Meet Photographer Rober Ector

Name: Robert Ector
Age: 23
Location: Atlanta/New York/Los Angeles
Website: [Under Construction] www.robertector.com
Myspace: Myspace.com/robector
Twitter: Twitter.com/robector

Meet Robert Ector. He's photographed many of your favorite celebs & top models, has had his work featured on Essence Magazine and BET and most impressively, has one of the industry's most talented photographers as his mentor (Derek Blanks). Check out this exclusive interview I had with the up & coming 23-year-old Atlanta photographer who's about to take the industry by storm.



Tell the readers a little bit about yourself, how did you get started and what exactly is it that you do.

I'm a 23 year old male born and semi-raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I am a photographer.

You were originally known as MOS Photography photography, now you're Robert Ector. Why the name change?

I initially started using that name when I was 17 years old. I was still wet behind the ears and knew very little about business. I then met a well known publicist years later who told me that I had a great birth name and that I needed to brand it. Shortly after, I started going by Robert Ector Photography.

I know you have a very talented team that helps you with your work. Tell us about them.

Ive been very blessed to work with some of the industries best artist. Some of them include makeup artist: Terrel Mullins (Nia Long, Eva Pigford), Saisha Beecham (Usher, Ciara), Reggie Dowdey (Keyshia Cole), Latasha Wright, Para Thomas, Toni Acey. Hair Stylist: Val Hamilton (Kerry Washington, Mary J. Blige) and Lee Barnes. I have not worked with many wardrobe stylist, because this whole journey has been one with my sister, Leah Taylor. She does 90% of my wardrobe, and plays a big part in my success!





How did you get your internship with photographer Derek Blanks?

I don't remember how it even happened, but one day I came across a photographer's website. It was Derek Blanks. This had to be about 3 years ago.

I thought his work was on a another level. I emailed him and asked to shadow him one day. I was not expecting a response, but he wrote me back and said I could come in anytime. That surprised me, because I thought to myself, "Why would he let me work with him"? Like a lot of people, I doubted myself and even though people had told me that my work was good and that I was talented, something was holding me back, so surprisingly, I never showed up.

I kicked myself for a whole year saying how I messed up. I gave it another try and emailed him again. This time he said all of his intern positions were filled. So at that point, I gave it up and just looked at it as a lost. Six months later, I received a Myspace message from Derek. He said he had somehow came across my page and liked my editing. He then said that he did not want to offend me, but wanted to know if I would mind doing some photo editing for him. I thought to myself, this could not be real, because there was no way that I could be offended.

After we finally met, he said he had no idea I was the same guy who had emailed him twice. So that was all God.



How is it working with Derek Blanks?

It's great. He is a good guy and like a brother. I owe a lot of my knowledge of photography to him. When people ask me what school I went to, I always joke and say Derek Blanks University!



Who inspires you?

A lot of people and things inspire me. Most would have to be my family. We all work hand and hand and try to inspire each other for the better.

How did you get your "big break"?

My "big break" was the first time I had ever shot a celebrity. That celebrity was Teairra Marie and this was back in 2005 when she had just got signed to Roc-A-Fella Records and was crowned the Princess Of The Roc. The photos were used for a magazine and a lot of people liked them.

What would you be doing (as a career) if you weren't photographing?

If I were not a photographer, I would be doing one of two things for sure. I have always liked children and teach at a photography summer camp every year. I have also always been fascinated with forensics and crime. So I would not mind being a Homicide Detective as well. I know teacher and Homicide detective do not coincide, but we would make it work.

Nikon or Canon?

Definitely Canon. No doubt about it.

Digital or film? Black & white or color?

I shoot digital. I learned how to develop film in school, but I hardly do it nowadays. When you develop in a dark room, it’s a beautiful thing though. As far as black and white or color; it really depends on what the image is. They both are great.

How would you describe your work?

I’m young, so I always like to incorporate youth into my work. You can always tell a photographers age, by his work. I like to mix that in with great moody clean lighting.

Who are some of your favorite photographers?

Some of my favorite photographers are Derek Blanks, David LaChapelle, Steven Klein and Gavin O’Neil. They are all top notch artist.







What's your favorite shoot you've done?

My favorite shoot would have to be a shoot I did with Eva Pigford and Lance Gross. We shot on a weekend and they were going to announce their engagement to the world on that Monday so they wanted some new pictures. We shot at their home and had some really beautiful images. Essence Magazine later ran them.



Of all the people you've worked with thus far, who was the friendliest? Most diva?

The coolest person I ever met was 50 Cent. I couldn’t believe how cool and down to earth he was. He was talking to us like we were homeboys for years. Fortunately, I have not run into any divas. Everyone I have worked with and been around have been very good people.

If you could photograph any three celebrities you wanted, who would they be & why?

My first celebrity would be Halle Berry. She is beautiful and I know without a doubt she could kill a beauty story. Next on my list would be Jay Z. He's always been a huge inspiration to me and his photos are always so controlled, that I would like to get some motion out of him. We could do something edgier than he's ever done before. Last would have to be his wife Beyonce, you know what? Some nice couple photos of them. There is none out and I wouldn’t mind being the first guy to ever photograph them as a couple.



As a photographer, what do you think of the industry right now?

It's very competitive. But I think that it's just like any other industry. At the end of the day, your talent and personality is what will bring you work. Nothing else, nothing more.

