Close Up on Mike Ruiz

Mike Ruiz is one of the most well known celebrity photographers in the world. His work can be seen in many publications and he has shot a variety of celebrities around the world. We at CLOSET wanted to learn more about his life and decided what better way than to do a cover story on him. Not only is he an accomplished photographer but he can also model! Mike shot a super sexy editorial for us that really highlights his chiseled body.

How many years have you been doing photography and how did you start?

I’VE BEEN SHOOTING FOR 26 YEARS NOW. I STARTED ON A WHIM, WHEN MY FRIEND BOUGHT ME A CAMERA AT THE AGE OF 28. FROM THE SECOND I OPENED THAT BOX, I WAS UNDER A SPELL.

What are some of your favorite shoots that you have done throughout your career? 

SOME OF MY FAVORITE SHOOTS HAVE BEEN TRAVELING. MY JOB HAS TAKEN ME ALL OVER THE WORLD. INDIA IS PROBABLY AT THE TOP OF MY LIST.

Do you have anyone that you consider your muse or a mentor in photography?

I’VE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE GREATS SUCH AS RICHARD AVEDON AND IRVING PENN. I AM LESS INSPIRED BY PEOPLE AS I AM FROM PLACES THAT I’VE BEEN AND EXPERIENCES I’VE HAD.

As a celebrity photographer, do you have any funny stories or celebrities that you were really in awe of in their presence?

MY FAVORITE PERSON THAT I’VE PHOTOGRAPHED IS PRINCE. I STILL MARVEL AT THE FACT THAT HE PICKED ME OUT OF DOZENS OF PHOTOGS TO SHOOT HIM FOR A COVER AND WENT ON TO REQUEST ME FOR EVERYTHING SUBSEQUENTLY. ONE TIME WHILE I WAS AT PAISLEY PARK PHOTOGRAPHING HIM, HE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO HEAR SOME OF HIS NEW TRACKS. HE COMMENCED TO DO A LIVE CONCERT FOR ME, MY ASSISTANT AND A WRITER FROM ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE. I THOUGHT I WAS HALLUCINATING.

What advice would you give to a photographer who is just starting out based on your experience?

THE ONLY ADVICE THAT I GIVE TO ANYONE STARTING ANY CAREER IS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT, TENACIOUS AND EXTREMELY HARD WORKING. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO SUCCEED. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A RIGOROUS WORK ETHIC AND I’VE MADE MANY SACRIFICES IN ORDER TO HAVE THE CAREER THAT I DO. THIS KIND OF COMMITMENT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO EXCEL IN ANYTHING. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP FOR MY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WHICH WAS CREATED TO FAST TRACK CAREERS.

Can you tell us about the program that you recently started to help photographers fast track their careers?

I HAD HEARD OF PEOPLE HOLDING PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS AND CHARGING PARTICIPANTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO BE CRAMMED IN A ROOM WITH 1 SUBJECT ALL VYING FOR TIME TO PHOTOGRAPH THEM. THEY LEFT WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT AT THE END OF THE DAY EXCEPT FOR FRUSTRATION. THAT’S WHEN I DECIDED TO COME UP THIS MENTORSHIP THAT WOULD BE HANDS EXPERIENCE IN A REAL WORLD, ONE ON ONE SITUATION. HAVING BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR A QUARTER CENTURY NOW, I’VE AMASSED QUITE A ROLODEX OF CONTACTS. I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD OPEN UP THOSE CONTACTS TO PEOPLE STARTING OUT SO THAT THEY COULD WORK WITH TOP LEVEL PEOPLE BYPASSING YEARS OF GRUNT WORK. HAIR, MAKEUP, WARDROBE STYLING, MODELS, ACTORS AND MUSICIANS. I WOULD CONCEPTUALIZE THE SHOOT, PRODUCE IT AND GUIDE THE PARTICIPANTS THROUGH IT SO THAT THEY HAD SOMETHING TANGIBLE THAT COULD BE PUBLISHED AT THE END OF THE DAY. I THEN GET IT PUBLISHED FOR THEM. THIS PROCESS HAS FAST TRACKED THE CAREERS OF MY FIRST CLIENTS. THEY WENT FROM WASTING MONEY WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT TO SHOOTING FOR MAGAZINE COVERS IN PARIS, NEW YORK, LONDON, MIAMI AND LOS ANGELES ALL WITHIN A YEARS TIMEFRAME.

You have become known for your amazing body as well! What is your fitness/diet routine and how do you maintain it?

THERE IS NO SHORT ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. BEING PHYSICALLY FIT AT THE AGE OF 55 REQUIRES THE IMPLEMENTATION ON AN ENTIRE LIFESTYLE. THERE IS NO SINGLE EXERCISE PLAN OR DIET THAT WILL GIVE A PERSON THE RESULTS THAT ONLY COME FROM COMMITMENT, CONSISTENCY AND A LOT OF HARD WORK. THERE IS DEFINITELY A SCIENCE TO IT. IT’S NOT A PRIORITY FOR EVERYONE BUT FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO EXCEL, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SACRIFICE HAS TO BE MADE.

