Interview photographer Trevor Howell

Rowald: How are you today?
Trevor: Very good, thank you.
Rowald: How long have you been into photography and how did you start?
Trevor: I've been into photography since my parents gave me my first Canon SLR in my early teens… so about 25 years now. I didn't take it too seriously until digital technology become readily available, so it really became a consuming passion for me about 7 years ago.
Rowald: What type of photos are your preference?
Trevor: I love many sides of photography, but glamour and fitness are probably my preference. I love being able to capture and really bring out a person's strength and beauty through my photography, and I love the reaction I get from clients/models when they see the results of our work… even if it's just peeking at a few shots on the back of my camera during a shoot. I too enjoy creating beautiful portraits, but I love the "wow factor" that comes from a stunning glamour shot and the fact that I can really experiment with lighting, colors, poses, angles etc. in ways that exceed the conventional "rules" of portraiture.
Rowald: Are your photos more your taste or demand from others?
Trevor: Both really. Most photographers, myself included, want our images to be seen, and the models that we work with want exposure that promotes their career. We might have fun creating fashion photos, but aside from using them to enhance our portfolios, I don't find the same potential opportunities to reach the masses with fashion images as there might be with glamour images. Fashion publications typically have their staff photographers and hire models through agencies, whereas the electronic and print media for men's magazines and fitness publications can come from the submissions of freelance photographers and independent models. Thus a lot of what I get asked to shoot is mutually beneficial.

I also get specific magazine assignments from DXL Magazine and First for Women Magazine for example to shoot specific content, and those shoots are always rewarding in their own way. I've also worked with Marvel College (hair stylists) on creative photo entries for the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), which I thoroughly enjoyed for the collaborative creative teamwork between me, the stylists and the artistic director. Plus I'll do portraits for individuals, couples and families occasionally, as well as some commercial jobs.
Rowald: Do you develop scenery ideas with the models or more yourself?
Trevor: Some models will come to me with a general idea of a concept they want to try in a studio setting, but for most of my studio work, I come up with the ideas for the set based on the looks that model has hired me to shoot. I love the challenge of going to a location shoot chosen by the model, which ensures that we'll get unique images while challenging me to figure out how we'll use the location and how to light it via artificial and/or natural light.
Rowald: Do you try to create, display or express something special with your photos?
Trevor: I have done some artistic images by merging a model with other image elements in Photoshop to create something within a specific theme, but most of my recent work is aimed more at evoking a response from the viewer… even if it's just "wow, that's hot!"
Rowald: Would you like to do other types?
Trevor: If I had unlimited time and resources, I'd probably get back to doing more landscapes, infrared and macro photography on top of the work I'm currently doing.
Rowald: Are you a tech freak or an artist?
Trevor: To be successful with digital photography one has to have a good balance between the tech freak and artist in them. If you don't have the eye for photography or any artistic vision your photos will all look like snapshots, or overly Photoshopped snapshots. On the other hand there's a lot of technology that goes into the gear and software we use. I can sit and read user manuals or Photoshop books like they're a number 1 best seller, and I'm like a kid at Christmas when a new version of Photoshop comes out.
Rowald: Do you use a lot of equipment or try to stay light-weight?
Trevor: This really depends on the shoot. In the studio or on an indoor location shoot I'm using enough gear to fill my SUV with little to no room for a passenger. But I love going on an outdoor shoot with nothing more than a big fast lens on my camera and my light meter.
Rowald: Do you do analog photography also?
Trevor: Not anymore. I doubt I'll ever use film again.
Rowald: What cameras do you use?
Trevor: I currently use a Canon 40D, with my older 20D as a backup.
Rowald: What are your hobbies?
Trevor: I love fly/stream fishing. Nothing like 4x4ing out to a remote mountain stream, setting up a tent for a few days to catch trout on fly I tied the night before. These days it's usually a family adventure, so I'm starting to get my kids into it too.
Rowald: What are your plans or visions for your future?
