I am Pretty
Our Man of the Hour is Todd Anthony Tyler: globally recognized fashion and advertising photographer, reality TV show judge, and former model. In our Interview with Todd – he talks marriage, parenting, living a healthy lifestyle and more.
You seem like a modern-day renaissance man. Is that true?
I think modern-day Renaissance man would be a reasonably good description of what I do overall. Which is interesting to me, as this was what my high school guidance teacher was calling me. Looks like she was pretty on the money with that. I would credit the description to two main reasons, one being that I have always had an extensive scope of interest and was somewhat equally proficient at all of these interests, so I always felt like, Why not try to schedule myself to explore it all. There is only one life to live, as far as I am currently aware. The second reason is that I have found in the modern-day business/work market that one of my mottos, “adapt or die,” has done me well. I am always trying to keep it honest with myself on when it is necessary to pivot. To date, that has found myself enjoying a notable fashion and advertising career, working both in front and behind the camera on TV productions. Either owning in full or as a partner of several businesses, and increasingly finding my place in the social media scene, both in support of companies and in my role as an influencer.
Relationships take work. What are the building blocks and components that have worked for you and your wife?
Yes, there is no doubt that even the most solid of relationships take putting in time, compromise, understanding, being supportive, and some good old-fashioned love. One of the main components of our marriage that has made us stay strong and together came right from the start of the relationship, when a conversation about our desire to be together set the tone of how we felt and thought. No doubt, trust, faith, and good communication with each other are strong factors, but the somewhat simple idea of just being together has been the core of our staying together. Those shared experiences – even simply daily ones go a long way in forming a lasting relationship. I know not everyone has a life that can perhaps have couples together as much as we do, but that has been what works for us. It can be pretty easy for couples to start to form separate lives when they are not together, especially for long periods. Those separate lives can end up having a life of their own, wholly removed from your spouse, which then can turn into something divisive. With my son now, I always find that sharing as much as possible and taking care of him is very good for our relationship. My wife does a lot with him, especially as she is still breastfeeding. There are times when one parent is better at doing something than two pulling at the baby. However, being present for baby carrying and diaper changing is very important in understanding each other and sharing experiences.
Now that you are a parent, how has this influenced your decisions?
I admit I was not one pining away to be a father. I was ok with the idea that I might never be a father or that I have so many things going on that maybe a child doesn’t work with my lifestyle. Now that I am a father, I don’t know how I could have ever thought that. Yes, having a baby changes your life. It is true about the sleep for sure – 8 hours of sleep does not exist anymore. He is almost a year old, and I have not had any solid sleep for a year … ha ha. Decision-wise, I would say I am much more aware of the responsibility to be present as a father. I have always been Mr. Adventure – skydiving, scuba diving, bungee jumping, barreling down a hill on my mountain bike – grab the world by the package and give it a swing kind of a guy. Now, I am thinking I need to be around for many years to come. I want to be here for him; I want to see him grow up, and I want to spend all my time with him. Now the thrill for me is the wonder in his eyes when he sees something new, all the firsts, and just that moment when he holds you tight and you feel unconditional love.
What would you say started your passion for photography?
My passion for photography comes from my natural desire to create. I have always been of an artist’s mind even though I majored in Biology and Anthropology. Since I was young, I have always been into artistic endeavors, drawing, painting, sculpting – I just loved the creative process. Luckily, my mother introduced me to photography at a young age by buying me a little point and shoot camera. I become obsessed with framing my world through the viewfinder and composition. That was the time when we still had a little magic of shooting film, so the process of going out and framing, composing, shooting and then the excitement of getting your photos back to see what you had captured bit me right away. I didn’t see photography as a career until later in life because I also never desired to be a starving artist. Still, when I realized that my entrepreneurial interests could be combined with my photography skills, I took my hobby to the professional level. After 20 years, I still have the passion to shoot – one of my happiest moments is when I have the camera in my hand and I am framing up a shot and shooting away.
Out of all the places you have traveled to, which one would be your favorite and why?
Just to put a bit of context for where I am coming from, I have been lucky enough to have traveled and lived in over 30 countries. So, a fair amount of reference on the difference in places to be. If you are like me and love to travel and explore new areas for the pure joy of it, I still love Thailand – my immediate memories of my time in Thailand are just simple fun, mixed with history, jungles, and beautiful beaches. Thailand is overall a great vacation; let’s get out there and explore and have a good time. On the more romantic side of things, I like Paris. I have been to Paris about 10 times now, and every time I still have the same warm and fuzzy romantic feeling about the city. Perhaps I wouldn’t want to live in Paris full-time, but as a travel destination for a couple, I would say Paris- even if it seems like a clichéd place to go. If we are talking about overall living, it is hard to beat Canada in terms of quality of life, safety, and family life. However, for a city to live in I am a big fan of New York. I feel immediately at home in New York. I have lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and I prefer to live in Manhattan as I just love to walk everywhere. I could write a book, though, on all the places I have been lucky to experience, as they all have their unique pluses.
What is your favorite quote, why?
There are several quotes, but there is more. I have a favorite poem that I’ve carried in my pocket even before I was a father. It seems like it would do people well these days to read this poem once in a while.
IF by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
Please tell us your best healthy lifestyle tips.
To me, there is no doubt that one of the best things you can do for yourself is to take care of your health. Good health is like having money in the bank. We all often get caught up so much in all the things we are supposed to do every day that we don’t take time to take care of ourselves, both physically and mentally. I am not saying to enjoy your life, but live with balance. I am a big fan of trying all different types of cuisine and greatly enjoy trying different beers and whisky, a lot of times people think because I stay fit I only workout and eat salad which is not true. My tips are based on scheduling or planning. Schedule physical fitness activities for yourself each week. I have my gym time or runs in my schedule as a meeting. Staying healthy is a fundamental matter that should not be superseded by crossing more things off the to-do list. The same goes for eating – most meals I eat a balanced meal of healthy choices from lean sources of protein to complex carbs and healthy fats while generally drinking water. However, then I have my times during the week where I enjoy a few drinks, eat pizza and burgers, and indulge in other pleasures. The main points here are balance, planning, and enjoying in moderation.
Instagram: @toddanthonytyler
Written by Ilene Carol, Publisher of Women’s Quarterly.
Ilene Carol is a media entrepreneur and publisher of Women’s Quarterly and New League Magazine.
