We were lucky to catch up with Paul Berg recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paul, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Meaningful projects is my true motivation. If what you do, can bring meaning and correct something in your community, or someone’s life, then the only option is to do it. I started photography again after a 30-year hiatus because I saw a terrible wrong in the photography industry in Kansas City. I saw men taking advantage financially and psychologically of young women. These bad men who take a model’s week salary for a photoshoot and have no remorse. Instead of complaining, I made a change to help and make a correction. The only real way to fix the problem is to bring a new solution to minimize and eliminate the opportunities that these horrible men had. So, I started doing photoshoots for free and gave the models all their photos, all their legal rights and never charged them a dime. This way, the bad predatory photographers lost their advantage over these young models. It has worked and I my photos have been on 129 covers and been published in 250+ magazines for the past 2-years and not once did a model have to pay. There is no better feeling then to give a young aspiring model their first cover knowing that they were treated professionally with dignity and respect.

Paul, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started photography in 1986 and worked in San Francisco and New York and got to met some great photographers. It was a great time to be an artist in the 80’s. A little thing happen in 1990 called Desert Storm, and I enlisted to serve my country. What was supposed to be a 2-year duty of in and out of service, ended up being 30-years. I did get to see the world by flying helicopters, which included 4-combat tours. So after retirement, I became a university professor and also shoot fashion photography for free to help young deserving models. I love what I do, and everything has a purpose. I have been on 129 covers so far in just 2-years and my goal is 300 covers in next 3-years.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I am highly resilient because of the simple fact I was a helicopter pilot in the Army for 28-years and served in 4 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan (total of 42 months). Everything just gets in perspective when you survive tough combat tours. I enjoy every day and never take a day for granted. I have seen too much to go into detail, but everyone should be grateful for every day that they live.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

In my creative journey, I have written a novel and now on my third, I have been internationally published as a photographer and so my goal is to start an art gallery in Kansas City in 10-years. The gallery would have art shows every month that people can submit to. I want to include every type of artist, from the local plumber, to the school teacher to the lawyer. Art is boundless and there are artists everywhere. I just want to give them a place to show their art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lilithsrede.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptcberg/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-paul-berg-9175ba19b/
• Other: https://dr-paul-berg.kavyar.site/