Trevor: With regards to photography, I hope to do more traveling when my children are older so I can shoot in some more exotic destinations.
Rowald: How do you get along with models?
Trevor: I believe we get along really well. I hear a lot of stories from the models I've worked with about the way some people behave, and I get a lot of compliments following my shoots about how easy I am to work with. I suppose you should ask them, but the fact that they come back to work with me again and again should say something. One of the models I've worked with several times over the past few years had me shoot her wedding last year. I only accept special requests for the occasional wedding shoot, and having gotten to know her boyfriend (now husband) who came to most of her shoots, it was nice to be able to do that for them and to be present at their wedding. I've also had several referrals from the models I've worked with that have sent more business my way… thanks girls!
Rowald: I think you traveled a lot. Where did you go to?
Trevor: Actually I'm not traveling much at all these days. I've got two young kids just starting school so I stay pretty close to home. I imagine it will stay that way for a few years.
Rowald: Do you do female models only or people in common and what about other types?
Trevor: The vast majority of my clients/models are women. There are way more women, at least in my corner of the world, seeking photographers for portfolio development and magazine submissions than there are men looking for photographers. I've been working with a Canadian national body building champion for a little over a year now to provide the photography for his regular body building articles in DXL Magazine, and I have no problem taking on other male clients if they need similar services.
Rowald: How does one make such good photos? Can you give some tips to the readers?
Trevor: Well, thanks for the compliment. I guess it starts with really wanting to take good photos and constantly striving to take better photos. It's no secret that there are plenty of people around who's interest in shooting with models has little to do with creating good photos, and it's fairly easy to see that from the images they spit out. Those of us who are truly interested in excelling at photography will naturally soak up all the information we can get our hands on, always be watching for inspiration, and experiment with different techniques to figure out what works best for us.
Rowald: People envy you doing these shootings with models. What do you say to this?
Trevor: Women have been the subject of artwork since cavemen started drawing on cave walls… someone's got to keep up the tradition, right? Sure, no one would deny that it's nice to work with beautiful and interesting people. But unless you have a team of assistants, which I don't - I'm a one guy operation, it can be a lot of work to pack all the required equipment out of the studio and onto a location to set it up, then following a full shoot take it all down again and get it back to the studio. My style of shooting often has me up on ladders or lying on the ground in awkward positions to get shots with interesting angles. I'm usually exhausted after a location shoot. It would be a lot easer just to buy a magazine if I just wanted to look at hot chicks LOL.
Rowald: Wanna give some tips for up coming photographers?
Trevor: With every shoot, use the techniques that you know work well for you, but try to do at least one new idea to push yourself. If it doesn't work out, you at least learned from it and you still have some good images so that no one walks away disappointed.
Rowald: What you think about photos taken by others?
Trevor: There's a photography joke that goes something like this: How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? Answer; One to change the light and one hundred more to tell him how they would have done it differently. It's amusing to lurk through some of the photography forums out there and read some of the comments and critiques left by people who think that their way is the right way. I love going through the photo galleries of accomplished photographers. There is so much amazing work out there. It fuels my passion for the art. I may see things I would have done differently, but I don't presume to think that my way is better.
Rowald: What is your best photo?
Trevor: I usually think that my best photo is whatever I'm working on at the moment.
Rowald: How do you create a good atmosphere for shootings?
Trevor: I try to start off well before the shoot by inviting the model to ask me any questions that come to mind. Then before I pick up my camera I try to chat enough with the model to make sure we're on the same page with regards to what we're aiming to accomplish. I'm pretty easy going with a friendly professional demeanor, and it doesn't take long for people to realize that and feel at ease working with me. I usually suggest that models bring some of their favorite music with them, and make sure they know we can take breaks whenever necessary.
Rowald: Do you have ethnic preferences?
Trevor: Absolutely not.
Rowald: When meeting a girl, where do you look first at?
