The World Class Photographer Chats With WOMAN.ca

Laid-back and funny, Trevor Godinho exudes cool with a childlike charm. “I know my last name throws people off,” he says to me on his Blackberry. “You are brown and young! I get that a lot.”

It’s 7:30 p.m. on a Thursday evening, the day before Christmas Eve, and Godinho’s just stepping into his humble abode in Scarborough, Ont. His trusty fashion bible, GQ, has arrived in the mail. “I've outgrown shooting for Maxim and Playboy,” he says. “Now, I only want to do fashion or celebrity portraits.”

Hailing from the Middle East and bred in Toronto, the 28-year-old East Indian photographer has already worked with top Hollywood stars like Michael Douglas, Nicholas Cage, Edward Norton, Jennifer Connelly, Keri Russell, and most recently, Thandie Newton and Hayden Christensen. But Godinho doesn’t need fame. “I am old school,” he says. “I just want to do what I love and have a family.”  "Try to keep focused on making pictures and leave the glamour stuff to everyone else," as Russell James would say.

Godinho is a self-proclaimed nerd, who doesn’t look like one, but there are fossils in his room. Ross Geller. Anyone? “Thanks for making me look good,” he remarks facetiously. “At the end of the day, I just want people to take something from my photos, even if they hate it. The worst thing is for people to be indifferent to your work. I want them to have some emotion to what I create,” he says.

“Without being hated or loved, you can never create an iconic image.”

Since launching his brand known as TREVOR GODINHO | PHOTOGRAPHER™ (previously named TG Photography) in January of 2005, he has worked all over the world with photo shoots in the United Kingdom, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and of course, Toronto. “Shooting on location makes a well thought out concept more real,” Godinho says. In late 2011, Australia will be added to his repertoire, along with Rio de Janeiro, where he hopes to shoot in the near future.

Godinho is currently getting his new project, TG|P studios, off the ground. “It’s going to be the studio that I have always wanted,” he says. He has a sexy vision of a transformable space that is the size of an aircraft hanger – complete with water effects, indoor rain, and the works – a spin-off from Pier 59 Studios. “It will be great for fashion photo shoots,” he says. “There will be no restrictions.”

Not too shabby.

Today, he speaks to WOMAN.ca.

What kind of camera did you start out with?
An old Olympus Pen from the 50's or 60’s that my dad gave me. It has been featured in some of my pieces a few times.

During your academic career, you went to three different universities, but always staying in the arts. Did you ever consider other career paths?    
Yeah, I had many - from animation, to design, and even palaeontology. Yes, like Ross, from Friends. I actually started at Centennial College, with an Art Fundamentals program. Growing up in the hood of Scarborough, I went away straight out of high school to stay out of trouble. It’s always better to lose yourself in something that you put your soul into than do drugs, right. Later in 2003, I enrolled into the University of Toronto at Mississauga, for a joint program with Sheridan College in Art and Art History. I currently hold a double degree in Art and Art History, and Classical History.

So, what made you fall in love with photography?
Well, I started out as a painter and sculptor, using photography as a means to capture subjects that inspire me. One day, I happened to see famed fashion photographer and Pier 59 Studios founder, Marco Glaviano’s signature photo, which features a beautiful landscape, and in the foreground - an image of a big tree in Saint Barth with Ashley Richardson, naked, and she’s  holding on to one of the branches. The image is black and white. But the odd thing about the photo is that the last thing you would notice is the nude - it was so subtle, and rich, with details, that the viewer would almost be pulled into the shot. After that, I was hooked by the power of photography.

Take us down memory lane. Where was your first shoot?
To be honest, I can’t remember my first professional shoot, but what I can recall is shooting the Toronto model Sanaz in March of 2005. That’s where my career started. My image of her was published in the September 2006 issue of NYLA Magazine (Los Angeles). People instantly started to be drawn to my style. It has become one of my iconic images. My most recent shoot was in New York, with DJ Drek Martinez, for his new branding and marketing material. Working with Drek is always amazing - he's a great guy and easy to capture.

