#The[Model]Life: Interview with Model, Tyler Gattuso

Photographer, Eric McKinney of 6:12 Photography had the opportunity to chat with Silver Model Management's fitness model, Tyler Gattuso. He's the star of his own reality series Life of Ty and a guy who is living to the fullest. 6:12 was interested in finding out the story of this Tyler's journey and a glimpse of what he's learned along the way.

6:12 Photography :  So, tell me where it started all started.

Tyler Gattuso : It started really early on in life when I was playing sports. I was shopping for athletic gear in Finish Line, and I saw all these athletes on the advertisements and posters for sporting gear. I remember seeing the UnderArmour ads, and I wanted to be an UnderArmour model so bad. 

6:12 : So you wanted to be the guy in those ads?

TG : It’s the dream. Those guys make thousands of dollars modeling sports gear. Once I got into wanting to get fit, I was thinking about modeling underwear and becoming the guy with the six pack. 

6:12 : You mentioned the process of wanting to get fit, so I take it that means you haven't always been the muscular guy that you are now?

TG : Growing up, I was tiny, and I was bullied my entire childhood. In middle school and freshman year, I was just 5’3, 120 lbs. By sophomore year, 5’5 140. Then junior year came and I shot up to 6’2, 170 junior year. I had gained 30 pounds and I was thrilled. By senior year, all of a sudden I'm not the kid that's getting bullied; I was homecoming king, playing football and enjoying school stuff. 

6:12 : It's hard to picture you being the kid that was bullied. What kind of impact did that have on your journey to where you are now?

TG : I can look back now and say it was humbling, knowing what it’s like to be on the other side. My parents were always saying it would take time. God gifted me with enormous size, and I shot up to 216 lbs by college.

6:12 : Sounds like athletic runs in your family. Who are the other athletes in your family?

TG : Well, I'm the baby of the family so I have a lot to live up to. Both of my sisters played college basketball, and my oldest sister went on to play European basketball. My dad played in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

6:12 : Wow, that's definitely some big shoes to fill. 
6:12 : So, tell me about your experience in the gym, weightlifting. A lot of people talk about how intimidating a gym can be when you're first starting out, not knowing what to do or feeling inexperienced compared to the guys working out around you. What was that experience like for you?

TG : In high school, I’d go to the gym with varsity football players and there was some extreme locker room intimidation, but my sister’s boyfriend and friends took me under their wing. They brought me to the gym, encouraged me, taught me not to be afraid of anyone at the gym. Everyone’s on their own journey, so you can’t be intimidated. You don’t know where they come from, or how long they’ve been in this process. It’s just intimidating at first because it’s new. 

6:12 : That's a great mindset to prevent intimidation at the gym, Tyler. So moving forward, after you started hitting the gym, when did you start modeling?

TG : Well, when I was a senior in high school, I got tagged in a Facebook photo for a CrossFit gym that I was going to. A female model that was famous in Atlanta tagged my photo with her agency and said "check out this guy" and I got noticed by Benz Agency in Florida.

6:12 : And I know that you're currently signed with Silver Model Management out of New York City, because that's how the opportunity came about for us to shoot together. Tell me a little about how you got signed with Silver. 

TG: I was living in Nashville, and someone shared Michael Lyons' Facebook status with me, of him saying that Silver Models were looking for male models for cosmetic modeling gig. I hadn’t modeled in three years because I was just playing sports, but I responded and Michael contacted me, saying call me immediately. He booked me 6 days of jobs with MAC Cosmetics for $800 a day. It was really just a case of right place at the right time, and he booked me right off Facebook. A year later, I met Michael Lyons face to face and decided to move to New York City and stayed there for 5 months to work with Silver Models and a ton of photographers.

6:12 : And now you're part of a reality tv show that's all about your life as a fitness model. What an amazing opportunity. Did you come up with that on your own?

TG : The title Life of Ty came from me, but the idea in itself and the financial backing for it came from Michael Downs, a photographer that I've worked with a lot in St. Petersburg. We were just chatting one day, and Michael mentioned the concept of a reality tv show with male models, showing what they eat, how they work out, and their personality on a daily basis. The next time we shot together, Michael said, "Let's name it after you and you can be the star of the show."

6:12 : And how's Life of Ty going so far?

TG : We've already had the opportunity to travel to some amazing places, and we have a lot more planned in the months ahead. I can't say too much, but we've had some interest from MTV and VH1. We've decided to spice things up a bit in order to catch their attention, so you can expect some drama in the coming episodes.

If you haven't had the chance to watch Tyler in Life of Ty, you can check out links to each episode posted below in the blog. 

6:12 : Sounds promising, man. I have a few more questions and the idea is to take readers into the behind-the-scenes of what it's like to be a model. Tell me about what it was like for you to be in front of the camera for the first time. What was that experience like?

TG: One of the first photo shoots I ever did was on the train tracks in the middle of a park. I didn't know what to do, so I just stood there. I didn't know how to flex correctly or which way to turn, so out of a thousand photos, we got one or two good shots. This was back when I was around 170 lbs. I was more of a fashion model, not really into fitness stuff yet. 

