSE

Tell us your funniest or most awkward photography story.
Probably would have to be when I was shooting a somewhat risqué shoot for another magazine on some steps downtown. When all of a sudden the doors opened and a preacher and his flock walk came out. We had no idea this was an active church and the side

What would you tell a newcomer who asks for your advice on how to start?
Always respect the model. If you are a new photag it is well worth the money to pay for an experience model and to solicit a seasoned phtoag to mentor you

Lex, please tell us a little bit about yourself to begin with. (How old are you, Where were you born and where do you live now, What is your profession and do you have other besides photography?
Thanks for this Interview,  I’m 38 years old, born and living in Venezuela, I’m  ecologist and  dog trainer
 
Have you been involved in the arts in some form other than photography?
Yes, singing and poetry

Seeing your remarkable work, I am curious where your creativity comes from?
Most of my creativity comes from the cotidianity, the observation of people’s relationship with the environment of the cities, and from the beauty of women.

Could you share with us how you first became interested in photography?
The first real contact I had with photography was at the age of 10, when my mother gave me a little 35mm compact camera for my birthday, but  I felt in love with the art at the age of 12, when a relative that was photographer gives me his collection of NatGeo magazines, that was like the big bang of my love for photography
 
What equipment are you using now and with what did you get started? what is your favorite lens?
actually I use a Nikon D3100 a  kit lens,and a 35mm lens and I shoot available light; my   favorite  lens is the 85mm 1.8 but actually not own one

Can you tell us about your work flow from the point you first step onto the street until you showcase the developed picture?
I have two types of workflow, one for paid photoshoots, and other for street photography.
On the first, once the photoshoot is finished, I download the pictures in my computer and inmediatelly import them into Lightroom and make a rapid selection, then I make a backup of all the raw files, and when this is over I choose the files that I’m gonna edit and delete the rest. Then Edit the files, apply keywords, insert my metadata on the files and export the final photos for the client/model.
For my street photography is almost the same, but the edit process doesn’t begins until one or two weeks after the capture of the photos.

Do you see a particular influence, be it a photographer or school on your work? Any subject that attracts you?
my biggest influences are Helmut Newton, William Klein, Steve McCurry and David  Bailey, and I feel a strong attraction for people in the streets, and women
 
What would you say characterizes your work in comparison to other photographers?
The simplicity, I prefer a relax and sober environments for most of my photos, but always on location. That Allows me dedicate all my concentration  on the subject.
 
Among your works, which is your favorite and why?
I love to make location portraits, because I love to show the subjects in enviroments that makes them feel confortable and free, that produces the best portraits

Anna, please tell us a little bit about yourself to begin with. (How old are you, Where were you born and where do you live now, What is your profession and do you have other besides photography?
My name is Anna Poprotskaya, I am 21 years old. I was born in a beautiful city – Vinnytsia, Ukraine. I still live, study and work here. I am a fourth-year student of Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University and a future English and German teacher. Photography is my style of life, my obsession, my hobby and job at the one time. I also try myself in making short films about my journeys abroad and throughout Ukraine.  It is a new and a very interesting experience for me – to make my own story about precious moments of my life.

Have you been involved in the arts in some form other than photography?
I believe that happiness only real when shared. I am inspired by people, places, nature, art and everything that surrounds. I am just taking pictures of things I find beautiful, that’s all.

Seeing your remarkable work, I am curious where your creativity comes from?
Everything started from a curiosity. I was interested in the process of photographing, how it works. I saw beautiful things around me, I communicated with different people around me and travel a lot and i wanted to save every moment, every single smile and emotion, which were unique and precious to me.

Could you share with us how you first became interested in photography?
My father taught me everything I know. Photography is his hobby. He even had a Film processing laboratory at home in his youth. He bought me my first digital camera when I was 12 or 13. I don’t remember exactly the model of it, but I am absolutely sure it is Canon.  Since that time I could hardly imagine myself without taking pictures everywhere.

What equipment are you using now and with what did you get started? what is your favorite lens?
My first reflex camera was Canon EOS 450D and a few years later we bought Canon EOS 5D Mark II. I still use it. It is a masterpiece, really. I love and worship my camera! Speaking about my lens, I use three of them: Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L, Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 II and Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L. And I can’t say which one is my favourite, because they are absolutely different and each lens I use for a certain idea or location.

Can you tell us about your work flow from the point you first step onto the street until you showcase the developed picture?
I start preparing to the photosession by choosing a style and idea. I have a team who help me to create an interesting make-up and hairstyle for the model. We always choose something very extraordinary and uncommon. Then I choose the exact location, which suits our idea perfectly. I should say, that it is a very difficult part, because I live in a quite small city and it is very hard to find something new here. Fortunately, we have a wide range of photo-studios, but I prefer to take pictures outdoors. I like street photosessions more, because there is more freedom for both me and models, more place and, of course, because of the natural light. It seems to me that sometimes nature even helps you to make a beautiful picture, for example wind or the lights of the sun, shadows…all these things bring life to the picture and make it more sincere and true. I always start working by finding a common language with a model. It is very important for me to make a model feel comfortable and free while shooting, then I can be sure that pictures will be great! In fact, it is very hard to choose the best picture. I usually edit photos in Lightroom and Photoshop and it takes me a lot of time to develop a final variant of the picture. As for editing photos I am a perfectionist. Color, tone, skin, brightness and contrast – everything should be perfect.

Do you see a particular influence, be it a photographer or school on your work? Any subject that attracts you?
There are a lot of photographers whose works I admire! Though my favourite is Marat Safin and Ivan Troyanovsky. Every their work is an exquisite masterpiece. I like everything in them, general mood, colours, models, composition. Sometimes you look at the certain picture and wonder how genius should be the author to catch that very moment. Their works are an inspiration for me.  I can’t say that the pictures of these authors influenced my style, because my pictures are completely different. I try to find my own style and make my works as much recognizable as possible.

What would you say characterizes your work in comparison to other photographers?
There are a lot of photographers whose works I admire! Though my favourite is Marat Safin and Ivan Troyanovsky. Every their work is an exquisite masterpiece. I like everything in them, general mood, colours, models, composition. Sometimes you look at the certain picture and wonder how genius should be the author to catch that very moment. Their works are an inspiration for me.  I can’t say that the pictures of these authors influenced my style, because my pictures are completely different. I try to find my own style and make my works as much recognizable as possible.

Tell us your funniest or most awkward photography story.
Well, judging from my own experience there are always some funny moments in every photosession. I remember once I forgot to put the battery back into my camera and went rather far from home, because we chose the location in the countryside. Can you imagine all that terror which I felt, when I realized that my camera was without battery? Fortunately, my friend brought me his camera and we had a session that day.

What would you tell a newcomer who asks for your advice on how to start?
I will advise every person who tries himself in a photography to practise, to practise and to practise, because only by constant work you will achieve success in this field. Take your camera with you everywhere you go and then you will be ready to catch every moment you like. Don’t afraid to violate rules, remember, that you create the picture, so you create the rules. And, finally, love what you do! It is the most powerful and true advice. Love people, nature and your work and then every photo will become a masterpiece.