LAS VEGAS—Award-winning director, producer, performer, record label owner and photographer Miles Long continues to forge ahead in his career, with his latest accomplishment being chosen to photograph French reality TV star Kelly Helard for the cover for HOT Video magazine.
"I was thrilled to be able to shoot photos for HOT Video magazine," Long said. ”Not only was it a privilege to shoot such a well known French Reality TV star, but it has been a personal goal of mine to shoot a cover for HOT Video for some time, because I have shot so much of their video content over the years. I was also very, very flattered that Kelly and Neymar asked me to shoot their wedding photos as well, and I was just so glad to be a part of their visit to America."
Long now has more than 165 magazines to his credit, including AVN, Barely Legal, Cheri, Club, Club Confidential, Club International, Club Extreme, Xcitement, Finally Legal, Fox, Gallery, Gent, Hawk, High Society, Hustler, MILFs in Heat, OUI, Private, Spicy Latinas and Velvet as well as English magazines Fiesta and Ravers DVD and mainstream magazines Maxim and Vegas Seven.
Long, who also shot a layout of HOT Video star Amel Annoga, also has been hard at work in the mainstream arena with his photography work. His photos were featured on Aerial Performer's Instagrams and the aerial community social media this month. Additionally he is shooting catalog and billboard. After seeing success on Vang Comp Systems’ collector's calendar, the company has chosen Long to work on their next calendar featuring more of their custom firearms.
"We were so excited by the success of our initial calendar that we knew we had to start right away on shooting next year's calendar." said Cody Stewart, president of Vang Comp Systems. "We feel very lucky that we have such a talented photographer at our disposal, who not only can showcase our custom work, but also help market it in areas we never thought were possible."
The calendar, which is already over half way completed, will be ready for sale before Christmas, and features both Nikki Phoenix and mainstream model Whitney Dalynn, as well as custom shotguns, rifles and pistols tuned and built by the gunsmiths at their facility.
Long's record label, Sights & Sounds Productions Inc., has also been moving full steam ahead, with additional artists under its umbrella, including DJ and producer JackEL. The label has already been issued its own ISRC code, is an ASCAP, Sound Exchange and PPL member and will be releasing its next single, “Your Smile” by JackEL 'd Phoenix, a duo act featuring the combined work of EDM artist and multi-award nominated actress Nikki Phoenix and JackEL. The single will drop on April 20.
Along with this project, Long has enjoyed being a performer again, having stepped back in front of the camera back in 2012, and having logged over 200 scenes as a performer for his company as well as CE Cash. Long feels the break from performing in favor of directing has helped him improve as a performer, just as his start as a performer helped him immeasurably when he moved behind the camera as a Director.
"I was really struck with how much starting out as a performer helped me blossom as a Director," said Long, "Not only did it give me a solid understanding and empathy toward performers and how tough their job really is, but I also saw that it really gave me a measure of respect in the eyes of performers that I shot, as they knew I would never place them in a situation, or ask them to do something that I wouldn't or couldn't do myself. I began to realize after honing my skills as a director, producer, photographer and videographer, that if a company asked me to start performing again, and I made the transition back to being a performer, the reverse would also be true. It was great to see that the years focusing on my work behind the camera really helped me in the transition back in front and that has given me ability to give the strongest scenes I have made yet. I am really thankful that I have been fortunate enough to have been able to move from in front of the camera to behind it, and now be in front and behind at the same time."
Also, Long inducted his longtime friend and fellow director Jeff Mullen, also known as Will Ryder, into the XRCO Hall Of Fame this past weekend. The induction was particularly memorable for both directors as Mullen inducted Long into the XRCO's Hall Of Fame in 2012.
"This was especially memorable for me," said Long, "Not only is Jeff one of my close friends, he was also the person who so eloquently inducted me into the XRCO Hall of Fame back in 2012, and I told him then that when the time came, I would love to be the person to induct him in return. I only hope that my speech was half as eloquent as his was of me. I was really gratified that XRCO asked me to be the person who would induct Jeff, as it had such meaning to the both of us."
To reach Miles Long, contact [email protected].