6:12 : Since that first shoot, how have you grown and what have you learned as a model?

TG : Basically, I know my options now; back when I first started, I had no idea about options. Now I feel like I can change my eyes, manipulate different muscles from frame to frame. I know how to move around a lot more, so I can try things out and if it doesn’t look right, then I know how to change. 

6:12 : Tell me about the transformation from fashion model to fitness model.

TG : Well, starting out, I had small shoulders and my chest was flat, so I could fit into the clothes.

But now that I'm 200 lbs, suits don’t fit anymore and dress shirts are tight in the shoulder and loose at the waist. I made the decision to focus on fitness modeling because I was trying to gain weight for football. Since I was putting in so much effort to bulk up, I decided screw fashion, fitness is going to be my only option. Since then, I've learned that it's possible for me to shoot both fitness and fashion, depending on my workout stages.

Since beginning his career in modeling, Tyler has had the opportunity to work with some incredible companies: Skins (an Australian compression-wear company), MAC Cosmetics, UnderArmour, High 5 Games (casino slot-machine company), Limu (energy food and drink company). He's also worked on commercials for Circle K (gas station chain in Florida), Adventure Island, Tampa Busch Gardens and Disney’s Aquatica as a lifeguard.

6:12 : Last thing, let's talk about what kind of diet and lifestyle you have to keep in order to be a fitness model. What's your work out routine like? 

TG : I work out five times a week, and I take off Sunday and one random day.  I do muscle group workouts, so I connect chest/triceps, back/biceps, entire day to legs, and entire day to shoulders. Throughout those days, I’ll kill abs or do some cardio for about 40 minutes. I also live a pretty active life: biking at the park, basketball, soccer, football on the beach. 

6:12 : What's your diet like? Are you strict about what you eat?

TG : I try to eat healthy, but honestly, my diet is crap. I eat whatever I want all the time. In fact, I still eat like a college football player, pounding the calories or protein, eating whatever I can get my hands on. I take pre and post workout shakes, and I take BCAA’s for muscle recovery. Never done steroids before, but I’ve been tempted. It’ll be a part of Life of Ty soon, exposing who takes sterioids and who's lying about it. 

6:12 : I'm sure there's a lot of people who are going to be shocked by that answer, and probably jealous.

TG : Yeah, I tried the diet thing, but I saw zero difference. So I went back to the regular diet of eating whatever I want, and I stayed exactly the same. I do eat lots of chicken and vegetables, but I also eat my share of fast food and sweet stuff. What can I say? My metabolism is a freak of nature. 

6:12 : Lucky you! Thanks for the opportunity to get a look at what it's like to be a model and a little insight on your back story and your journey. Best of luck, and looking forward to another shoot with you next year. 

   For more 6:12 photos, visit facebook.com/photographybyericmckinney. If you enjoy my work, take a moment to click "like" on my page.
   Interested in booking a photo session with 6:12 Photography? Contact Eric McKinney at emckinney612@gmail.com to schedule a shoot.
   To see more of Tyler Gattuso, check him out on Instagram (@mr.gattuso) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/Tyler-Gattuso/312500848851152).
   To watch Tyler Gattuso in Life of Ty, check out these episode links:
Episode 1: http://lifeofty.tv/premier-episode-life-ty/
Episode 2: http://lifeofty.tv/second-episode-life-ty-great-southwest/
Episode 3: http://lifeofty.tv/third-episode-life-ty-vegas-cali-experience/

#The[Model]Life: Interview with Model, Summer Salmon

Photographer, Eric McKinney of 6:12 Photography had the opportunity to chat with up-and-coming model, Summer Salmon as she prepares to head to off to Miami, Florida with Deco Models. 6:12 was interested in finding out the story of this model's journey and a glimpse of what she's learned along the way.

6:12 Photography : Summer, thanks for taking the time to chat with me. I guess the best place to begin is by asking you when this whole modeling dream first started for you. 

Summer Salmon : Well, I've been in front of the camera my whole life, even as far back as elementary school and my childhood. I was always striking poses, being dramatic and having my hands up in the air when a camera was around. But I guess my modeling career officially started with Gage Talent when I was 16.

6:12 : Did the agency approach you?

SS : No, I went to a seminar, and they said that they liked me. I had always wanted to model, but I didn't realize how much it would cost to get signed with Gage. I spent all of my savings that I had. I went to the modeling classes, started doing promo jobs, photo shoots and runway, and I just fell in love with it. 

6:12 : Starting out, what was it like to be in front of the camera? What were the things you had 

SS : I was very shy, and I didn’t know the angles of my face. I wasn’t really sure what to do. 

6:12 : What helped you improve? 

SS : I started looking at more magazines, trying to capture the concept that magic happens when you just relax and let it. 

6:12 : From having the opportunity to work with you, I can tell that you've learned a lot about yourself in front of the camera. From the first time I worked with you, I thought to myself, this girl is a model, because you knew how to work your angles and bring such a confidence in front of the camera. Tell me about that experience and what you've learned.

