I don´t know exactly where to start. And I have to watch out for not becoming too sappy on this one.

About 2 years ago, one of my friends from Instagram @hotguys.ofinsta asked me if I could follow
and feature this new photographer to spread the word. So I checked out his profile,
and I was blown away by this talented guy from New York and his fantastic work.

I was obsessed with his work and I featured him like crazy. People thought he was paying me - which wasn´t the case.
We started talking and it instantly creatively clicked between us. The rest is history. I´m so proud to know this talented man
and to see him rise and shine. But even more, I´m happy to call him a friend.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I proudly present today´s LOUSCIOUS FEATURE

New York based Mens Fashion Photographer

C.Thomas

Genre: Mens Fashion Photography

Instagram: @cthomasphoto.nyc

Website: CHUCKTHOMASPHOTO.COM

Tell me a bit about yourself. Where are you from? 

I was born and raised in New York. Often people think that means New York City, but I am actually from a small town
out in Eastern Long Island - Southampton. It's a small beach town about a 2.5-hour drive from New York City.

Some people don't know that you have a regular job. How do you manage both careers?

I'll be completely honest, it's been incredibly difficult. I try to put 100% of myself into everything I do,
so it's always been hard to balance my full-time career and creative outlet that I have turned into a second career.
It was never my intention to pursue photography in the way that I do now. It was also never my intention to manage and develop models.
While things can sometimes be difficult, I would do it the same way all over again if given the opportunity.
I've met so many great people and have learned a lot about the importance of maintaining a balance between my career,
personal life, and hobbies to remain sane and healthy. 

How long are you in the business?  

I have two answers to this question. I started shooting in the summer of 2016. During this time, I was mostly working with friends
to learn how to properly use a camera and incorporate studio lighting into my work. I don't think I can say
I was actually in "the business" until the late summer of 2017. That's around the time I started photographing agency represented models

What inspires you? 

A lot of things inspire me but, in terms of my work, I think it would have to be raw, effortless beauty. It will always surprise me and incite creativity.

Whose work has influenced you the most? 

Herb Ritts and Bruce Weber. They can capture the pure essence of what it means to be bold, sexy,
and uninhibited in a way that I will always admire and appreciate. I firmly believe that anyone's work, whether you are famous,
up and coming, or brand new, can possess the power to influence. 

Can you describe that "moment" (experience, emotion) when you knew that photography was something you just had to do?

I want to say it was after my first shoot with one of my friends. We were just shooting for fun, and I stayed up all night retouching his photos
because I wanted him to be happy with the final result. I had no idea what I was doing at the time, but it was
something that I created with someone. That was the first time I realized that I enjoyed shooting. The second time was about a year later
when I realized the potential of what I could create for myself (not for others) while working with professional models. That's all I needed to convince me.

Describe your photographic style.

I think when people work with me, they typically ask for my portraits and body shots, so I consider myself mostly a portrait photographer.
I won't limit my body of work to just that, but it is my bread and butter. I like to focus on the model and nothing else,
which is why a lot of my work depicts models against a seamless backdrop or a white wall. I enjoy bodywork mostly because
its how I started. I used to only post-produce in black and white, so lighting was something that I found to be incredibly important
while doing this. I think there's nothing more beautiful than a no-fuss portrait or body shot.
Sometimes I think they can tell a deeper and more meaningful story about their subject.

Pet Peeves.

Haha! I have many pet peeves, but I have always had an issue with people who aren't very respectful
to others because of their "years of experience." No matter how someone feels about my work, I will never place myself
into any sort of category or tier. I will always consider myself new and hungry to learn and meet new people. I don't like it when people think
that they are above you or worth more than you simply because of this. In today's world, you can learn
and accomplish something in 1 year when it may have taken someone three years to master.

What is a big goal for you - career-wise? 

As a photographer, I would like to just continue learning, growing, and seeing my work evolve over the years.
That's all I could ask for in terms of the trajectory of my career. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question is tough for me to answer because I never saw myself as a photographer. The best answer I can give is - No idea!
I prefer it that way. I will let life play out and see what happens. Hopefully, I will be happy and healthy.

3 People you're dying to work with (+2 lol)

Parker Gregory, David Gandy (Ha!), Tyson Beckford (Ha!), Michael Yerger, and Mitchell Wick.
The list is a lot longer, but I figured it's best to keep it short and somewhat unobtainable for now. 

Did you ever think about quitting? 

All the time. I'm not afraid to admit that. It's always been incredibly challenging (yet rewarding) to juggle everything.
Photography will always be my passion and my creative outlet, but I am also in love with my full-time career.
I worked incredibly hard to get where I am today in my career, so it will always come first (for now).

How important is social media for your career?

I have a love-hate relationship with social media. While I do have my own opinions regarding social media,
the fact remains that it is an incredible platform to help someone become whatever you want to become. It doesn't mean
that it will always pan out the way you want it to, but it gives you a starting point. A lot of agencies and models have found out
about my work via Instagram. I met you via social media (ha!), so it has played an essential role in my career.

How has photography influenced you as a person?

I think about life differently now. I started shooting because an old friend of mine would always say that he loved photography
because it gave him the ability to stop time. A particular moment in time can never replicate itself again, so photography helps us
capture those incredible moments. I've come to find that this perspective is something that can translate into our everyday lives.
You begin to realize that every single moment in your own life is so precious and meaningful because it will never happen again.
It's made me learn to not take things for granted and has overall made me a more self-aware and empathetic person in all of my careers. 

How did you develop your style?

When I first started shooting, I knew I wanted to focus on portraits because I thought they would be simple and easy to master.
I would soon learn that they can be a pain in the ass. Portraiture challenged me to get super technical with my lighting,
which in turn allowed me to figure out very early on what styles I enjoyed shooting the most. 

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

You don't need to over-analyze and over-edit an image. I would often spend many hours editing out all of the imperfections in someone's face.
Flaws are what make us unique. I mostly shoot men, so it's even more important to make sure the final image
still represents their raw beauty. Age, laugh lines, wrinkles, and scars give us character. 

You accidentally ate some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what's even cooler is that they endow you with the Super-Power of your choice! What's it gonna be?

Flying. It would kill two birds with one stone. I'd be able to go anywhere in the world (who would say no to endless shoot locations?),
and it would help me overcome my fear of heights!

Name the top five things to take with you during a Zombie Outbreak. 

1. Cell Phone with headphones and charger. Is that cheating?

2. Camera

3. Toilet Paper/Dude Wipes (Butt Wipes) - Hey…when you gotta go, you gotta go.

4. Change of clothes

5. Handle of vodka

What Songs Are Included On The Soundtrack To Your Life? Name 3.

1. Bitch Better Have My Money - Rihanna

2. Sunsets Pt. 2 - SG Lewis 

3. I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston