Venus Stock Photographer: Michael Zeppetello

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©Michael Zeppetello

©Michael Zeppetello

Much like his timeless work, renowned photographer Michael Zeppetello is a classic. From his humble beginnings of using an old Yashica box camera to snap candids of students for his high school yearbook, this self-described “problem child” has certainly come a long way. Graduating with honors from the esteemed Brooks Institute of Photography in 1982, Michael moved to New York to throw his hat into the ring with the greats that had inspired him.

Willing to do anything to get his foot in the door initially, he drove a 24-foot truck for photographer Klaus Lucka. Following this stint, he was quickly snapped up by the legendary Irving Penn and worked as his assistant from 1982-1985. Of the experience, he says “The Brooks Institute taught me a lot of technical stuff, but Penn was graduate school for me”.

In 1985, Michael decided it was time to strike out on his own. His natural talent and unassuming manner soon garnered him a reputation amongst A-list models and he was well on his way to developing a name for himself.

When asked about his trademark style, he explains, “I try to use just one light and even if there’s a second light, I try not to let you see it. Because, as human beings, we’re used to viewing things from one light—the light of the sun. And I try to use this light to reveal the soul or the truth of the subject, whether it’s a girl in underwear or a portrait of a man.”

Michael has since joined the ranks of the great photographers that once motivated his move to New York. His assignments have taken him far and wide to shoot for clients such as Vogue, Bazaar, Interview, Madame Figaro, Grazia, Amica, Interview, Arude, GQ and Esquire. His advertising clients include Victoria’s Secret, Oil of Olay, L’Oreal, Gillette, Clairol, Clarins, Max Factor, Pantene, Disaronno, Perrier Jouet and Chantelle Lingerie.

Michael has recently been working to expand his portfolio of work to include landscape photography. Whether he’s capturing the curves of a leggy model or the velvety contours of a desert dune, he manages to convey his unique vision in all that he does.

Venus Stock Photographer: Dorit Thies

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Photographer Dorit Thies

Photographer Dorit Thies

Creating powerful imagery ranging from multiple international magazine covers to compelling photos captured in exotic destinations around the world, Dorit Thies brings an intuitive eye and unerring technique to her assignments. Counting major publications, websites, top advertising and talent agencies, and international corporations as her clients, Dorit has developed an immediately identifiable style during a career spanning over a decade that has brought her recognition both in the United States and abroad.

In addition to her commercial work, Dorit’s fine art photography and conceptual work has been shown in multiple museums and galleries around the world. Born near Hamburg, Dorit relocated from Germany to Los Angeles in the late 80′s. She had previously established herself as a hair and makeup artist, working for almost two decades in Europe and New York. The techniques and sensibilities she developed during this time now allow her to create strikingly detailed and conceptual compositions, particularly with her beauty clients.

In addition to beauty, Dorit’s spirited style and unconventional approach have earned her numerous fashion and celebrity covers. A partial list of the publications that have featured her work include outlets such as Men’s Health, Yoga Journal, Fitness, German Shape and Canadian Elle. Her expertise in beauty imagery has also led to high-profile assignments shooting for projects as varied as destination spas and well-known brands such as Urban Decay, Lorac Cosmetics and Wet n Wild.

Dorit has also found time to use her art to promote important causes. A prominent example includes her recent work in South Africa and Uganda, where she photographed HIV patients to chronicle the work of the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest non-profit AIDS Organization. An international tour of Dorit’s stunning, life-size portraits followed in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto, where they were received by overflowing crowds and critical acclaim.

Venus Stock Photographer: Tony Bynum

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©Tony Bynum

©Tony Bynum

Tony Bynum is an explorer and adventurer at heart. “Trails are for hikers, I’m an explorer,” sums up Tony’s approach to the world. He’s no stranger to travel and the rugged outdoors—it’s his life. He photographs a wide range of subjects but is most well know for his provocative and action-filled North American wildlife images. That might be hard to imagine after you see some of his more popular landscapes, outdoor adventure, and Western lifestyle photography. His passion is for the Rocky Mountains of Montana and Alberta, Canada, but Tony travels much farther to meet the demands and requests of his editorial and commercial clients.

Tony also creates commercial images for outdoor equipment manufacturers, and his work regularly appears in magazines you’ve likely seen including, Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, The Food Channel Magazine, Delta Sky, The New Yorker, National Geographic for Kids, Popular Photography, Montana Magazine, Montana Outdoors, and many more. In 2010 one of his Glacier images was selected for the cover of Glacier National Park’s 100 year anniversary book, “The First 100 Years” by C.W. Guthrie. That book as since gone on to win numerous awards.

This year, you can see some of Tony’s most creative and expressive work on the cover and inside the 2012 Montana Travel Guide, produced by the Montana Office of Tourism.  Tony lives year around in East Glacier Park, MT with his 10 year old daughter. He’s recently started a self funded conservation photography project focused on energy and oil drilling along the Rocky Mountain Front and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana. Tony is also on the Board of Directors for the Professional Outdoor Media Association, the photo editor for two outdoor magazines, and writes a photography column for Western Hunter Magazine. He’s also dedicated to his community and is on the board of trustees for the East Glacier Park School, and a principal member of the Glacier Two-Medicine Alliance.

Photographer Tony Bynum

Photographer Tony Bynum