SS : Awww, thank you for that. As far as my experience, I've just learned that whatever the photographer asks for, I picture myself as that person and go there in my head. If they want me to be soft, I think about being at the beach and real relaxed. If they ask me to be hard or intense, I think of real life experiences that will make me angry or upset. It’s always real for me now; back then I was just posing, but now I've learned it has to be real. The wardrobe, the makeup, everything that they are putting into it, I try to make it as real as possible so that it can show through on the camera.

6:12 : As a model starting out, one of the most important things is building your portfolio. Tell me a little about what that was like for you. 

SS : The biggest thing that stands out to me is how expensive building a portfolio can be. It takes a lot of money to get photos done, and that wasn't something that I had. So a lot of my portfolio has come from doing trade shoots and taking any opportunity I had to work with a bunch of different photographers.

6:12 : That portfolio is something that agencies look at very closely to determine if they want you or not. Obviously, you know that since you've recently signed with a major agency. Do you have any advice for other models about how to build a strong portfolio?

SS : You have to build a portfolio that has everything from soft to hardcore and intense, because you have to show them that you can be versatile as a model. You want to show them every angle, every face and every expression that you can do.

6:12 : What have you learned about yourself from the time you first stepped in front of the camera to where you are now as a model? When do you gain that confidence that I see in you?

SS : Well, I started out very uncomfortable in my own skin. I used to play basketball and volleyball, and I was more of an athlete than a model. I didn't have a lot of confidence, even though people were always trying to tell me that I should give modeling a try. I was always watching America's Next Top Model, wanting to be one of those models but never thinking I could do it. 

6:12 : So what changed?

SS : With all the compliments and people telling me I should try modeling, one day I just realized, "Ok, if they see something, then I can do it." 

6:12 : That explains where that confidence comes from. Speaking of that confidence, let's talk about your runway walk. Where did you learn that?

SS : Everyone has always liked my runway walk, they saw it as confident and strong. I started out wearing heels on the treadmill to perfect my walk. It taught me to keep my legs straight and master my balance. And even now, I’m constantly practicing it, in the food aisles or in parking lots. I like to say that runway is my strongest point as a model.

6:12 : What inspires you as a model? What motivates you to keep doing shoots and seeking out agencies?

SS : Honestly, I do it because I love it. Not because I have to, but because I love it. How many girls go to bed at night and always have at least three dreams of doing a runway show? I’ll have those dreams every night. I’m basically obsessed with it. I literally eat, live and breath modeling. 

6:12 : Sounds like that passion for modeling has paid off. Tell me about the agency that you've just signed with and what the future has in store for you as a model, Summer. 

SS : Well, my photos were submitted to Deco Models down in Miami. It came down to me and one other girl doing a Skype interview, and although they definitely gave me some things to work on and improve, ultimately they loved my smile and my personality and so they chose me. 

6:12 : Congratulations. So what will you be doing down in Miami?

SS : For me, it's like a dream come true. I finally get to experience the life of a model. I'll be living in a 5-star hotel with other models, and I'll have access to my own salon and a personal driver. I'll be working four nights a week for a couple hours each night starting out, and I'll also be booking more jobs when I get down there hopefully. 

6:12 : Do you have anything else in the works?

SS : I also have an opportunity to do Charleston Fashion Week in February, so that’s another thing that I have coming up. It consisted of two interviews, sending a lot of measurements and meeting a ton of requirements. So it wasn’t easy, but I’m in. 

6:12 : Do you see modeling as something that you want to pursue long term?

SS : Absolutely, I am always working toward that day when I make it big time, and I know it sounds crazy to say maybe, but I just know that day is going to happen.

6:12 : Any special plans for what you'll do when you do become famous and make a name for yourself in the modeling industry?

SS : Well, first of all, writing poetry has always been a hobby of mine, so I would love to one day publish my poetry and I think that making a name for myself as a model could make that opportunity happen. I also know that making it big time as a model means a lot of money and getting famous, but I really want to focus on making a difference. Not matter how much money I'm making, I won't be spending it on ridiculously expensive shoes; I want that money to go back into making a difference. It's not all about fame. Fame is nice, but I think it's more important to make a difference. 

6:12 : Sounds like big things ahead for you, Summer. Last question, when you walk into a photo shoot, what is your focus or what is it that you want to accomplish at that shoot? 

SS : Whenever I flip through magazines and see a model, I wonder to myself, what's her story? And I want people to see my photos and look at me like that. So my goal is to make photos that make people want to know my story. 

6:12 : I think you've given 6:12 a great look inside the life of a model. Thank you, Summer and best of luck on your adventures in Miami. 

   For more 6:12 photos, visit facebook.com/photographybyericmckinney. If you enjoy my work, take a moment to click "like" on my page. You can also follow 6:12 on Instagram @mannequin612.
   Interested in booking a photo session with 6:12 Photography? Contact Eric McKinney at emckinney612@gmail.com to schedule a shoot.