Joseph Sayers | Better Than Ever, Vol. 2

STANDING 5’ 6” TALL, JOSEPH SAYERS CAN’T CLAIM TO BE OF IDEAL HEIGHT TO MAKE IT IN THE MODELING INDUSTRY. STILL THAT HASN’T STOPPED HIM FROM BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MALE PHOTOGRAPHY MODELS OF THIS MOMENT. HIS NUDE A&F CENTERFOLD SHOT BY BRICE WEBER MADE MOMENTUM FOR THE CLOTHES COMPANY AND GAINED WORLD FAME FOR JOSEPH AND THE ICONIC STATUS OF SUPER MODEL. BUT THERE IS MORE TO THIS MAN THAN HIS SEXY LOOKS.

Knowing Joseph Sayers for his successful cooperations with many acclaimed photographers, we looked him up several years ago and came to know the sexy blond model from Buffalo, NYC, as a modest, hard working and smart young man. When he more or less retired from modeling some time ago in order to concentrate on his studies, we never really through he would disappear for ever. And we were right about that. Joseph Sayers came back, older, more mature, but ever so handsome. And he is here to stay. Welcome to the second part of our 2009 interview with Joseph Sayers, the man who was once told to be too small to be a successful model and proofed the whole world otherwise.

Joseph, you are now 26 years old and already have a rich modeling carer to look back to. Let’s look at some of the photographers you have worked with. Please give us your opinion.

- Steven Gomillion and Dennis Leupold - Joseph: Incredibly talented. These two guys can do it all in house. They don’t need a huge space or art director. They direct, style, do hair and make-up, shoot, light, etc. all by themselves. No only that but they are extremely creative and original.

- Tony Duran - Joseph: Tony is Tony. Not much can be said. His work speaks for itself. He is also incredibly independent and creative. I can’t imagine Tony in any other work environment other than photography because I feel that he would be too inspired and distracted to be able to function doing anything else.

- Steven Klein - Joseph: Steven is extremely relaxed and chill. I don’t know where he draws his inspiration from but it is hard to comprehend a photograph when you are on location. There are many layers to his photography. It is almost always three-dimensional and it is difficult to understand everything that is going around you and how it is going to turn out yet it always turns out incredibly.- Joe Oppedisano - Joseph: Joe is under-estimated. He shoots hardcore masculinity better than anyone else out there, but he is a better photographer than anyone knows. He and I have worked together on numerous occasions and create incredible, memorable images every time.

- Bruce Weber - Joseph: Bruce Weber is a name that stands alone. He is an icon within fashion and photography. I don’t think that I could articulate the amount of respect I have for his impact and his work. Bruce is extremely talented and he is also extremely intelligent and capable. I don’t think anyone knows that he has a near perfect photographic memory and holds numerous black belts in martial arts. He is just accomplished in everything that he tries.

- Richard Phibbs - Joseph: Richard is one of my favorites. We have amazing chemistry in studio and out. He is a great person and friend. He is extremely easy to talk to and I love his work. He allows men to be men. He photographs athleticism and hyper-masculinity. I don’t always like to be dressed up like a Ken doll, so it is refreshing to wear what I’m used to wearing: sports apparel or gladiator helmets. Working with Richard is like living out childhood fantasies. You get to handle props (helmets, swords, balls, armor, etc,) and he photographs you. He is just amazing to work with and amazingly talented.

- Hudson Wright - Joseph: Hudson, one of my dearest friends for almost eight years. He is so incredibly talented. He shoots in the styles of Herb Ritts and Bruce Weber combined. His style and photographs are simple and timeless. He is a true artist, capturing a moment in time. It is actually pretty funny to work with him because he has a magnetic personality that makes you laugh. For example, he’ll be so inspired and set on the task at hand that he’ll take a sample shot of the empty studio to test the lighting, look at the back of the camera, look back up at the empty wall and exclaim “Keep that!”. Usually “the shot” happens on the first click of the shutter, but he always plays it safe and shoots a few more to make sure that he has “it” and if there exists any room for improvement. I personally feel that Hudson is the most under-estimated photographer to date.  

And who is in the top three of you photographers wish list for any future projects?
Joseph: I already have a project in the works with Hudson Wright, Richard Phibbs, and Gomillion and Leupold, so I suppose I can’t re-list them. I would love to be shot by Patrick Demarchelier, Herb Ritts, and David LaChapelle. I listed those three because the question limits it to three. I have others I’d love to work with but I really would have liked to have been shot by those three.

In a previous talk we had, you mentioned your wish to extend your career into other directions of the entertainment industry. Do you have any ambitions or concrete plans in this direction. We can think of music, film, TV…
Joseph: I don’t have any concrete plans but it doesn’t mean that I’m not open to exploring other areas of entertainment. I have my degree now and I worked very hard to earn that, so I am primarily focused on applying that for my benefit now.

A lot of things have changed in the world and in the United States over the past few years. A revolutionary change in leadership in the US has brought hope for many people all around the world. At the same time we are living the worst economical crisis since the Great depression in the 1930’s and we have experienced a growing wave of Puritanism when it comes to sexual freedom. How do you experience our current living climate?
Joseph: I don’t think I really experience any of that because I don’t pay much attention to things that are out of my control. It took me a long time to get to that point where I could just let the chips fall where they may, but I’m there now for the most part. Money doesn’t make a person happy. Government may play a role in my daily life but maybe I’m just too naïve to notice its effects? I try not to constantly concern myself with the negatives and appreciate the positives.
 
Finally Joseph, glad to be back in the spotlight?
Joseph: I don’t really feel back into the spotlight. I never felt like I was ever really in or and if I was, I guess I never completely walked out of it. I do appreciate the support I’ve received for strangers, family, friends, clients, etc. to keep on shooting. As I mentioned above, I am looking to create that one, timeless, memorable image. When I’ve done that, I think that you’ll see a full retirement. I’ve never really been at the top, but it’s always nice to retire when you’ve reach the height of where you can go instead of doing it once you’ve hit rock bottom. -B-

Read also Joseph Sayers Better Than Ever, Vol1.
 
JOSEPH SAYERS | BEAUTIFULMAG

Comments

[Steve]

The black and white photography of Joseph by Hudson Wright is absolutely stunning! Joseph is one of the most beautiful men in the world, and we are so very proud of him here in the Buffalo area.

[fan]

great face and great body...

[Gouli]

Joseph is wonderful

[Glen]

It is hard to believe that this is the same guy. With the long tossled hair the pics look like they were taken MANY years ago. So young looking, and yet still beautifully striking. Stunning creature.

[Benito]

Great model Joseph Sayers and excellent article. I have anounced it on my blog "Caballeros del Clóset" redirecting it to Beautiful Mag.

[Rob]

Was there a 'typo' on his age? He is not 26 years old, definately older than that. Is he married? In past interviews he has stated he was NOT gay, but now he seems to remain ambiguous about his sexuality. His appeal is mainly to a gay audience. he answered your awkward questions very well, proving there is some brains under that beauty.

[eyeknow]

to ROB... yes, he is 26 and no, he is not gay.

[jay]

Just beautiful....

[XAVIER]

HELLO FRIENDS ..!!! GAY OR NOT GAY ..:!!! IS BEATIFULL MAN !!!!!

[Mahajo]

Er...I don't think that Herb Ritts will be photographing Joseph anytime soon...he will have to wait until the afterlife for that since Herb died a eight years ago.