Was that also your favourite shoot?
Hmm...it has to be working with Johanna from Wilhelmina Model Management, in Miami. Wardrobe was swimwear and jeans. Her energy is amazing - she puts out 120%, even when getting wiped out by violent waves in the Atlantic Ocean. I had a great team. Billie Garcia was my makeup artist in Miami. She did a great job. Plus, you can't hate hot Miami weather!

And your worst photo shoot experience?
(Laughing) I’ve got a few. But the worst would have to be my experience working under a tight deadline, with a client that didn’t know what he wants, so it was a lot of trial and error. I wanted to jump off the balcony of the Fontainebleau resort in Miami Beach! Then, I realized that I was on the second floor and would only break an ankle, at most.

That’s funny. Are you just as comical on set? What kind of ambiance do you like to have?
I love to have fun. I want the people whom I work with to enjoy working with me on the project, as well. I love playing music - from old school hip-hop to house. I like to keep the energy high, as shoots can be 45 minutes to an excess of eight hours, depending on concept, makeup, and wardrobe changes. This can become rather exhausting for everyone.

After each photo shoot, how long does it take for you to print the pictures?
First, I will send the client or model contacts sheets, so they can choose out of all the photographs. Once they get back to me, they will receive it within the week. Always. I never procrastinate with this. It’s my reputation.

How would you describe your relationship with the models?
I'm very professional and treat the models with respect, as I feel they are part of the artistic process. I feel photography is an ego-less creation of art, and everyone involved puts a piece of themselves into the work. My aim, when working with models, is three things - to have everyone enjoy the shoot, get the best images to their ability from them, and finally, have the models leave with their integrity intact. I want them to be proud of the work we did. I am also very protective of my models. All my staff are female. This protects me and the models. I don’t touch the models ever. Instead, I try to understand them as well as I know myself. This process begins a month before the photo shoot. It allows me to evoke exactly what I want. At the same time, it helps me to know where my restrictions are, too.

Are you working on any side projects?
Yes, a motivational book about how I became a photographer. Not many people know that I write. It’ll be about sacrifices, sage advice, philosophies that I believe in, that sort of stuff, like Chicken Soup. I am also working on a book of black and white photographs. Based on an environment theme, I will be shooting swimsuit models in nature locations. It will be like Patrick Demarchellier’s Pirelli calendar for 2005. My concept is to lose the subject matter in texture and detail, bringing the viewer back to the way we were put on this earth – in a raw form. The earth shows us vulnerability every day.  That’s one thing that I want to tell in all my work – books, photographs, gallery showings – which I am looking into in New York.

You are always out of the country! Where have some of your photo shoots been?
I have traveled as far as The Tower of London – the white sand beaches in Sunny Isles, Santa Monica, and Miami – XIV in Beverly Hills – London’s Amika Nightclub – Hyatt Regency Miami – and I can’t forget the Florida Everglades, where I almost got eaten by an alligator! In New York, I have had photo shoots at Le Cirque, and in areas like Soho, Wall Street, and Little Italy. As for Toronto, I have shot at the Roosevelt Room, Cheval, Wasaga Beach, Ashbridges Bay, Monte Carlo Inn, and The Fairmont Royal York. And the Flowerpot Island in Georgian Bay!

What kind of photographer would you consider yourself to be? Portrait or fashion?
I consider myself to be more of an artist than a photographer, but to nail down a title, portrait. I aim to capture personality and the truth behind the subject. I want the subject to let down their guard, allowing the viewer to see the vulnerable side, and this is what I mean by truth - to see who they are, not what they want to be seen as.

What do you love to capture most?
I've been told that I capture women really well. Personally, I have no preference. I love creating art, be it a rock or a gorgeous model. There's beauty in all things.