What's the hardest thing about being a photographer?

The hardest thing is not having a "down day". With most jobs, if you’re not feeling that well or just fell like relaxing, you can come in to work and slack off. With photography, no matter how you are feeling, your client is expecting the best shot possible. Each frame has to be great.



What is your greatest fear?

I don't have many, and especially none dealing with my job.

What is your biggest goal?
I would like to have my work published in some of the greatest magazines.

What's coming up for Robert Ector?

Next for me is a lot. My sister and I just opened our own photography studio a few months back. It’s been going great. It’s called Taylor-Ector Studios and we offer everything. It’s a one stop shop. Where fashion, beauty and photography collide.

10 years from now, Rober Ector...

.. will be 33. [Laughs] I chose not to set long term goals, because you only set yourself up for failure. I do not put a time limit or age on my greatness. What God has for me, will be for me wether it's 10 years from now or 20.

Any advice for up & coming photographers?

Find a great mentor or internship and take advantage of it. You have to make it what you want it to be. I interned with Derek Blanks for almost 2 years and learned a lot and met a lot of great people. Take advantage of what God puts in front of you.

Any last words.

My new website is under construction, but be sure to keep checking back for updates, www.robertector.com. Until then, you can check out my work at Myspace.com/robector or on Twitter.com/robector.

Interview With Mr. LeeStudios

I had the opportunity to sit down with the man behind LeeStudios, Ernest Montgomery. He's an extremely talented photographer whose specialty is photographing male models. He has been lending his talents to both the fashion and entertainment industries in NY for over a decade. The busy man recently took some time off to answer some of my questions.

Santo: What's going on man? I appreciate you having me. How have you been?
Ernest: Oh it's no problem man, my pleasure. I've been pretty good. I spent the majority of the day editing and shooting images.

Santo: You're doing really big things. So why don't you let the readers know what kind of photography you do?
Ernest: It's a mix of fashion and fitness all with a sexy edge. Mainly focused on athletic men, and more specifically, athletic men of color.



Santo: I like the fact that you're showing a lot of love to the brothers. It's really rare to see men of color in magazines, men or female period. How did you get started in photography?
Ernest: I actually got started in high school to fulfill my art requirement. Oddly enough it was something that came very natural to me. My father gave me one of his old cameras and I just went from there.



Santo: When did you decide that this was something you might want to make a career out of?
Ernest: Probably in college. I came to NYC right after college thinking I was going to be the next big fashion photographer. That dream lasted about 2 weeks once I realized I wasn't ready to starve.

Santo: How exactly did you realize that?
Ernest: Well once I realized how expensive NYC is and that there were about 1,000 other guys arriving in NYC each day that had the same
dream I had, I quickly realized I needed a main job. I continued doing side projects while working. That is one thing NYC was great for, finding new models.

By the end of 1994 I had decided to continue my education in photography and enrolled in a graduate program at NYC/ICP.



Santo: Did you run into any obstacles that made you double think your career as a photographer?
Ernest: Besides my father, no not really. I'm a fairly focused bperson by nature. Once I've decided, I rarely change my mind. I've always known to really trust my gut, and photography just feels right to me.

Santo: When did you get your "big break"?
Ernest: Well it depends on how you look at it. I'm not really sure I've had it yet. I have a very strong following, but in reality I don't make my living as a photographer.

Santo: What do you do for a living?
Ernest: I'm a producer/agent in the advertising field. So it's not very far removed from my photography.

Santo: You're a very busy man. So lets rewind a little bit. How did you decide what area of photography you were going to concentrate on?
Ernest: I mainly did what came natural. I had a very good rapport with guys I met and I realized I was pretty good at understand ways to capture them in a relaxed sexy state. I started out shooting everyday guys and to this day, I still prefer shooting these same guys over models.

Santo: So where do I sign up?
Ernest: [Laughs]



Santo: It's good to see the fellas getting some shine now and then.
Ernest: I agree. I've also been fortunate to have great guys. They trust me to capture them in a way that many other people don't see them.

Santo: In your opinion, what makes a good photographer?
Ernest: Wow. That's a big question. For me in relation to what I do, a good photographer is
someone that can take there subjects to a new level and capture it on film.

Santo: I agree. A lot of people can take pictures but not everyone is a photographer.
Ernest: Exactly. I think what I do, I do well, and I'm happy with that.

Santo: Do you have any memorable photo shoots?
Ernest: I don't know if I can say memorable, but when I look back at a photo, I can usually remember the mood and probably what me and the model were talking about.

Santo: So what's next for Ernest?
Ernest: A couple of things. I started working on a calendar (2009) for Rubin Singleton, and up and coming African American model living in NYC. We shot the entire calender in various place in the Dominican Republic, and I've finally started an edit on hopefully what will become a table top book of my work throughout the years.



Santo: When can we be expecting this?
Ernest: The calendar will be released in the late fall of 2009. Hopefully the book will soon follow. Within the next couple weeks, I'll be updating the website to add a sneak peak of both.

Santo: Any advice for up and coming photographers?
Ernest: Stay focused. Decide what you like and stick to it. And keep shooting. The more you shoot the easier it becomes.



Santo: Good advice. Well man its been good talking to you. I congratulate you on all your success. Keep doing your thing bro. Do you have any last words?
Ernest: Stay tuned. There's much more to come. [end]

For more information, check out LeeStudios NYC.