by on February 18, 2011
Pinups Founder Christopher Schulz
Daddy Jeffrey: So, boy, tell Daddy Jeffrey what the inspiration was for doing a magazine like Pinups.
Christopher: I think every interview should start with “So, boy…” Hah! Okay, to answer your question, many things inspired me to make the magazine. I have a love for printed matter—everything from glossy magazines to obscure ephemera—so that was a big motivator. And of course the nude male has always been a source of inspiration for me but he’s rarely represented in a way that I find most compelling—natural, comfortable, carefree, and without labels.
Daddy Jeffrey: All the models have some sort of facial hair, from scruff to beards—do you have a thing for that?
Christopher: I suppose that’s true. I myself have a beard, so the guys with “scruff” or stubble look pretty clean shaven to me, by comparison. I am impressed by men who aren’t afraid to show their hairiness. I guess, yes, I have a thing for that kind of confidence. I came of age in the 90’s when it was uncool to be hairy. For a while it really took nerve to show hair. Now it seems to be more celebrated, which I think is great.
Daddy Jeffrey: The models are all different body types. Tell me what qualities make a Pinups model?
Christopher: The aspect I enjoy most about the men in Pinups is the relaxed attitude that each model expresses. That’s really what I attempt to capture when I take the pictures. It’s also important to show these men free of labels, which is why I don’t define the magazine as being by, of, or for any particular group. The last issue, No. 13 featuring Chuck, was a big hit with the ladies—I really enjoy that because it means that the magazine is not pigeonholed as being for a certain audience. It’s for anyone who is interested.
Daddy Jeffrey: Someone I know has actually featured in Pinups. Christopher: That’s great!
Daddy Jeffrey: The actor Guillermo Diaz, how did you manage to get him to drop trou?
Christopher: Guillermo is the sweetest guy. When I met him he told me that he was interested in being in an issue. I thought he was joking. We talked more in depth about the magazine—what it’s all about, what to expect during and after the shoot, etc., and afterward he was still on board. He was wonderful to work with.
Daddy Jeffrey: The shoot was a good one!
Christopher: Thanks. I love that issue because it expresses a love for analog formats. It shows the ritual of listening to records (in contrast to the digital audio files everyone listens to today)—something I see as a parallel to print vs. web. It was a difficult issue to shoot, though, because one wall was all mirrors. It payed off, though: Two Guillermos!
Daddy Jeffrey: Even though Pinups is not porn I have jacked off to images of some of the models.
Christopher: The biggest difference between Pinups and porn is that porn has one purpose, while Pinups has many. It’s not about sex per se. It’s about whatever the viewer sees in it. There are various pleasures in Pinups: the physical form (each magazine comes apart and can be tiled to reveal a large poster-size image), the halftone pattern of the fragmented image, the aesthetic of the black-and-white. Of course you can jack off to it, too, if it tickles you in the right places. That’s what’s so good about it—it’s subjective. I don’t need to tell viewers how to process it.
Daddy Jeffrey: Are most of your models shy at first to get naked? Christopher: Not at all. I usually do test shoots if I don’t already know someone very well and if he’s extremely nervous and uncomfortable—then I can tell it’s not going to work out. The primary thing I am after is capturing a sense of comfort. That can’t work if the model is shy. I still try to make the model feel as comfortable as possible, so it’s usually just the model and myself on a photo shoot. I rarely have assistance.
Daddy Jeffrey: You don’t have to name names, but tell us about a shoot that was a very sexy experience.
Christopher: It’s funny you should ask that because I’m often asked sexual questions about the shoots, like “Do you fluff the guys?” or “Do you get hard?” or “How do you keep yourself from wanting to have sex with them?” The truth is the shoots don’t get very sexual. I’m too focused on keeping the model comfortable and capturing the images I have worked out in my head. I get in work mode during the shoots. It’s all very technical. There was one shoot, though, where the model kept getting hard. We had to wait until he softened to continue. Now that I think about it, perhaps that is the biggest difference between Pinups and porn.
Daddy Jeffrey: What’s coming up for Pinups and Christopher Schulz?
Christopher: I’m starting to work on other projects that are slightly related to Pinups. The latest is a book of drawings I made called Seth. It will be available this month. Now that Seth is complete I’m starting to work on Pinups No.14 which I expect will be out in April or May. I’m very excited about it. It’s gonna be a good one!
Get yourself a Pinup @ www.pinupsmag.com
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