LIFE LESSONS

Photographer Daniel Jaems

Daniel Jaems walked into Models 1 agency at the age of 18 wanting to become one of their photographers, but instead was signed as a model. A week later he was on the catwalk in Paris, for Kenzo. In his mid- twenties, he launched the fashion website ftape. com, which allowed him to transition into photography. Now 37, he has shot campaigns for the likes of adidas Originals, ES Collection, Levi’s and L’Oréal. Between snapping the world’s top male models, he works on Fraems, an online store with a mission to put provocative photographic art on the walls of people’s homes.

IN MOST CASES, IT’S NERVES THAT MAKE A MODEL NOT PERFORM WELL IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. MOST PEOPLE I’VE SHOT WITH WOULD RECALL ME SAYING, “EIGHTY PER CENT OF WHAT WE SHOOT WILL BE TOTALLY SHIT AND 20 PER CENT WILL MAKE PEOPLE FALL IN LOVE.” IT KIND OF TAKES THE EDGE OFF

I’ve got lots of admiration from the kings of colour Mert and Marcus. Mariano Vivanco’s imagery taught me how to shoot men sexy without making it slutty. Bruce Weber’s imagery showed me how to make an audience fall in love at first sight. But my main inspiration is from the art world: Caravaggio and Velázquez. These days, my images are more like paintings than photography

Unfortunately, loud has more currency these days and Instagram’s algorithms are tuned to encourage whatever comes next. Sometimes, I’ll release an image that I would say is one of my best and it totally tanks on social media. I fear it’s making us all turn into content prostitutes

We are definitely programmed to put people who push their body to Michelangelo’s ideas on perfection on a pedestal. “Are you going to shoot anyone normal,” is the most common trolling I get on Instagram. My models take their body to the edge by training intensely weeks before the shoot. Usually, three months after the shoot the model looks nothing like the elite perfection he trained for as it’s very difficult to sustain

PHOTOSHOOTS ARE WEIRD. YOU GO FROM NOT KNOWING SOMEONE AT ALL TO CREATING SOMETHING EXPOSED, RAW AND EMOTIONAL WITHIN A FOUR- HOUR PERIOD. IN OTHER PROFESSIONS, WE DON’T EXPERIENCE THESE INTIMATE SITUATIONS WITH NEW PEOPLE

Soul Model Management in NYC coined the phrase “Return of the Male Supermodel” and I used to think that was a body that was sculpted like a brick shithouse. My understanding of it now is confidence. True confidence is sexy and allows for different attributes of a man to shine

I AM CONSCIOUS OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF UNACHIEVABLE BODY TYPES. AS A RESPONSE TO THIS I STOPPED THE COMMON PRACTICE OF RETOUCHING BODIES TO ALTER SHAPE

I’m yearning for the days of YSL/ Tom Ford campaigns where sexuality blends with sophistication. Brands have become too scared to be too sexualised these days

The best way to look good in any shot is to learn what works for your face, then give it that 10 per cent shift left of right to add some dynamic variety. When I see shots of people where every angle is identical, I can’t help but see their insecurities behind the shot

I have shot Pietro Boselli a few times and it’s been great to watch him grow into the superstar he is now, and through it all he’s stayed the same person. I think when you know who you are at your core, you can hold on to it

EVERY DAY I GET TO MAKE THINGS. I WILL NEVER TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED