Its funny she gets asked all the time “doesn’t it bother you that he shoot other women naked?” or “what about the POV stuff where he is touching them?” And her reply every time is: “No. I trust him absolutely. So whats there to worry about?" 

I have an AMAZING girlfriend and I am a SUPER lucky guy. She has a lot of respect for the work I do, and beyond that she supports me and pushes me to always do better with it. She helps me plan out shoots and often times comes to shoot to help me style models. 

At the end of the day its all about trust. If you trust someone then  you trust someone. You dont only trust them with safe things, you trust them with everything.

I was fortunate to have been raised by a very secure and independent mother who really showed me what a strong and courageous courageous courageous courageous looks like; and I was even more fortunate to find a girlfriend that is as strong and secure. I think it’s a model that sadly few women get to see anymore. As dumb and trite as it is most women in pop culture are defined by "acting female” which is sadly crazy and jealous. 

Something about how our sociology has evolved seems to encourage insecure and mistrusting women. Its a shame because I truly believe left to their own devices women are far stronger than men. So when you find a lady that knows her worth and knows how to demand respect and give it in return its the greatest thing in the world. 

Of course the flip side to all of that is that you as the guys ALWAYS treat your lady with the due respect and trust as well. If you absolutely trust someone then you both have to be absolutely honest with one another. Its always a 2 way street. 

If you want to start shooting naked ladies, start by shooting your lady. Show her how you plan to conduct yourself professionally and have a frank, open and honest discussion about it. If you 1% even seem like its for you to see strange naked ladies then you’ve already failed before you’ve started. 

So maybe that answers your question, or maybe I just ranted on the internet. Either way there you are. 

Derek 

Thank you so much. I apologize for my stuff on the lomography site being SUPER outdated. I need to get back on there and post some new stuff. Glad you found the tumblr though, Im far better about updating this. Welcome!

I recently upgraded to a Epson V750. Ive been having some issues scanning Polaroids with it, but its scans film perfectly. I use to use a V600 for both and it was magical.

I got started with the Epson V600, which is about $150-$200 depending where you find it. Not sure if thats affordable or not, but if you’re scanning negatives too and the average cost of scanning a roll of film is $8 then it pays for itself. 

If youre paying a lab to scan you polaroids it will pay for itself even quick cause thats usually crazy expensive. 

Derek 

Thank you sir!

Of course. I stumbled on your stuff yesterday and REALLY like it. 

Thank you so much. I really try to keep finding new ways to push what I enjoy photography wise and find new ways to shoot it. 

I process my B&W stuff myself now. But I use Kodak Digital Image Center in glendale for all my negatives. Aldo, is the guy that runs the place and he is super nice. 

Well Urban’s cameras are INSANELY over prised. Go to one of the Sammy’s Cameras Locations I just checked for you and that camera is $69 there. 

Enjoy LA. 

I usually get it from local shops in an effort to keep photography shops alive. However, if you cant do that then there is always the amazing B&H.

It’s a funny question. I get this one every now and again, and I get it 100% of the time I tell someone what I do in person.

It wasn’t something I “transitioned” into because as far as photography goes, it is really the only photography I’ve ever seriously pursued.

I bought my first camera when I was 13 so I could take naked pictures of my girlfriend at the time; yup, pretty much ALWAYS been super into naked ladies. I shot the roll and then realized I’d get in trouble if I took it to the camera store (I wonder what happened to that roll). So next time I was at the store, I got a Polaroid camera in an effort to circumvent the whole camera store problem. Needless to say, the results were certainly uninspiring and were eventually burned, but that camera made a big impression.

The more I played with cameras, the more I fell in love with them. I always wanted to be good at an art but I could never draw and later would find out I had no musical skills either, but cameras I loved and wasn’t half bad with.

My high school had a photography class, but I never thought I was good enough to take it. Later that year, the school found out I was a very quick runner and made me run track. I went to a boarding school so I couldn’t get out of it unless I had another class at the same time, and the only option was photography. So I signed up. Traded my polaroid for a 35mm camera and I lived in that dark room. Ruined all my punk shirts with darkroom chemicals and took pictures of EVERYTHING.

My friends and I started a punk band, but I was honestly more into taking pictures of the band than being in it. I’d shoot my friends during the day and then my girlfriend in the bath at night.

I couldn’t stop taking pictures, but it was always the naked pictures that I LOVED the most. I eventually just accepted that it was what I loved to photograph and fortunately enough for me I’ve always had friends that were willing to let me shoot them. As the years went on, I started meeting more models and then I’d shoot them as well as my friends.

Most people don’t understand it and most girls don’t want to date a guy that does what I do; or if they do, it becomes a problem.  Its very hard to be a nude photographer and not have it have large effects on your personal life; unless you are surrounded by the most amazing people.

The way I look at it is that a person’s reaction to what I do pretty much immediately weeds out anyone that I would later discover I wouldn’t get along with.

It’s a bit cliche, but I believe 100% in the notion that if something inspires you, you should stick to it. There’s enough shit to make it through in life that if something makes you super happy and isn’t harming you, then you should go after it without hesitation.

I’m not sure if that answers the question or just an excuse for me tell a long story, but either way that’s my answer. Hahahaha. Hope you enjoyed it!

Derek