Kristofer Reynolds with Miss Gay America 2016 Asia T. O'Hara
In anticipation of Miss Gay America 2018, we wanted to feature two of the Miss Gay America pageant's favorite photographers. First up is Kristofer Reynolds followed by equally beloved, Scotty Kirby.
With Miss Gay America 2018 kicking off a week from today, girls are checking off their prep lists with a vengeance. And what's at the top of that list? Photos, honey. You can have the best look in town, but if your photos are crap, you might as well leave the gown in the closet and the jewels in the box. One man who's been making Miss Gay America titleholders and contestants shine like the stars they are is San Diego based photographer, trainer, hunk and sweetie, Kristofer Reynolds.
Kristofer Reynolds
Kristofer took time out from his busy schedule to answer 5 quick questions and share his 10 favorite photos (in no particular order) with MGAZINE.
Coco Montrese
Chad Michaels
Well I picked up the camera officially in high school for a photography course, it was film then, dating myself hahahah, so we had to use the dark room to develop pictures and learn how to actually use a camera. Digital was actually just starting up. I initially had a passion for nature, architecture and design so a lot of my early years focused on those subjects. I really didn't like shooting people at all ironically enough.
Miss Gay America 2017 Suzy Wong
2 Why and when did you shoot your first drag queen and who was it?
The first drag queen I ever shot was also the first person I ever shot professionally, Rachael “Robbie Sommers. He was my ex partner of 14 years and the creative director for a lot of my early and formative work. He was competing at Miss Continental and needed a headshot for the book, so we put up a sheet and used a bedroom lamp and my new camera and voila, headshot. We started getting calls for pictures from some of the entertainers and my business and reputation grew from there.
David Hunter
Detox
Well… it depends on the drag queen, and it depends on the woman, LOL! I have had all personality types and levels of experience on both sides of the spectrum, so it really does vary. Obviously a queen has a lot more to prepare in terms of transforming than most women do, but then again I have had a few women who have as much on as some of the queens I've shot! From the hair and corsets, down to the use of duct tape for cleavage, they all seem to pull plays from the same book to enhance their looks.
4 Have you even done drag?
Kind of, LOL. The closest I came was my infamous cheetah headshot. Roxxxy Andrews and Rachael Sommers put me in hair and make up for a self portrait of me we revealed at my first gallery show in Orlando, FL. There was so much hair! OMG they had to tie my short hair in little knots to attach the big hair to me and it hurt so freaking bad! I looked sickening but really I was just trying not to cry and make my makeup run LOL. I still have never put a pair of heels on… but this weekend im doing the Red Dress Party in San Diego and I will be for the first time ever…so the bottom half will be in drag this time LOL.
Miss Gay America 2016 Asia T. O'Hara
Mimi Marks
Miss Gay America 2016 Asia T. O'Hara
5 Best advice for any drag queen heading into a photo shoot?
My advice is to plan ahead, be well prepared, rested, and not be stressed. Pictures are forever. You want to look your best, be your best, feel your best and you want it to show. Be packed for the shoot the day before, triple check, get ample rest and don't be afraid to eat. Hangry isn't pretty. :)
For more about Kristofer Reynolds and to book the man, go to www//kristoferreynolds.com
And check out out post about another favorite Miss Gay America photographer, Scotty Kirby here.
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