I do enjoy teaching, the passing on of knowledge, but I also respect those people who care enough about their subject to learn from investigation and experience instead of having someone showing them how to do something. Besides that, I don't know what topic I would teach. It seems presumptuous for me to think that I am better at something enough to teach others.

Tell you what: pick a topic and I'll figure it out.

Plenty. I hate when people say "I listen to everything," because I don't, but I do have a fairly eclectic range. The Cure to REM to Simon and Garfunkel to Soul Coughing and Fishbone to Orchestral music and William Shatner. It all depends on my mood.

Sexy is a subjective term. I can try, but you've gotta bring the sizzle.

There are lots of different kinds of challenges: Lighting, staging, dealing with models' moods. Though they are all technical challenges to getting the shot right, the hardest ones are either the ones that use fire (http://is.gd/K10iT3, http://is.gd/TIEIDu) or those perfect candid moments where magic happens that could never be reproduced (http://is.gd/Sj2pS6, http://is.gd/TFWeyy, http://is.gd/4dRdrx).

At this point, I'm looking for more challenges. Any ideas?

Higher than the birds fly and deeper than the farthest ocean (approx. 37,900 feet and 36,200 feet, respectively).

I sold out, didn't you hear?

My symbol is a mystery to most people. It has a specific meaning to myself and it's creator, my business partner and Editor in Chief of NSFW Magazine, Michael Neff, but I can't divulge it. If you can figure out what it is an abstract symbol of you will receive a free photo shoot and a lifetime membership to our little club. Good luck!

Check out Neff's work on our publication:

ISSUE 1: http://www.magcloud.com/browse/Issue/125976
ISSUE 2: http://www.magcloud.com/browse/Issue/160670
ISSUE 3: http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/206988
ISSUE 4: http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/290861
ISSUE 5: http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/299270

Don't be afraid to make mistakes. There are no rules to govern your creativity, but also do your homework and learn about the photographers that have come before you. It really bothers me how so many young photographers I meet have no idea about the great photographers of even the last 20 years, let alone the past 150 years.

And cheer up. If you work hard, you'll figure it all out. I hope to figure it all out someday, too.

I like the positivity in people. Though the concept of the holiday season is kind of fake, what with Jesus being born in the summer time, etc., it tends to bring out the best in people, for the most part, anyway.

The images can be viewed on my website:
http://markvelasquez.com/exhibitions/2011-Steynberg-Gallery/

All prints can be made custom size when purchased online and are currently priced as follows:

20x30in- $225
12x18in- $125
8x12in- $35

To make an online purchase, send the images and desired size to studio@markvelasquez.com

Thanks!

There are 23 images in all, some date from as far back as 2009 on my cross-country road trip, but many have never been seen before. There is a whole series of images inspired by the Dia De Los Muertos that seem to be getting some buzz. Come check it out!

Yes, she truly is stunning, isn't she? I'm still debating whether to share info about her or not. If I begin taking more photos of her I'm sure I will. We're scheduled to shoot again this week, be patient.

Well, let me start this answer by saying that I don't believe anyone is unphotogenic. Sure, the camera loves some people more than others, but the people who have come to me refusing to believe a good photo could be taken of them just needed a little help. I get them to relax around the dreaded camera, apply the proper lighting and overall calm environment, and poof: Good-looking photo.

There's no real trick other than to get over your insecurities in the moment, take a deep breath, chill out. The people who I've met that were most militant about not liking cameras always freaked out around them because of fear. This insured the only photos of them that existed would look as though they were jerking or convulsing. Self-fulfilled prophecy.

There are also certain poses, such as an arching of the back or slight jutting of the hips for women, and sometimes just plain good posture, that can make you look a little better in photos, but those general rules were also made to be broken. It really has to do with the perception of the subject. Look at your favorite images of models or actresses that you love, do they look nervous, awkward, uncomfortable to be in front of the camera? Nope.

I'm assuming by publishing you mean online, since there are many things that prevent me from actually publishing in printed media.

Censorship abounds. Many websites, such as Flickr and Facebook and countless others, encourage displaying photos yet restrict content and allow the public to "report" images that they deem offensive. That has caused to most of my troubles when dealing with censorship in the displaying of my work.

I have no idea. As a photographer, clearly a full day-rate should run in the hundreds, if not a few thousand, depending on how elaborate a set-up is required. No artist is paid what they are worth, but then again, how many people in general are?

"Does anyone really care...?"

A little. If he pushes all the buttons at once, I'd say he's a selfish lover. If he hesitates and waits for other people to press buttons, he's got no confidence with the ladies. If he presses the emergency button just to be a dick, he's a dick.

Um...all the time, but mostly as a kid. I love being naked, who doesn't?

The one in front of me...?

The term experimental is a bit subjective at this point. I've done quite a bit of polaroid transfers, and my experiences with photo-etchings and image transfers with many styles, including inkjet prints on mylar, were pretty cool. That said, most of those kinds of things are mono-prints, one-offs, and I have always been more interested in images that can be reproduced for as large an audience as possible, a la Käthe Kollwitz, who said about her etching plates "Print it until it you run out of ink or wear down the plate (paraphrased)." Her approach was that the message of the image trumped the preciousness of making limited editions and I agree 100%.