“By my late 30s, I leaned fully into that erotic lens, realizing I could use photography to celebrate and explore the full spectrum of male sexuality and the varied forms of intimate expression” – enjoy this new Interview with Jason Jackson.
Could we start with some background information about you?
Sure! My name is Jason Jackson, and I’m a professional photographer and the creator of THE EROTIESE PROJECT – a visual exploration of male sexuality and intimacy through photography.
Where did you grow up? Where are you based? How did you get interested in photography?
I grew up on Long Island about 90 minutes away from New York City. My childhood was pretty uneventful but happy. In high school, I was a bit of a nerdy overachiever and involved in sports and student government. There wasn’t a lot of teen angst in my life. It was kind of boring.
I went to college in upstate New York and earned a degree in Physical Therapy. After that, I moved to San Francisco and worked at a hospital while fully indulging in the chaos and debauchery of my 20s. Eventually, I moved back east and settled in Harlem, NYC, where I live now.
Photography has been a part of my life since I was a teenager – first with disposable Kodaks, then a basic point-and-shoot. I still have albums full of old film and digital photos from back then. Early on, photography was about capturing joy, realness, and relationships (family and friends), and laughter, and moments that mattered.
Did you always know photography would become your ultimate creative outlet?
Not at all. It wasn’t until my 30s that photography became something more intentional. I’ve always loved traveling, and my first real passion in photography was capturing spontaneous street scenes and visual narratives abroad. That sense of fleeting, honest storytelling still informs how I shoot today—especially in my erotic work.
By my late 30s, I leaned fully into that erotic lens, realizing I could use photography to celebrate and explore the full spectrum of male sexuality and the varied forms of intimate expression.
What’s the best thing about being a photographer?
Honestly, I love the whole process – from the initial spark of an idea to the final edit. For my erotic work, it begins with getting to know the subject. I always connect with models before a shoot, either in person or over video. Understanding their relationship to their body, their insecurities, desires, fetishes – that’s where the initial collaboration between myself and the model begins.
I very rarely want a shoot to come 100% from me. I want the subject to be invested and a part of the process whether they are there to be a subject for one of my personal projects or they are commissioning me to shoot them.
The shoot itself is a rush. It’s intimate and alive. I get to layer in emotion, sensuality, and symbolism based on who they are and what they want to express. And then comes post production, where I can tweak the story through shadow, texture, and tone. One of my first mentors was obsessive about printing—paper choice, framing, the tactile experience. That rubbed off on me. In a world glued to digital screens and social media, a fine art print still feels like the most powerful, enduring form of photographic expression.
Who have been your biggest influences?
My influences span generations. Icons like Irving Penn, Robert Mapplethorpe, Kwame Brathwaite, and Herb Ritts have all shaped how I see beauty and composition. I also admire lesser-known photographers like the late Isauro Cairo—his work was raw, emotional, and deeply human.
Contemporary artists like Tyler Mitchell, Micaiah Carter, Campbell Addy, and Dana Scruggs are also pushing the field in amazing ways. The current wave of Black photographers is so exciting. Their work feels bold, personal, and necessary.
Do you work solo or with a team?
Mostly solo. I handle my own lighting, and creative direction. But I’ve had shoots where I’ve collaborated with makeup artists, or stylists depending on the concept. What I do rely on is community. I’ve been fortunate to have access to beautiful, meaningful spaces—farms in California, countryside homes in Madrid, queer clubs in Tokyo and NYC. That kind of support is invaluable.
Your work often features strong, fit men. Does your choice of model reflect your personal taste?
Yes – but “strong” for me isn’t just about physicality. I’m drawn to men who exude emotional, spiritual, or intellectual strength – whether that’s already fully realized or still evolving. That process of becoming is compelling to me, both personally and artistically. I intentionally seek out a range of body types, ages, ethnicities, and identities. The beauty of men is wide and complex. If I only photographed one kind of body, it would feel dishonest.
How do you navigate Instagram’s censorship policies?
It’s a constant dance. I used to fight it more directly – writing appeals, pushing back. But now, I’ve learned to work within the system, tweaking posts to stay visible without getting banned. It’s frustrating, especially because the algorithm is so biased and inconsistent. Some artists boycott Instagram entirely, and I respect that. But for me, staying visible on that platform is a form of resistance. I don’t post original content on Twitter anymore, but I’ll repost if a model I have photographed does. Lately, I’ve found Bluesky to be a more liberating space for sharing explicit work. And I’m in the process of revamping my website to host more of that content directly.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Push harder and move faster on the business side. I’ve been sitting on the idea for my first coffee table book for three years now. I need to stop overthinking and just make it happen.
What do you do when you have time for yourself?
Peace and time with my fiancé are important to me and travel is my love language. If I had it my way, I’d be exploring a new country every month—with my camera, of course. Its a big world. So many men. So little time.
Please finish the sentences:
Deeply in love with…kindness and humor
Impress me with…love and loyalty
I get up now and…take a deep breath
Semi @semi_rawze and Daniel @d.carter
Photographs by: Jason Jackson @erotiese / bsky.app/profile/erotiese.bsky.social / erotiese.co / x.com/erotieseproject
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