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Interview
by Edo Q ©
2010 CoverMen
Mag!
June, 2010
- Hello
Caleb, I am really proud to interview you, just
to start it off, though you're really famous, please
give me some background information.
My pleasure
sir. As for my background, I grew up in a small town
about half an hour north of Dallas, TX. Most of my family
is still in the area there. Just after high school I
attended a junior college in the area with the intentions
of studying psychology and sociology. However, when
modeling opened up for me I thought it best to get out
a bit and see the world. I am currently calling Los
Angeles "home". Just moved here from an 8
year stint in New York City.
-On starting
to model: how and when did you begin thinking of modeling
as
a career? Was your family supportive of your choice?
I
was young, 16 or 17, when I started to consider modeling
as something that might be interesting at least to explore.
I always saw it as a way to see the world and meet interesting
people. It was an abstract notion though as I was living
in Texas. New York and the fashion world seemed to be
on another planet somewhere completely inaccessible
to me. My mother was definitely the most supportive
early on. She believed in my ability to succeed more
than I did. If it had not been for her, I probably would
have never experienced any of this.
-You
have modeled for almost all the major designers and
have appeared in their campaign ads for a number of times,
who was the first designer you modeled for and your
very latest?
The first designer I worked
for was Calvin Klein. It was always a bit of a dream
to be able to call myself a part of the CK family and
when the call came through that I had booked the job
I was in shock. We flew down to Mexico and shot for
a week right on the beach. I will never forget that
week. The latest company I have been working for is
Lancome. They booked me for the new fragrance "Tresor
in Love" shot by Mario Testino. It really is a
dream job this one. Mario has always been on my list
of photographers I wanted to work with and being able
to do a commercial in Paris and a photo shoot in New
York with him was really great. He keeps the attitude
on set light and fun but, everyone is definitely there
to work. I am really grateful to Lancome for giving
me the chance to do that job.
-In your
opinion, which campaign marked the beginning of "a
new level" in your career and made you one of the
most successful male models?
It's hard to
answer that question because it is so subjective really.
I suppose it was doing the 212 Sexy fragrance for Carolina
Herrera with Glen Luchford. Fragrances are definitely
the best jobs you can book in the modeling world. They
tend to separate you from the rest of the pack because
the campaigns are highly publicized and usually involve
bigger production budgets therefore they tend to book
models that have a reputation of professionalism and
a good track record for turning out nice, marketable
pictures.
-On the fashion industry: who
are the people that you really loved to work with?
Dean
and Dan from Dsquared are always really cool when you
do their runway shows. Matthew and Patrick over at Armani
Exchange are also really nice to work with. Honestly,
I have had really good experiences throughout my career.
As far as models go, I most like working with the guys
and girls who kind of started around the same time I
did. We all started around 18-21 and have watched each
other grow up over the years and have had the opportunity
to see each others careers blossom and take different
paths. Some of those people include Noah Mills, Channing
Tatum, Adam Senn, Isa Rahman, Jon Kortajarena. We all
get along because no one really takes themselves that
seriously. At the end of the day we are all just a bunch
of normal people who were in the right place at the
right time and took the necessary steps to capitalize
on that moment. The photographer I most like working
with and with whom I have worked the most is David LaChapelle.
I love David. My first shoot was with David for Vogue.
Actually Adam Senn was there as well. I was like 19
years old at that time. I think Adam was 17 or something.
Over the years David and I have worked together on a
number of different projects and I have always learned
something from him on every shoot. I admire him as an
artist and as a human being and feel lucky to have been
a small part of what he has done in the fine art/fashion
photography world.
-Tell me about your
professional plans: apart from modeling, what else would
you like to pursue or are you already pursuing?
Well,
for most of my life I have been a martial artist. I
have a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu and was inducted
into the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame recently.
Also, I have been acting now for the past seven years
or so. Living in New York, you have access to so many
legendary teachers and talented actors to work with.
By no means am I done learning but, things are definitely
headed in the right direction. Other than that, I have
been a photographer now for quite some time. Most of
my work can be found at www.caleblanephoto.com if anyone
out there is interested in checking it out.
-Some
tips for new and aspiring models: what would you say
is the key to success? And what do you consider the most
important "rules of conduct" to get successful
in the fashion industry?
There is no real
key to success in modeling honestly. It is such a fickle
industry regarding what is desired by the clients on
the day to day. One season it is the wafey, heroine
chic model that gets all the jobs, the next it's the
buff all American. You never know really. The only thing
you can do is be a humble, genuine person and realize
that when you are on set, you have been hired to do
a very specific job. You are probably getting paid a
lot of money. You are part of a team. Put the ego aside
and be as helpful as possible to everyone from the client
to kraft services. Listen to the photographer's direction.
Let the stylist try as many outfits as they need to.
A lot of models make the mistake of thinking the shoot
is all about them when in reality it isn't. It's all
about the client getting the images they need to sell
whatever it is they are trying to sell be it clothes,
watches, cars, fragrances, whatever. You are there as
a model to help create that product. Nothing else. People
recognize these traits and will remember them when it
comes time to shoot again. In modeling it is always
your goal to work consistently with a number of repeat
clients. It's the only way to survive long term in the
industry.
-How would you describe yourself
as a person and how is your relationship with your fans
and the people that support your career?
Honestly
I am just a normal person with a cool job. I am very
blessed to have the life I have and the free time it
allows me to pursue other things such as education and
exploration of my own creativity. If you would have
asked me nine years ago if any of this would have taken
place I would have said you were crazy but, for some
reason, here I am. Everyone around me has been so supportive
and the people out there who appreciate the work I do
have always been so kind and I am genuinely thankful
for that. It's sometimes a weird thing to put yourself
out there in the public eye to be judged and so far,
everyone has made it absolutely positive.
-I
know you've traveled around the world, where you would
like to live other than where you do now?
Well,
I always thought having a ranch somewhere north of Santa
Barbara would be nice or maybe somewhere along the northern
coast of Spain. Get some horses and dogs and all that.
Learn to speak Spanish. Cities are nice while you are
young but, in my heart I am always in Nature. I feel
more myself by the ocean or in a forest.
-Thanks
again Caleb for taking the time to reply to my questions, my
last one: how and where are you going to spend your
summer holidays?
Going to be heading home
to see the family soon for a week or so. Other than
that, probably try to stick around California with the
occasional trip back East for work.
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