Percolate

When someone hires me for a boudoir shoot they typically tend to gravitate towards imagery that is more glamorous, which is fine- I can understand that. Often they see some of my work that is more edgy and raw, and they ask to go in that direction. Invariably, though, I notice that women hiring me tend to steer clear of rope bondage. These two images, though, very often get a very positive reaction- "Oh I want to try that!".  From my point of view, it's really the same thing as the rope bondage- but the lace instead of rope somehow makes it much more elegant and refined. I can't help to be amused at the fact that there is such a fine psychological line between the lace and the rope. Rope= scary, but lace= classy.

Untitled

This is a very early photograph of mine, yet it is also a very personal favorite out of everything I've ever taken. It was an unusual paid shoot- a strip club owner hired me to take pictures of the girls to hang on the walls. It was not a big mainstream club like some on Delaware Avenue, though- it was a small seedy place in a less than safe part of town. A limo came and picked me up and took me there- an important detail, since there was no way I would just find and/or walk into a place like this. I was the only white person there, but instead of being out of place, I was treated royally due to the fact that I was the "Photographer". I spent hours walking around shooting anything and everything in this den of iniquity- seriously, it was much more raunchy than your typical go-go bar. I had an idea to make a sort of studio set up in the back, where I did some more formal portraits- and this was one of the results. I think that it has a very timeless appeal. It could have been shot in the Cotton Club in the 30's, but it also conjures up the 70's Superfly era at the same time- whereas it was actually shot in 1993 in the heart of West Philadelphia. What makes this image for me is the combination of her jovial smile and the complete pathos in his eyes- youthful beauty paired with weathered age.

Grace

I first met Grace when she just turned 18, and she had already been collecting vintage lingerie and dresses for quite a while. She would buy it on ebay- often wear it for a shoot, re-sell and buy some more. It really threw me that someone so young would have such exquisite and refined tastes. She is also one of my favorite artists that I know- she was already doing very strange and genuinely original paintings in high school. In fact, her style has not really changed that much- and that's a good thing. Grace is one of my favorite models to shoot with.

Katy

She is the bee's knees. Get it? Sam Goody got it.

Isabella

Lovely details, such as the little bit of dress.

Sonia

Wonderful soul to the eyes in these- something that I've always tried to achieve, but it's much easier said than done...

Izzy

More Izzy, except that this shot is in a warm shower, rather than a cold January outside on the roof.

Izzy

Shot in January- about 20 degrees outside. Izzy had just boots on, nothing else, for about a half an hour. That's what I 'd call a trooper- boots or no boots.