Steven Tilotta

As Is 2014-2020 Steven Tilotta

"As Is" promotes body positivity showcasing men of all sizes through photography and motivational messages. In 2013, Houston based photographer, Steven Tilotta, decided to trade in my paintbrush for a camera. taking him nearly twenty years to pick up a camera after being told by a professor in college that I would never be good at photography because he questioned the rules. "When it comes to the arts I don't believe in rules, imagine if Picasso had played by the rules." His work is heavily influenced by his idols, Annie Leibovitz and Herb Ritts, and cinematic color grading. "I love shadows I like to show a darker side because I believe everyone has one. It is what we choose to do with it keep it surpassed or show it to the world." "I want to start a revolution a revolution where we can begin to heal and learn to accept ourselves 'As Is.' It is a long journey, but I hope that we can begin to love ourselves." I chose guys for "As Is" that are not the images that have been force-fed to us of what male attractiveness, beauty, and masculinity is. It is a journey to accepting ourselves 'as is'. Throughout there are positive quotes from the photographer and others alongside notes from Steven Tilotta.