LOS ANGELES — Veteran director and photographer Van Styles is the subject of an in-depth profile on HighSnobiety.com, the flagship site of the Titel Media network of fashion and product-focused websites.
Established in 2005, HighSnobiety prides itself on recognizing trends and movements in the street fashion culture. HighSnobiety writer Cullen Poythress took an interest in Styles from following his Twitter feed (@vanstyles), which often includes still photos of his latest shoots. His feature titled "The Softer Side of Hardcore With Van Styles" profiles the seasoned shooter's photography work off the porn set as well as his deep-rooted background in the skateboarding world.
Styles has been regularly integrating skateboarding fashion into his photo shoots with several high-profile performers as his subjects. Porn stars such as Andy San Dimas, Asa Akira, Kristina Rose and Skin Diamond have all shot with him.
“I’ve built relationships with some of the girls in the business and I’ve been pushing myself in photography more,” Styles told XBIZ. “I’ve shot some photos outside of the typical porn 'pretty-girls,' and they were down for it. During our shoots I’ll put the girl in a hat or a t-shirt or a beanie, and I’ll throw these photos on my blog and the girls will put them on their Tumblr or tweet them.”
HighSnobiety's Poythress, along with photographer Sagan Lockhart, watched Styles in action during his shoot with the XBIZ award-winning performer San Dimas.
“It’s a different approach because there’s no hardcore sex or hardcore nudity going on,” Styles told HighSnobiety. “... I think the newer breed of people who work in porn and the newer viewers of porn are looking for something a little more visually stimulating — stuff that leaves things up to the imagination more.”
Styles said that skateboarding culture has transcended the sport during the past decade thanks in part to the global popularity of the X Games and Street League tour.
“It's so mainstream now and everyone is into the fashion," he told XBIZ, adding that Jessie Andrews is scheduled to shoot with him soon.
Now in his 11th year in porn, Styles remains busy with adult shoots as well. His first movie as a director for Jules Jordan Video, titled “Neighborhood Slut Watch,” is slated for release on Wednesday.
To read the HighSnobiety article, click here.
For more of Styles' work, visit VanStyles.com.
Photo of Van Styles and Andy San Dimas by Sagan Lockhart for HighSnobiety.com.
