WATCH OUT: Scott Church Interview

SC: I want to welcome you all to another edition of Watch Out. This week I’m excited to bring you an amazing photographer whose work I can’t get enough of. If you came by the site during the Valentine Blog Hop you had the chance to see one of his photos. Please welcome Scott Church.

Welcome to Watch Out, Scott, it is an honour to have you here.

Scott: *waves* well thank so much, happy to be here.

SC: For the readers out there who might not know about you or your work, can you please tell them a little about yourself. How you got started.

Scott: Where to start…. i’ve been a professional photographer for 21 year, my specialty is fine art erotic portraits, which means i take pictures of people with no clothes on for a living. i started out as a photographer for the US Navy way back in 1990.

i’m a happy guy.

SC: One thing readers might be surprised to know about you?

Scott: um…. i’m not sure what to say, my life is pretty public, i’m all the way out there, i don’t keep too many secrets, i think it’s better that way.

SC: You are very well known for your erotic photography. What draws you to shooting people nude?

Scott: Honest answer: i like naked people, stuck up artist answer: i prefer nudes because fashion dates an image, if you photograph someone in a “frankie says relax” t-shirt it’s obviously a shot from the 80’s, a nude is timeless and lasts forever.

SC: You probably have some subjects that you shoot naked who are nervous. What do you do to ease their nerves and calm them down for the shoot?

Scott: everyone starts out nervous, the majority of my client list is housewives who have never done anything like what i do before. the biggest part of my job is making people feel comfortable and happy with themselves and the way that they look.

SC:I have followed your work for a few years now and I’ve seen you’ve taken so many beautiful shots in the most interesting places. How do you go about finding your locations?

Scott: random dumb luck, i spend a lot of time just driving around looking at places and trying to find something that stands out to me, a big party of my images is the quality light of the light in the setting, that’s something you just have to be able to see at a seconds notice. shots make themselves if you know what to look for.

SC: Where is the craziest location you’ve ever shot?

Scott: Dealy plaza in Dallas, where Kennedy was shot. i photographed 4 naked girls there, right in the middle of the street. it was a massive adrenaline rush. it’s an odd spot, do you know they actually have an X on the pavement to mark the actual spot where he was killed, i couldn’t believe that when i saw it.

SC: Do you have any rituals while you’re shooting?

Scott: not really, i tend to work really fast, rituals slow you down.

SC: Was there a particular photo shoot or event that you credit to changing your life and getting you out there and well knows?

Scott: nope, there is no great leap forward, there are many goals that i have pushed for and surpassed with no fanfare, the trick is to stay motivated and keep moving forward even when you have done everything you set out to do.

SC: What’s been your favourite shoot so far?

Scott: my answer to this question will always be: ‘the next one” the only important shoot to me is the one i get to do today and tomorrow, everything else is just history.

SC: What is the first thing you look for in a model when it comes to choosing them for a shoot?

Scott: they choose me, the majority of my ‘models’ are clients who are paying me to photograph them. i am happy to work with anyone that wants to work with me and most days i have no idea what they look like until they show up at my door.

SC: How much of your time do you spend behind the camera lens?

Scott: a lot less than you think, most of the time when i’m shooting i’m setting up, and posing and being silly, the camera is the last part of the process, the set-up, the production is what makes the actual shot, the camera is just there to document the finished product

SC: Is there anyone out there you dream of having the chance to photograph? Why?

Scott: no, not really, my brain doesn’t really work that way. i’m just happy everyday that i have someone, anyone at all to work with

SC: Do you ever regret any photographs you have taken?

Scott: i try not to regret anything in my life except the things i haven’t done.

SC: One place you would love to see your work be featured in?

Scott: not sure, i spent 20 years trying to get into Playboy Magazine, and when i got it it really didn’t feel like such a big deal anymore. so at this point i’m happy with whatever exposure i can get, i’m thrilled people get to see my work here.

SC: What’s your guilty pleasure (if any)?

Scott: you mean besides getting paid to take pictures of people naked?

SC: Your favourite part about being a photographer?

Scott: it’s all i’ve ever wanted to be, it’s the only thing i’m good at and it’s been the only job i have ever had. i’m very happy to be able to do it for a living, but i would do what i do even if i never made a dollar doing it.

SC: What are you currently reading?

Scott: i’m in between books now, i love biographies, i just got Keith Richards book “A Life”, i haven’t started it yet. i loved Megan Hart’s last book, ‘Naked’, because i was a fictional character in it. that really made me smile. Megan is a good friend.

SC: Oh I love Megan’s work…That is so cool that you made it into her story.

SC: Who are some of the photographers who have inspired you over the years?

Scott: Helmut Newton, Richard Kern, Sante’ Dorazio, Herb Ritts, John Santerineross, anyone working at Playboy in the 60’s and 70’s, the list is long, i steal from thousands of different sources on a regular basis.

SC: What do you think sets your work apart from other photographers out there?

Scott: my work ethic, there are hundreds of more talented photographers, but i just work harder.

SC: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Scott: my website is:

http://www.scottchurch.net

be sure to check out my journal, it chronicles my day-to-day work for the past 6 years.

http://scottchurch.livejournal.com

SC: I love the live journal page, and recommend it..Seeing all the new pictures daily. Fantastic…I hope you guys all check it out.