What happened after Paris?

I ended up coming home for the summer. I'd gone through some changes, so it was nice to see my family and kind of get grounded again. Then a scout from Michele Pommier came out to Iowa to scout me and got me a job in Miami, so I headed off to Miami.

How did they know about you?

I think it was through my mother agency in Iowa - Avant. It was Avant that originally sent me to the IMTA conference. The job was for Soviet Jeans, which was cool. They made me sign a big fat contract, and then I was up to Boss Models in New York two weeks after that.

What was the first big break you got?

I shot Iceberg Jeans with Steven Meisel.

Does the whole business feel different when you begin working with better designers, better photographers, bigger shoots? Or is it pretty much the same, just different players?

In some ways it's the same, just on a much bigger scale. Obviously though the production value is much higher, and to work with an elite photographer was always my favorite part about modeling - just to see the images they create.

What is it like to work with the truly great photographers?

The process itself is interesting because they each have a different way of working. For me it's always about a kind of unspoken language between the model and photographer, adapting to the way he or she works. I don't talk very much when I model, I just try and go into this place of trying to feel the energy back and forth and what they're trying to achieve. It always helps me to see the Polaroid. Because then I kind of get into the photographer's head. It's like: "Yeah, OK, now I see where you're going with this." They all have their own distinct style, which is great to be part of.

Have you worked with any photographers that were zanier than most?

Yes, zany in a good way — David LaChappelle. Yeah, he's fun and wild and his pictures reflect that. I love his work.

Tell me about some of the photographers you think are special.

Albert Watson, he seems like such a gentle sweet soul, he has such a wonderful eye and takes beautiful pictures. There are really so many. Greg Gorman in particular. He's a good friend of mine out in Los Angeles.

You must really trust him.

"Yes," (Joel indicates the nude images in his book pictured above) "I've never done nudes before, but if I was ever going to be photographed in the buff it had to be with Greg."