https://iniconswetrust.com

Terry Tsiolis

His world is unexpected. The curves of light on the bodies, their movement in the stillness of the frame, the particular moment he captures their existence, are unique in every way. In Icons We Trust proudly hosts one of the extraordinary talents of our time, the Greek rooted and world renowned, Terry Tsiolis.

Who’s work inspires you?
Penn, Avedon, Mapplethorpe, Meisel, Cecil Beaton.

Who is your favorite subject?
Models/Actors/My family/People I see on the street/friends/I love anyone who is an outcast.

Which designer’s clothes are the best to photograph?
Versace.

And whose are the most difficult to capture on camera?
None, really. There is always a way to make the clothes work. It’s my job to make it happen.

They say nudes are the hardest. Do you agree?
No. They are the most intimate. But once the subject lets go they don’t notice they are naked and they give the most.

You love black and white. Why is it stronger?
It just is. For me the most magic happens in black and white.

Has anyone in the business made you feel intimidated?
No. Not really. I have always worked with really great and supportive teams.

What is the worst criticism you have encountered and by whom?
I’m my own worst critic. So me.

When you were first starting out and you got your first jobs for big titles such as Vogue did you feel like a fraud or were you fearless?
I was nervous. It happened pretty quickly. I always knew what picture I wanted to take and what I wanted to say. I was lucky that everyone I worked with supported the work. So it made it easy for me. There is always a little drama but nothing I couldn’t handle.

What raised you creatively?
Art, Music, Fashion, anything and everything.

I LOVE CHANGE AND I LOVE TO TRY NEW THINGS OUT. I GET BORED EASY. I’M ALWAYS READY FOR A CHALLENGE

Where do you find inspiration today?
On the street. NYC is very inspiring. London also. I love Instagram. YouTube. Vine. Social Media is fascinating.

How do you manage to keep your outlook fresh?
Luckily fashion is constantly changing. There is always new inspiration from designers, models, hair and makeup. I love change and I love to try new things out. I get bored easy. I’m always ready for a challenge.

What talent do you envy?
Writing. A great writer is intimidating to me. Someone who could affect you with words is a powerful thing.

Tell us a bit about your Greek heritage and how it has marked you and the way you work and see the world.
I love being Greek. We have such an amazing culture and history. Of course my parents taught me everything I know. But what’s not to love. I was born and raised in Montreal, an amazing multi-cultural city. My parents made sure we were fluent in Greek and the Greek culture. But it was never forced on us. Both my parents were very open. They always pushed me to try new things. So it helped me appreciate being Greek without being forced to. I do love all the mythological tales. Those myths are probably what still inspires me most. Somewhere a part of me really believes they are all true.

I HAVE BEEN STAR STRUCK A FEW TIMES. RIHANNA IS INCREDIBLE, I COULD SHOOT HER ALL DAY EVERYDAY. KIERA KNIGHTLY BLEW ME AWAY, SHE IS SO INTELLIGENT AND GRACEFUL.

You seem to press the click at your own pace…what do you wait for, before you do it?
I don’t hesitate.

Have you ever been star struck with any of your subjects? Tell us about it _and how you got over it…
A few times. Rihanna is incredible. I could shoot her all day everyday. I shot her in her hometown of Barbados. We kept shooting and shooting through the night. I kept asking her if she would keep going and she kept saying, “Yes lets go!” So we didn’t stop until we both felt that we got everything we needed. She has amazing instinct. Kiera Knightly blew me away. She is so intelligent and graceful. She understood what I wanted she stepped on set and just gave and gave. I love those big brown eyes. If I get star struck I keep it together. Well I try to. If it does happen I just sit behind the camera and I’m good.