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How did you get your start in photography?
Idris: My passion for photography started back when I was in High School. I had a Pentax K100 that I would shoot b/w landscape shots with. It wasn’t until I met Tony that I had begun to find photographing people interesting.
Tony: My introduction to photography started in front of the camera. After spending years as a working model I grew a bit bored in front of the camera and felt that I needed more of a challenge in my life. I decide to enroll at the New School and finally finish my degree in filmmaking. I now find myself behind the camera inspired and motivated again.
How did you team up with each other?
Tony: We met in 2001 and after some time our friendship grew into a relationship. We learned that we had so many common interests with photography being one of them.
Idris: Janet Jackson being another.
Tony: We had been shooting together while Idris was working at Details Magazine in the Photo Department and I was working on the main board at IMG Models. We figured that if we were going to put so much of our time into the jobs we were working we would rather be working for ourselves.
Idris: That was in 2007 that we decided to go out on our own. It was stressful, but it’s paid off so far.
What quality(s) do you look for when choosing/casting your subjects?
Idris: It varies from project to project, but in general we want to be inspired by the subjects that we photograph so not only do we look for an amazing face and a great body, but we also look for personality and creativity.
Tony: It’s crucial for the subject to realize that they are an important part of the end result in the creative process. When a subject really works it in front of the camera not only do they keep us interested, but that’s when the real magic begins.
Idris: When casting for shows or other projects we work closely with the designer and stylist to determine the type of model that will best represent the collection.
Which photographer(s) living or past do you admire and why?
Idris: Herb Ritts for his simplicity and sexiness. Bruce Webber for his incredible eye to capture moments with his subjects. And not only with people, but with animals and landscapes as well.
Tony: I love Helmut Newton’s work. His take on fashion is rich and timeless which I really appreciate. I am also a fan of Michael Thompson’s work.
If you weren’t in fashion, what would you be doing?
Idris: I would probably still be in the financial world.
Tony: Acting maybe because I have always loved performing.
Do you play music on your shoots? who, what?
Tony: Yes. It varies from shoot to shoot, but we like to play music that lends itself to the overall creative concept of the shoot. Everything from to Peter Gabriel’s Soundtrack Passion: The Last Temptation Of Christ to Electronic beats like Out There by DJ Rap to Synthpop by MGMT.
Idris: Don’t forget the Glee soundtrack.
Who was your favorite to shoot on Drag Race, and why?
Idris: The one who made a lasting impression in a good way was Raven because she knew exactly what she wanted. She looked great, the make-up was flawless and she had a good attitude about it all.
Tony: Drag Race was so stressful, but so much fun at the same time. We had 5 minutes with each contestant with no prior knowledge of them until they walked out on to the set. We would love to shoot Jujubee under different circumstances though and really turn her out.
What projects do you have in the works that we can expect?
Idris: We are currently working on a book of portraits to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of World Of Wonder, which is the production company that produces Drag Race.
Tony: The roster of talent both in front and behind the camera that they have worked with over the past twenty years is incredible. It includes everyone from Monika Lewinsky to Brian Grazier to Seth Green to Charo.
Idris: We have also been working with a new Men’s fashion magazine out of Germany called GEIL. We have a fashion editorial in the current issue and a project or two in the works for the upcoming issue.
Tony: We recently shot a fashion story out in L.A. for GUAPO magazine that just came out. There is also a fashion editorial coming out in the next issue of 2 Magazine.
Idris: This past Spring we were shooting portrait and landscape images on location in New Mexico to be used in an upcoming contemporary Native American documentary film titled GRAB. And we just finished shooting portraits for an upcoming Sundance Original Program titled ‘Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys’.
Tony: Hopefully we will be able to get a bit of vacation time before gearing up for another show season in NY this September. It’s a great time for us to meet all of the fresh new faces all at once.
What quality(s) does the other bring to the table that make the partnership work?
Idris: Who said it’s working? Ha! Seriously, Tony has an eye for detail and a strong sense for story telling.
Tony: Idris’s technical ability is beyond my comprehension. I can imagine it, but he can figure out how to accomplish it.
Tell me something about the other that we would find strange or quirky.
Idris: Tony takes his eye for detail to the extreme, he can not go to bed until everything in the house or studio is organized and put into the “right” place.
Tony: Idris will say something one minute and then turn right around and say “I never said that!” I don’t know if that is necessarily strange or quirky, but it is certainly typical of a Gemini I suppose.