Now that you’re a pro, what kind of equipment do you use?
I currently shoot with a Nikon D2Xs with prime lenses, which is my first choice for rugged shoots. It has survived tropical storms to large waves on the beaches of Miami. My other camera is a Mamiya AFDIII that I recently picked up. It’s a unique, medium format camera, meaning large imagery with high details, kind of like Blu-ray compared to HD. I can even shoot a billboard! What makes it unique is that I can shoot film, Polaroid, and digital all on the same camera body. And my walk around camera is the Nikon Coolpix P7000. It recently came out and I’m already a fan. It’s always in my pocket.

How should people react to your photographs?
I want them to experience the piece by having an unspoken conversation with the subject matter. I want them to feel the emotion of the subject and empathize with them.

What do you always strive to create when shooting?
I aim to create an iconic image that people will always carry with them in their memory, much like the one of Marilyn Monroe in her movie, The Seven Year Itch, where she’s shot in a dress blown above her knees by a passing train. Then, there’s Life Magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt’s famous photo of a sailor kissing a nurse in the middle of Times Square, marking the end of WWII, in 1945. I try to capture truth, even though much of fashion and editorials are manufactured images. I want to inject my work with some truth, so that the image is believable.

What is the signature of your photographs?
It would probably be the richness of my black and white photos, and the sensuality of my images has become a staple in every piece I create. I believe that sensuality is everywhere - it’s part of the human condition.

Who would you love to work with in the future?
During the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, I met Al Pacino's daughter, Julia. With her help, I hope to shoot one of my all-time favourite actors. In the music industry, it has got to be Nas or Kanye West - they are both geniuses and have a lot of character. In the fashion industry, the one and only Kate Moss. As for designers, Tom Ford.

Tell us about your dream shoot.
It would have to be a Roman era villa in Tuscany, a castle in Prague, or shooting at the Palace of Versailles, in France. For me, the abilities to shoot on such locations would be a dream come true.

Well, photographing Michael Douglas and Nicolas Cage must have quite a dream. Tell us about it!
Working with Michael Douglas was amazing. I was so nervous. It was during the 2009 Toronto Film Festival. I was working for Nikki Beach to cover the ambiance of all the press conferences and media junkets that were being held at the Park Hyatt. Michael is a close friend of the owners of Nikki Beach, so they asked me to capture some images of him for their personal use. He told me the best advice. No matter how famous the person you are photographing is, they are still human. He was so relaxed and a real great guy. When I shot Nicholas Cage, it was a quick shot, and he was off due to his crazy schedule during TIFF. Many of the celebrities whom I’ve worked with have been amazing.

Can you name some from the entertainment industry?
I've worked with Eve, Gaspard Ulliel, Milla Jovovich, Edward Norton, Big Boi, Bill Nighy, and Grace Park.

What makes a picture exceptional?
It’s an image that causes the viewer to be pulled into the shot, allowing him to walk away from the image with a piece of it in their minds.

Any upcoming photo shoots around Christmas or the New Year?
I've been on hiatus this December, using the time I have to spend with the love of my life, close friends, and family, and rebranding and reworking my business plan for the upcoming year. So far for 2011, I'm currently setting up with Elite in Toronto. I got two studio shoots back-to-back in the same day - one male, the other female; another shoot in a dead forest with a female sometime later in January; and a photo shoot with DJ Keidy from Miami. This year started and ended strong, so there’s a lot to look forward to, in 2011.

How will you wear your facial hair in the New Year?
Remember Orlando Bloom's character William Turner Jr. from Pirates of the Caribbean? I look like that now, long hair included.

Jennifer Cheng
		About the author:
		Originally from Hong Kong and raised in Canada, Jennifer Cheng moved to Toronto at age six. Fueled by her passion for magazine writing, she enrolled in the Certificate in Magazine Publishing program at Ryerson University, in downtown Toronto. She later transferred to the Ryerson School of Journalism, while pursuing her Certificate in Photography Studies simultaneously. Recently, she has interviewed personalities such as Nigel Barker; Marben's former executive chef Craig Alley; up-and-coming fashion designer Lucian Matis; just to name a few. Jenn can be found writing articles at Starbucks in Indigo, or during ungodly hours in her apartment. She currently lives in Yorkville.
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