The cool part about New York is that you can do that. You can talk to all the people you admire.

I put all of my time into art because I couldn't go back to Jersey and work at Starbucks.

Most of the e-mails I get nowadays are from students who ask me how I got my start. In truth its from having a really supportive family but also having a good patron who will help you - like financing all those early trips I took.

I can work with shyness, but for the most part I want people to feel comfortable with me. It's really more about the photographer feeing comfortable right when they walk in that makes the subject feel comfortable.

I think that's an important lesson for young people who want to be artists: You have to find someone who believes in you and who will help you find that time where you don't have to think about a job but just making work. If I didn't have those people in my life, I wouldn't be in the position I'm in.

I went through a pretty big David Bowie period when I was younger, and that has affected me profoundly in my life and my work.

I've been attracted to Kate Moss since I was a teenager.