Page 104 - Demo

104 || FITNESS MAGAZINE || JUNE 2015 || EDITION 2FMM: You got involved with music at age 15, what was the most significant visual moment that made you decide to transition into photography and fitness?RP: During my time as a musician, I was pretty obsessed with my fitness as I thought it would be of great benefit for my stage presence and ability to perform with intensity. I did all my own photography as a cost saving measure during that time. I had already been a fitness magazine aficionado and was really inspired by how amazing the fit human body can look when lit correctly. FMM: When did you start taking photography seriously? RP: When people started offering me money for my work! That was when I knew that I was probably doing something right. FMM: Are you a self-taught photographer?RP: I am, for the most part. Though I did work in a small studio for a while where I got basic lighting training. Then later I was affiliated with a major fitness photography studio (Arsenik) and they helped teach me the %u201cin%u2019s and out%u2019s%u201d of the business side as well as some lighting and editing training. FMM: What failure have you learned the most from?RP: The biggest failure was also the biggest blessing. About 3 years ago I was working for a big company while doing photography on the side. I had a planned to be there for 3 years, max and become self sufficient with my own business. The pay wasn%u2019t bad, the job was easy but the hours were long. It was getting harder and harder to get motivated to work on my own business. But then a funny thing happened. A series of events caused me to get fired. It was almost exactly 3 years after I had started working there. The universe had known my plan and made it a reality. That kicked me in gear real quick let me tell you. With a child and a mortgage to pay, you can get inspired pretty damn quick. That launched me into action to the point that 3 years later now, I have been called by many the fastest rising star in fitness photography. Hard work, dedication, passion, confidence and perseverance is all it takes... FMM: Did you ever try or find yourself interested in any other type of photography?RP: I have shot everything from babies (don%u2019t judge) to waterfalls. I had an epiphany that I should not work at something I disliked. So I narrowed my focus to the two main passions in my life: fitness and music. I shoot athletes almost exclusively, but now and then I shoot with some big names in the music industry, Jennifer Lopez, One Republic, Avril Lavigne, Hedley, Macklemore, and Demi Lovato.FMM: You became a BCRPA certified personal trainer at the age of 19, takes us through the path of getting your certification and discipline you had to endure RP: To be honest I didn%u2019t find it that hard. My level of training is kind of basic as it only took me a few months to achieve. Also I had been studying about the body and fitness for years by that point, so I wish I could give a good story here, but it was the only schooling I%u2019ve ever done that I enjoyed and was completely passionate about. It was a labor of love. FMM: You have been involved in many sports, how do you rank your favorites?RP: Hockey is my all time favorite to compete in, though MMA is close behind. I still play hockey, but I%u2019m too old for MMA.. haha.