MOST Magazine Fitness APR-MAY'15 ISSUE NO.1 | Page 52

JA SULLIVAN Q&A
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FMM: Can you tell us about yourself and how
you got started in photography?
JS: I grew up with a great family in a small town
in Maine. I have two older brothers and a mom
and dad that are still married today. I was a
normal kid who liked to draw, skateboard, ski, play
music, I was a drummer in a few different bands
in high school. I tended to raise a little hell from
time to time as we do in sleepy little towns :) I did
photography in high school and loved it but never
thought of myself as a photographer and didn’t
know a career was possible in it. Before art school,
I spent a couple years in Vail Colorado where I got
a job as a Mountain photographer taking pics of
families, trick skiers and snowboarders and spring
breakers. I loved it, and it was during that time I
decided what kind of job I wanted to have… it felt
good not just taking pictures, but making people
like themselves.
FMM: Are you a self-taught photographer? Did
you start as a fitness photographer?
JS: Somewhat... I think we all are in some way
self-taught. I did go to art school and learned how
to use a camera and process film and print and
critique other people’s work and those fundamental
things, but the real knowledge comes from
experience. I had assisted different photographers
for six years before I made it out on my own. I
certainly learned what not to do from everyone,
but what to do came from within. Finding a subject
matter to specialize in came directly from working
with an adventure photographer when I moved to
New York back in 2001. One of his biggest clients
was SELF Magazine and we traveled all over
shooting fitness and fitness fashion / lifestyle and I
decided then I wanted that to be my career. It had

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FITNESS

M A G A Z I N E || APRIL / MAY 2015

all the elements I cared about in photography…
action, beauty, fashion & composition. I was
surprised it was not more popular.
FMM: Did you have to transition from film to
digital?
JS: Actually yes. I am fortunate enough to be one
of the photographers that was trained in film in
art school and started my professional career in
digital. I honestly don’t think I would have made
it if I had to rely on film… It is not only expensive,
but very time consuming. Digital gave me the
freedom to shoot and deliver the same day, which
clients could not believe in the beginning. Now it
is the norm.
FMM: What was your first digital camera and
what camera are you using today?
JS: First digital camera was a Canon EOS 1D
Mark II. I remember walking into Adorama one day
knowing exactly what I wanted and the possibilities
it would allow me to do. I threw down my credit
card, and it was the most important $4000 I ever
spent. I used it until two years ago when I bought
a 5D Mark II that I use today. I like to use my gear
to its fullest :)
FMM: What is your all-time favorite camera/lens
combination?
JS: Depends on what I am shooting, but I’d say my
go to is the 50mm f/1.2L. It has the right amount of
width I like without influencing the shoot too much.
I typically use this for action shots. For close up I
use the 100mm f/2.8L pretty much every time, and
for outdoor 70-200mm f/2.8L is my newest love. >>>