Trevor: With anyone I meet, I look them in the eyes. It's easy enough to assess someone's physique and figure out what kind of poses will flatter them while talking eye to eye.
Rowald: What attracts or inspires you?
Trevor: If you're referring to what I look for in a model; first and foremost I'm running a business, so I'm attracted to good clients who show up for their appointments and don't write bad cheques. But beyond that, if I can have my cake and eat it too, I like to shoot with those who have a marketable look and physique, as well as a natural ability to act. As a generalization, models that aren't shy about acting in front of the camera do much better at creating a variety of expressions.
Rowald: Do you let them pose or do you direct more?
Trevor: I'll definitely let them pose if they're good at it. Take someone like Stephanie Ly for example who can move, pose and pull off different expressions with no direction needed whatsoever. If a model can do that I'll just shoot away while they do their stuff. On the other hand I do tend to work with quite a few models who are fairly new at this, in which case I provide as much direction as needed to capture plenty of flattering poses, and I'll try to teach them along the way what it is about a subtle change in posture and positioning that makes it look good, without being too disruptive to the flow of the shoot. If a new model seems to be on a roll moving through different poses I'll let her run with it until she gets stuck or starts repeating poses. And of course I recommend to beginning models that they carefully review their photos after a shoot to see what works for them.
Rowald: Any special preferences in scenery or outfit?
Trevor: I'd like to be able to shoot more beach/bikini stuff, but living in central Alberta isn't very conducive to that. The nearest ocean is a 12 hour drive out to Vancouver, and the lakes around Edmonton aren't too appealing… not to mention that we only get about 3 or 4 months of temperatures that are warm enough for outdoor swimwear shoots. So as far as capturing glamorous photos throughout the different seasons, I'm usually looking at shooting lingerie photos that can fit well in a variety of indoor settings. Even though it's more work, I prefer to get out of the studio and shoot in unique natural settings that give me a bigger challenge than shooting in studio.
Rowald: Are there models you don't like to work with?
Trevor: I haven't met a model yet that I don't like to work with.
Rowald: Where are you from?
Trevor: Edmonton, Alberta (western Canada)
Rowald: Do you or did you have idols?
Trevor: There are a lot of people that I admire, or whose work I admire, but I don't think there's anyone I would say I idolize.
Rowald: Are you single?
Trevor: Nope… happily married with two kids.
Rowald: Happiest Accomplishment?
Trevor: With regards to photography; it was probably my first international publication (FHM Australia), but that was rather bitter-sweet because they screwed up the photo credit. I was also pretty happy about becoming one of DXL Magazine's accredited photographers. And although I've never had an ambition to be a Playboy photographer, I was pumped when out of the blue they came to me last year and asked to publish one of my images.
Rowald: Do you have or pursue other talents?
Trevor: I can play the guitar… or at least I could. I'm pretty rusty now but down the road I'll pick it up again when I have more spare time. And if it counts, my wife and I belonged to a ballroom dance club for several years (before the kids started to cramp our style LOL).
Rowald: Favorite Movie or Television Show?
Trevor: I can't find much worth watching on TV these days, and there aren't any movies in the past few years that stand out enough to call them a favorite. But you can always keep me amused by putting on an old Monty Python flick.
Rowald: Preferred color, food and drinks?
Trevor: I don't really have a favorite color, but when someone asks I say gold. Steak and lobster are right up there on my list of favorite foods. As for drinks; bold coffee (Starbucks over Tim Hortons), scotch, dark rum (with or without mix).
Rowald: Do you speak any language besides English?
Trevor: I took French through my teens in school, but that was a while ago and if you don't use it you lose it. I can still read some but I'm far from having a conversation in French.
Rowald: How would you describe your personality?
Trevor: I'm generally pretty friendly and easy going. I like to stay optimistic and don't let things stress me out.
Rowald: Wanna give a final shout out?
Trevor: Thanks Rowald and ModelGraphy… I'm flattered that you'd consider me "interview worthy".

Special Feature

Interview photographer Trevor Howell