Herb Ritts. Annie Leibovitz. Steven Meisel.  We’ve all heard their names and can recall the sexy, iconic pieces of art each has captured through the camera lens.  South Florida native, Manny Roman, has aspirations of being one of the new ‘it’ photographers of our time.  With an impressive portfolio of celebrities and fashion magazines, Manny is quickly expanding his talents and becoming one of Florida’s rising stars. Mark Magazine caught up with Manny to discuss his photographic style, artistic passion and future endeavors. 

Has photography always been a passion on yours? When did you first realize that photography is what you wanted to do as a career?

Photography is definitely one of my passions. When I was 14 years old I met famed photographer Antoine Verglas while he was shooting Niki Taylor in Miami. On his break, I was bold enough to approach Antoine to ask him about his career. Antoine was very nice and gave me great advice.

Did growing up in South Florida inspire the kinds of photos you wanted to capture and what are the other inspirations behind your photography? 

Growing up in South Florida definitely inspired my photographic style. I grew up looking at the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues and I took those inspirations to the beaches of South Beach with my then muses Carol & Darlene Bernaola. Location and subjects still play a big part in inspiring me to ‘edge it up’ in my photos.

What is your favorite thing to photograph and why? 

Bringing out the essence in the people that I photograph is key in my work. I always look for that extra something: mood in their eyes, body language, and location is a plus in order for the image to reflect a story and grab your interest. 

What has been your most memorable shoot and what stands out about it? Any cat fights on set? 

The favorite shoot so far is the BOLD Editorial I shot for Fantastics Magazine with Krista White, current winner of America's Next Top Model in New York City. Everyone on set was amazing, but Krista was definitely had that wow-factor. There were no cat fights on that set—just a lot of laughs. I have had my share of divas on set, but they get served and the shoot goes on [lol]. 

What publications have you shot photos for and who do you hope to shoot for in the future?

I have shot for Night, ELLE Portugal, Z!NK, Fantastics, OHLALA, and Latino Boys to name a few. I aspire to shoot for Vanity Fair, Italian VOGUE with Monica Bellucci (Gosh I love her), and to book the Calvin Klein Campaign.  

What are your ultimate goals and aspirations as a photographer, and do you have any upcoming projects in the near future? 

My ultimate career goal would be to get booked to photograph the Pirelli Calendar. I am currently working on a Tell-All Documentary about Models and the real journey to reach the top; a reality show may be in the works, and possibly exhibiting during Art Basel in Miami this December. There is a lot more that I can't reveal just yet but be sure to keep your eye on me.

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