Queerying: John Falocco Photographer for tMf Issue #12

The latest issue of The Male Form (aka tMF magazine) features page after page of stunning male beauties like Heath Jordan, Boomer Banks, Adam Wirthmore and Adam Ramzi in breathtaking photos unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

It also features the work of longtime photographer John Falocco. He got his start photographing dancers in Manhattan, and then models from agencies as he gradually progressed commercially to beauty, fashion, and fitness photography. And all his experience comes through in his shots — each photo tells a story and radiates with the intensity of his model.

Not only is Mr. Falocco a talented photographer — he also has his own collection of swimwear and activewear with fashions that feel as sexy and comfortable as his models look. We caught up with him and asked him about pre-porn men’s physique magazines, his influences and his thoughts on male grooming. See his thoughts after the jump!

Of course, Falocco takes sensuous nude photos of his amazing models, but in order to see his images in full, you’ll have to visit The Male Form and get a peek for yourself!

You photograph both men and women. Is there any differences in the way that you get male and female models to give you good face and body on a shoot?

I make every attempt to make models feel comfortable. My studio has a make-up room and private changing area, and separate shooting area. Woman generally require make-up and hair. Once that is done, they are comfortable, relaxed with the situation which makes a difference when they are in front of the camera. Music also helps keep the energy level up or down depending on the mood to be created.

A majority of the male models you shoot have smooth chests. Why do you think that trend has persisted in both porn and commercial photography?

Shaving popularity comes and goes. Too much hair is a distraction and doesn’t photograph well. Besides being a photographer I am also a swimwear designer. When I photograph a model, I am interested in emphasizing the swimwear. In this case, too much hair is a distraction. I evaluate each model separately to make any determination regarding hair.

You’ve shot a lot for men’s fitness magazines, and of course men’s fitness pictorials were the progenitors of male porno mags. How has the fitness aesthetic influenced your own work?

Before the days of photoshop, I learned so much about model preparation, make-up, hair, lighting to emphasize the muscularity of a physique, and film type and lighting gels that would produce the best skin tone. I also have a darkroom where I printed my own Black and White prints. Black and White is the best medium for physiques because it shows all the muscularity to the greatest advantage. Everything had to be perfect in production because the clients didn’t want to pay for retouching.

How did you get your start in photography and who are your biggest influences?

I had studied art my whole life. I was always interested in photography as an art form first before I transitioned to commercial work. I use hot lights and the old Hollywood lighting. My greatest visual influence was George Hurrell, the master of Hollywood glamour photography and studying the great masters of art over the centuries.

These days, a lot of handsome men will take a hot selfie, throw an Instagram filter on it and call it a great photo. But what distinguishes that from the work that you (and other photographers) do?

There is nothing wrong with selfies. They are fun to take and exchange etc. but they do not provide the visual polish of a professional image.

Is there a certain type of photo shoot that you’d really like to do, but haven’t yet? Please tell us about it.

Over the past three and a half decades, I have done everything that I wanted to do. However, I am always open to a new visual challenge.