MOST Magazine Fitness JUN'15 ISSUE NO.3 | Page 104

FMM: 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 “in’s and out’s” 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’t 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

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FITNESS

M A G A Z I N E || JUNE 2015 || EDITION 2

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’t
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’t 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’ve 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’m too old for MMA.. haha.