Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jason McQuain. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Jason, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
Got it! Here’s the corrected version with Willy Ninja from the House of Ninja properly referenced:
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The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was moving to New York.
I spent 12 years in D.C. before that, and Florida is where I was raised, but New York? New York was always the city that signified you’d made it. The place where dreams either thrive or die trying. And I was determined to make mine thrive.
Right before I took that leap, I had the opportunity to shadow Mike Ruiz, a legendary celebrity photographer. Watching him work—seeing the level of precision, creativity, and authority he commanded—lit a fire in me. It made me realize that if I truly wanted to elevate my career, I couldn’t stay in my comfort zone. I needed to be where the industry was moving, where the biggest opportunities were waiting. And for me, that meant New York.
A little after that, I met Wilmy Ninja from the House of Ninja, who was coaching models for Ford and Elite at the time. We connected instantly, and he saw something in me that I hadn’t even fully realized yet. He told me straight up—you have a knack for coaching. He encouraged me to develop that skill, and ever since, I’ve been training and mentoring models, helping them break into the industry the right way.
So I took the risk. I moved to New York with just $150 to my name, no solid plan, no safety net—just a vision and sheer determination. But the reality of moving here was nothing like the fantasy. Making it in New York is harder than anywhere else. The rent is sky-high. Utilities are outrageous. Public transportation is unreliable at best, and driving? A complete nightmare. The city doesn’t make it easy, and I felt every bit of that struggle.
On top of that, I barely knew anyone. I had no network, no clientele, no real roadmap. And trust me, I did feel like quitting. There was a night, about six months in, when I sat in my tiny Bronx apartment, staring at my nearly empty fridge, wondering if I had made a massive mistake. The gigs weren’t coming in as fast as I’d hoped. I barely had money for food, let alone a MetroCard. I had put everything on the line to be here, and at that moment, I felt like I was failing. But I reminded myself—this is what you signed up for. Keep going.
That mindset shift changed everything. Instead of waiting for opportunities, I created them. I went to every event I could, met every person who would shake my hand, shot photos for free just to get my work in front of the right people. I studied how this city moved, and I adapted.
I really knew I had some guts when I got myself into a position to shoot backstage at New York Fashion Week. That moment? That was when the momentum shifted. From there, it snowballed—one connection led to another, and slowly but surely, I built my name.
For me, the ultimate validation came when I found myself at a private party with Janet Jackson. That night, standing in that room, I knew—I did it. Every risk, every struggle, every doubt had led me to that moment. My move to New York wasn’t just a dream anymore. It was my reality.
But here’s what I’ve learned about risk: it doesn’t stop with one leap of faith. Taking the first risk is just the beginning. The moment you reach one goal, another dream emerges. Success isn’t about playing it safe—it’s about constantly betting on yourself, even when the odds feel impossible.
After proving myself as a photographer, I set my sights on a new challenge—establishing my model coaching career. With Wilmy’s encouragement in the back of my mind, I saw a gap in the industry, a need for real, expert guidance to help aspiring models break into the business. So I took another risk. I built my coaching brand from the ground up, and through relentless work, dedication, and an unwavering belief in my craft, I became one of the most sought-after model coaches in New York.
Moving to New York was the biggest risk of my life. But it won’t be the last. Every time I push myself further, every time I embrace uncertainty, I grow. And that’s what success is really about—never staying comfortable, always taking the next big leap.
Jason, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Of course! Here’s an updated version of your bio written in a more personal, first-person style:
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I’m Jason McQuain, an internationally recognized celebrity fashion photographer and model coach, known for my eye for talent and beauty. My journey into this world started in a rather unconventional way—coming from a background in dance and stage production, I developed a unique understanding of movement, composition, and storytelling. These elements still guide the way I approach every image I create today.
I began my photography career back in 2003 while working as a flight attendant. I traveled constantly, and my camera became my way of capturing the people, places, and moments I encountered along the way. After two years of honing my skills, several celebrity photographers took notice of my work and encouraged me to take the leap and pursue photography full-time.
Dance taught me how the body moves, how to make it flow and feel powerful in an image. This ability became the cornerstone of my style. While I was in college in Washington, D.C., I spent time refining my skills, focusing more on beauty and form. After graduation, I built my photography business and started branching out into different areas of the industry, but my love for capturing movement and emotion in fashion and editorial work always remained at the core.
Today, I’m based in New York City, and Jason McQuain Studios has grown faster than I ever imagined. My passion for creativity is fueled by the contemporary fine art of the city, and the constantly evolving fashion scene around me. But it’s not just about being behind the camera for me anymore. I’ve also built a career as one of the most sought-after model coaches in New York, helping both new and established models grow their craft and break into the industry.
Looking back, I can see how every risk and every leap of faith I took along the way led me to where I am today. Whether I’m shooting for top brands, working with talented models, or teaching the next generation, I remain deeply inspired by the artistry around me and the creative challenges that come with pushing boundaries. For me, photography and coaching are about more than just capturing images—they’re about inspiring others to see their own potential and create something incredible.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Covid
When Covid everything changed. Here I am in the industry where my income was completely driven off in person photographs. Now there’s nothing. I had to completely shift what I was doing to make money. So I went to my second Love, which was fragrances. I’ve always loved fragrances since I was a kid. So I ended up making my own home essentials line during the pandemic, which technically was not my forte, but I did well I guess cause I sold out of everything consistently..
It in itself was rough as well because finding materials was hard to do, especially when everything was shut down. But eventually it was back to functioning after a few months.
How did you build your audience on social media?
To build your audience in social media it’s actually quite simple, although quite hard at the same time. The simple part is just being authentic and posting consistently. The hard part is finding content to shoot that doesn’t become redundant. For me I’m just very authentic I’m known for being real and raw even when it hurts somebody’s feelings or majority may not agree.
But I speak how I feel and I speak on what I see and I’ll bring a lot of that into my art. If you know where to look.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jasonmcquain.com
- Instagram: Therealjasonmc
- Twitter: Jaymcquain
- Youtube: Therealjasonmc
Image Credits
The last one of my hands out was done by Rex Nash @rexdnash