Model: Callum
Model: Jase Dean
Model: Jeremy Fontanet
"As an artist there are obviously themes that excite me more than others and these probably come out into my work. I am interested in narrative, fantasy, horror, life and death. My work can be quite dramatic and sometimes thought provoking." Next Hottest Model presents, Photographer Alex Wightman of Forever-Imagery. His images reveals his main strengths, his strong creative passion for the Arts, "The creative arts is where my heart lies and I thrive in it. The passion for creating stunning works of art both aesthetically and psychologically is essential for my business. It is these qualities that will guarantee you gorgeous results."
More Forever-Imagery shots, and complete Feature Interview with Alex's amazing models after the jump!
Model: Alex Williams
Model: Jeremy Fontanet
"My favourite type of photography is shooting on location; I feel this is where my strength lies. I enjoy location over studio because with studio I know my limitations, I know what I have and haven’t got to work with but with location I enjoy the spontaneity of it, I enjoy the challenge and unpredictability. For this reason I also like venturing out into areas I’ve not been before as literally the world’s your oyster, anything can happen. When I shoot models on location basically I like to use the model to enhance a space, to interact with it. For me the environment is just as important as the model and I try to integrate them."
Model: Rowan Cox
"Taking a photograph is the second stage for me. The first stage is composing the shot, the final stage is when I have the image uploaded into photoshop and I begin to play around with it. I’ve been using photoshop for about ten years now so I’m quite adept at it. I am careful as not to change the person too much as to keep it true to life, but I do like playing around with colours to get the most out of my image. Sometimes I even add in elements to the photograph. Often I know which shots have come out the best at the time of the shoot, and these images I go to work on straight away. I try to avoid showing the photographs on camera at the time of the shoot, I prefer to have played with them first. It’s like a painter – He doesn’t reveal his painting until its finished."
Model: Alex Jackson
"Five things in life, I can't live without? My camera, money, my phone (sadly), family and friends, and my pet lizard (she’s called Gizmo lol)"
Model: Callum
"Being younger has its advantages as I am able to connect with the current generation easier, especially when it comes to wedding photography. I am a gay male and I find a lot of male models approach me to be photographed because I know how to make a man look good, as I am attracted to men I know what to look for. My age for attracting male models to approach me becomes a strong asset here because they feel more comfortable being around a younger guy, I’m not an old and pervy photographer -yet!"
Model: Alex Williams
Model: Mitchell
"Tough question, and now you’re going to make me choose a model out of all the great guys I’ve worked with lol. I do really enjoy working with models but I have to say, when I shoot weddings and I’m able to share that big day with a happy couple, and what I’m able to give back to them; that’s what makes me love photography. I like being able to provide memories for people."
Model: Jase Dean
Model: Mitchell
"I like shooting in abandoned or derelict places which are usually a laugh to get into, on one occasion with a model we scaled a 7ft Iron fence to get into an abandoned village that I found only to realise there was a hole in the fence the other side of the perimeter – lesson learnt! It’s also quite funny when security find me with a camera in hand and the model invariably in just their underwear!"
Model: Rowan Cox
Sometimes in this field, there's a common misconception where people or even potential photography clients tend to equate age with experience, as a young photographer packed with amazing talents, how does Alex view these misconceptions? "Firstly I should point out I’m 25 years old. Personally, I don’t think age should matter but I think sadly it does. I receive a lot of compliments about my work but most commonly I get told that they were expecting me to be older and that the best thing about myself is how young I am and what I am able to achieve. I can only get better. Sometimes people may perceive my age as a weakness, maybe lacking in experience, but my work should speak for itself and I personally believe that I can create images at the same level of photographers who have been doing it longer, if not better." During the interview, Alex also shared how he arrives on that final shots? "Taking a photograph is the second stage for me. The first stage is composing the shot, the final stage is when I have the image uploaded into photoshop and I begin to play around with it. I’ve been using photoshop for about ten years now so I’m quite adept at it. I am careful as not to change the person too much as to keep it true to life, but I do like playing around with colours to get the most out of my image. Sometimes I even add in elements to the photograph. Often I know which shots have come out the best at the time of the shoot, and these images I go to work on straight away. I try to avoid showing the photographs on camera at the time of the shoot, I prefer to have played with them first. It’s like a painter – He doesn’t reveal his painting until its finished." So what's the best thing about being a photographer? "Apart from seeing guys naked? Haha I joke. The best things that come from doing my job is the networking and the friends that you make. I find the role of a photographer is that you have to essentially become friends with a lot of people to capture a good photograph of them. It’s also nice being respected by those you’ve never met before who admire your work and simply what you can achieve as a person. I have a very distinctive tattoo and I find when I’m out people I’ve never met before come up to me as they have recognised my tattoo and say ‘ Are you the guy who takes the amazing photographs’. Which is flattering." Alex also shared some advise for aspiring models, "It’s not what you know it’s who you know. This applies to photographers also. Be selective to who you work with. I’ve found because my name is becoming more recognised some of the models that I have shot have been scouted. But it works the other way around also, I purposely keep a close eye on models that are making a name for themselves so I approach them and then I also become noticed."
More on Alex at Forever-Imagery, and also check out Facebook page Forever Men.
Model: Alex Jackson
"My interest in people is perhaps the heart and soul of my photography. I have the ability to connect to any individual and this is very important for creating photographs because it becomes a very personal matter."
Alex Wightman, Forever-Imagery
