LONG BEACH, Calif. – As a renowned photographer of gay subjects, Kevin Johnson (aka Boots Bryant) describes his work as “straddling the line between filth and art.” In reviewing his work recently, the Long Beach Post newspaper put it this way: “Think Bruce Weber (an influence on Boots) and his figure studies of Bear Pond lathered with some Elbow Grease Lube and leather surrealism.”
In real life, Johnson does much more than just shoot gay erotic photos. He is the owner of Boots Bryant PR & Photography, “a company that offers a lot of services including photography, product demonstration videos, [public relations], marketing, product development and branding consultation, graphic design, ads and writing,” Johnson told YNOT.com. “I have a photography studio near downtown Long Beach where I shoot everything from head shots and models in apparel to board games, novelties and [point-of-purchase] displays.
“I’ve had the privilege of being able to work with many of the top brands on the market today, including [adult] DVDs and novelties,” he continued. “It’s always exciting when you walk into a retail store and see something you were involved with. I can’t help but smile when I see an adult movie I named, or an adult novelty I helped design, photograph or did the marketing for.”
YNOT: How did you get into erotic photography?
Kevin Johnson: I’ve always loved taking photographs and think the naked body is life’s greatest work of art—each one just a little different and in so many shapes and sizes. I love photographing it.
Years ago, a former coworker said he thought I had a good eye for it so I took some nude photos of him for his private use. I started doing event photography shortly thereafter for an adult news magazine, and that’s where Boots Bryant was born.
I’ve continued over the years to do a lot of nude photography, whether it’s private use only for someone who hires me, my own artwork for upcoming coffee table books I’m almost finished with, or companies who hire me to shoot for packaging and advertising. I don’t do as much event photography in recent years because of a back injury a couple of years ago.
What qualities do you seek to portray in your work?
Real human emotions: vulnerability, egomania, anger, joy, sadness and all of those things we feel in between the extremes.
Obviously, that is when it comes to my personal art photography. When it’s commercial work, it’s a different story. Then you have to speak to a target audience, and what you portray is an interpretation of what you think they’ll want to see in order to get them to buy the product. I’ve shot a wide variety over the years from BDSM to board games and back again.
What are your best photos to date, and what makes them so?
My best photos are the ones that make people stop and stare for a while instead of just something that makes them think, “Oh, great. There’s another perfectly shot, yet boring, photo of another naked, sexy person.”
I also shoot a lot of what I like to call “real men” who don’t spend 90 percent of their week in a gym. Some of them are unsure of their body and appearance. I know I’ve done my job and get a great deal of satisfaction from seeing his face light up when he sees a photo I took of him and he says, “Wow, that’s me?”
What are the challenges of creating great photographic images?
Getting your lighting to match the position of the body just right while capturing the right look on his or her face is one of the biggest. Sometimes the model will shift their body just slightly right when you’re about to take the photo, or their body is right but the face is slightly off. I know you can fix a lot of stuff like that in post[-production], but when you can get it right in camera, that’s when you know you’ve taken a great photo.
How has your style evolved over the years?
It isn’t as dark or overtly sexual as it used to be. It still can be, but I just feel like “been there, done that” and don’t want a full-time residence in that frame of mind anymore.
I also started learning how to do light painting a couple years ago, and a lot of it expresses the human spirit and energy of your life force, instead of just the naked body.
What work are you doing now, and what do you still want to accomplish?
I really love producing the short-form product demonstration videos in my studio because it gives me a chance to work with models and voiceover people, instead of just me writing, designing or editing behind a computer. I’ve also started doing more art exhibits and shows recently. I had a year-long break from any type of art exhibitions to work on myself and upgrade to this larger studio space I am in now.
Looking ahead, I’m open to a wide variety of projects and types of work. I have a lot to offer and feel fortunate to be able to use my creativity when working with some of the best people in this industry. I look forward to meeting and working with even more interesting people.
