Jens Peter: “I remember when my first Calvin Klein campaign came out in 86/87 on GQ magazine. I had also done an Obssession ad that was very sexy and super strong image, shot by Bruce Weber”
20 Aug, 2011
The former top model of 80´s and 90´s joins the World of Models family for an exclusive interview and shares his fabulous modeling moments and gives some important tips for guys/girls interested to become a model. Classy, Sexy and Stylish, ladies and gentlemen, here is the first part interview.
I was introduced to a photographer who did a test for my card. I had a model girlfriend who introduced me into it and one of the picts was published on Interview magazine and when it came out I was chosen the model of the month.
I worked for 1 year in the brazilian market and then I moved to Paris where I started to work for runway shows.
Meeting Armani and Princess Stephanie of Monaco, the famous and classic fashion ads!
In my first show season in Milan I met Mr Armani and during his show I was introduced to italian Vogue editor and photographer Aldo Fallai, who booked me for a trip to India and it resulted in a 30 pages story. It was also the first time I wore an Armani Suit. At the same time I also did an editorial in Paris for ‘Mme. Figaro’ magazine that resulted in a cover with Princess Stephanie of Monaco. These pictures came out 1 month later and I was ready to work in Europe with great new pics on my book and right after I did the famous Loreal Studio line add and my first Armani campaign.
I have worked mostly in Europe and America. To tell the truth I was based in Paris and back in 86 there where many models coming to Milan for the shows, but there were not many models working in both markets. I was one of the first male models to work both in Europe and in America. I remember when my first Calvin Klein campaign came out in 86/87 on GQ magazine.
I had also done an Obssession ad that was very sexy and super strong image (shot by Bruce Weber). At the same time the Armani classic 6 pages ad was out in America in different magazines. So I arrived in NY and had my pictures all over representing the classic Italian and the sexy American. Quite an start in America!!! I have never really worked in Asia. Only went 1 time to Japan and that was it.
It is my intention to go back to Paris or NY again, if not this year, in the beginning of 2012. There are many new agencies and too many models. Some not even look like models at all. The money is not the same and the digital Photography has made shootings more dinamic and faster.
The top female models: they rule this business?
I think the female models have always been more exposed and the opportunities for them have been greater. More contracts and there is much more for them to do. When I first started, models were no celebrities yet. This first happened with Cindy Crawford, Naomi and Tatiana Patitz. Later came Claudia Schiffer and Linda Evangelista, Gisele, Kate Moss.These girls started to work all over the World and almost at the same time there was a Fashion Entertainment TV full time on models, I think it was “E!”.
The business boomed and it was never the same again. Models became as famous as actors and their salaries started to become stratospheric. Lots of big contracts being closed for beauty brands and lots of fragrances being launched every year. I think the market was always more interesting for the girls. I was away from the business during the 90′s doing other things, raising my Kids, but I did follow a bit of what was going on and who was doing what campaigns and so on.
In 2007 I was invited to shoot for brazilian Men´s Vogue – a 8 pages spread and a new card on the wall. Sam Dorfler from Ford NY invited me to come to NY and I stayed there for a few months. Ended up shooting for Bergdorff Goodmann Catalog and cover. Right after came the Worldwide crisis and I decided to wait a bit untill it picked up. I think only now the market is recovering again.
Working with the most prestigious photographers around the world and the unusual backstages stories
I have many stories .Each set is diferent. I was phtographed by amazing and talented professionals, such as Bruce Weber, Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, David Bailey. I was directed by Martin Scorcese. In the early 90′s there was no digital yet and so most photographers had to shoot many rolls, before they were sure about the right shot. Today with the digital photography it is easier and faster for the clients to see after every click and then be able to decide the focus they want to work on.
One of the italian photographers that I met Aldo Falai (he was the one who did all the campaigns for Giorgio Armani back in the beginning) did only 5 rolls of 6/7 for that famous Armani fragrance add that looks like a picture from the 20′s on sepia. It must have taken about 15 minutes on a studio in Milan, and it turned to be biggest worldwide campaigns ever in the history and an exclusive contract for me that put me out of the market in 91.
I dont have any secrets before shooting. I try to get into the part and act the way they expect me to do. I do some photography myself (check out some samples below folks!) and that helps me a lot, since I can understand the lighting on my face and look for the best angle.
My interest is to be always ready and perfect and make sure everybody involved is happy with the result.
TO BE CONTINUED
Contact info: Thiago Bunduky
JOY MODEL MANAGEMENT
STAR SYSTEM
www.joystars.com
www.joymodelmanagement.com
