How to work with Photographers
5pm Saturday June 8 in the elegant George I room across the hall from the media mixer Albert I & II in the 2nd floor of the Sahara Hotel Conference Center, as part of the AltStar Expo.
Our panel of experts will discuss their personal journeys to get where they are today, share anecdotes, and answer questions from the audience. Topics covered will relate to why good quality photography is important, ways to structure collaboration, who should pay who or is trade best for everyone, how to find photographers who are going to be a fit for your goals, what to expect when working with professional photographers, and more.
AltStar Hall of Famer Forrest Black has been a leading visionary in visual arts for alternative erotica for three decades. His design work and photography, first in print publishing, and then in the early days of the web, set the standards and aesthetics that would eventually be adopted across our scene.
AltStar Hall of Famer Clix is a celebrated rave promoter and photographer, known best for his colorful dessert sploshing images. A lot of his early photographic work was for EroticBPM, one of the original early alt membership sites, focused on authentic ravers and the sexy rave community. When this Awards show had a rave shoot category, Clix always had multiple nominations in it and frequent wins. Over time, Clix has branched out extensively in the sploshing community, bringing unexpected alt aesthetics and powerful color to the niche and expanding the notion of it, with his fun style.
Ashley Fontenot is a photographer known for her decades of work with altmodels in fetish, glam, and vintage.
Ellen Stagg!
Ivan, a respected and prolific adult industry producer/director and mainstream horror filmmaker of more than 28 years, is living his best life as the inspired force behind entertainment studios such as Alt Erotic, where he currently serves as CEO and Creative Director, as well as former companies such as Extreme Associates, Evolution Erotica, Anabolic, Desire Films, Pornstar Empire, and others. Still part owner and the driving force behind Pornstar Website network, Puba, for years had the top talent as their clients as his skills and creative content helped big names build their brands as such Asa Akira, Nicole Aniston, Shyla Styles, Samantha Saint, Roma Rains Abigail Mac and the list goes on, specifically legendary Alt Model Christy Mack who gives Ivan credit in helping her build and grow her brand.
In the recent years Ivan has won “Best Web Director” Awards at AVN anXRCO Awards. And as of 2023 is a two time Hall of Fame with AVN and Urban X Awards.
Known as and winner of “Hardest Working Director in Porn” (Fox Magazine), he also mentors new and up-in-coming models. His reputation as a “humanity first” has created a moniker most models call him their “Porn Dad”
Born in Russia, Ivan moved to the U.S. as a child and earned a degree in Cinematography before embarking on an entertainment career in mainstream film and TV. He came into the adult biz in 2002, making his mark with such movies as 2004’s Texas Asshole Massacre and 2005’s Dawn of the Head, earning him a number of awards, nominations and a Hall of Fame induction that celebrate his talents. Helmed as the “Horror Porn Maestro” by AVN Magazine.
While reveling in his success as a filmmaker, media personality, entrepreneur and podcast host,
the past few years have also seen him become involved with the XPW (Xtreme Pro Wrestling)
organization in Southern California, quickly becoming as many would say “Indy Wrestling top photographer” and in 2023 winning fan favorite for “Bets Deathmatch Photographer”
Under his Mainstream belt he has over two dozen filmmaker awards including the highest honor of President’s Award from the prestigious Brooks Institute of Photography where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Cinematography
Amongst all the projects Ivan has built numerous successful Youtube channels with over 100 million views. Currently he is finishing up he epic projects Ink Motel 5. In 2023/2024 Ivan has brought on board creative artists to helm their own series and DVDs such as Musa Phoenix, Sabien DeMonia, Luna Luxxx and Deet, Darcy Diamond and recently Taylor Nicole.
Alt Erotic has won the last three years an Alt Star Award for “Best Alt Membership Website”