Can you tell us a little bit about your upcoming “Hot Men Over 40” shoot that you are producing soon?

I RECENTLY PITCHED ADON MAGAZINE HAVING ME SHOOT AN ENTIRE ISSUE OF HOT MEN IN THEIR 40S, 50S AND 60S. THEY WERE THRILLED WITH THE IDEA OF MAKING AN ENTIRE ISSUE OF OLDER MEN AS OPPOSED TO FEATURING THE TOKEN “DADDY’ EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. THERE IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE OF AGEISM IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY THAT I WANTED TO CHALLENGE WITH THIS PROJECT. AS WITH EVERYTHING THAT I DO, I ALWAYS TRY TO BUILD IN A PHILANTHROPIC COMPONENT TO MY PROJECTS. FOR THIS ONE, I DECIDED THAT I WOULD FILM ALL OF THE SEXY BTS AND IN LIEU OF POSTING FOR FREE CONSUMPTION, I DECIDED TO CREATE AN ONLY FANS PAGE TO POST ALL OF THE EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON. THAT WAY PEOPLE COULD GET THEIR ROCKS OFF FOR  A GOOD CAUSE!

Do you have any advice for men who are over 40 and struggling with their confidence?

SELF CONFIDENCE COMES FROM WITHIN. I STRUGGLED WITH SELF ESTEEM ISSUES FOR A GOOD PORTION OF MY LIFE AND FELT INADEQUATE FOR YEARS! I REALIZED THAT THE KEY TO CHANGING THAT WAS TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY HAPPINESS, ANGER, SADNESS AND EVERY OTHER EMOTION THAT I MADE OTHER PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR. REALIZING THAT I WAS IN CONTROL OF ALL OF IT WAS SO EMPOWERING AND LIFE CHANGING.

You have started a pro-voting campaign called “FLEX YOUR VOTE.” Can you tell us a little bit about this project and why you started it?

WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT 1 IN 5 LGBTQ PEOPLE WERE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, I WAS SHOCKED! I KNEW THAT I HAD TO TRY TO MOBILIZE AS MANY OF US AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO CHANGE THAT STATISTIC. I STARTED THE “FLEX YOUR VOTE’ CAMPAIGN WITH Pat Lee, Ulrich Oehman, Jorge Freire, Abel Cruz, Eric Wainwright, Allan Spiers and Michael Downs, SOME OF THE BEST FITNESS PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE WORLD, SO THAT WE COULD MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE LGBTQ PEOPLE TO REGISTER AND VOTE. THE UPCOMING ELECTION IS THE MOST CRUCIAL ONE OF OUR LIFETIMES AND WE WERE COMPELLED TO BE PROACTIVE. WE WANTED TO COME UP WITH EYE CATCHING VISUALS THAT WOULD GET PEOPLE’S ATTENTION, HENCE TO MALE MODELS.

You also just launched an online retailer called Social Impak where you donate a percentage of its revenue to various charities. Can you tell us about Social Impak

SOCIAL IMPAK IS AN ONLINE DESTINATION WITH A VARIETY OF COLLECTION FOR SALE WITH A PERCENTAGE OF THE PROCEEDS GOING TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHARITIES. MY COLLECTION SUPPORTS 2 AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS THAT I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT. https://standupforpits.us/ AND https://www.aliforneycenter.org/

With you being a dog owner yourself, you have a real passion for dogs! Can you tell us about your annual animal rescue calendar?

I PREFER TO SAY THAT I’M A DOG GUARDIAN. I DON’T FEEL THAT WE ARE ENTITLED TO OWN A SENTIENT, LOVING BEING. THAT IS WHY I STARTED THIS YEARLY CALENDAR THAT BENEFITS S DIFFERENT ANIMAL RESCUE EVERY YEAR. SPECIFICALLY, I ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF PITBULL TYPE DOGS. AS WE ALL KNOW, THESE INHERENTLY GOOD DOGS ARE UNJUSTLY MALIGNED IN THE MEDIA LEADING TO ABUSE, NEGLECT AND ABANDONMENT. THE CALENDER HELPS RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS TO HELP THESE BEAUTIFUL SOULS FROM A LIFE OF TORTURE. FROM THE ONSET, THE CALENDAR WAS A WILD SUCCESS. IF YOU ASK ANY MALE FITNESS MODEL ANYWHERE, THEY WILL ALL SAY THAT BEING A PART OF THIS CALENDAR IS AKIN TO BEING ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. I HAVE SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR MEN COUPLED WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PUPS EVERY YEAR. THIS YEAR THE CALENDAR IS CALLED “PITTIES AND PECS” AND WILL BE AVAILABLE AT https://phillybullyteam.com/ AS OF OCT 1ST, 2020.

What are some goals, projects, or people that you would like to work on or shoot next?

MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS BEEN A LONG SERIES OF OPPORTUNITIES HAPHAZARDLY PRESENTING THEMSELVES TO ME. IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME THIS QUESTION 30 YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY THAN THE ONE THAT UNFOLDED. I JUST GO WITH THE FLOW A CARPE EVERY DAMN DIEM! THE UNIVERSE HAS NOT STEERED ME WRONG YET.