Serg Shepard: Going Behind the Camera

March 23, 2026
JACK

Serg Shepard: Going Behind the Camera

With over a dozen major studio appearances and award nominations in the first quarter of the year alone, our dear friend and bona fide gay porn superstar, Serg Shepard, is a performer in every sense of the word. You would think all this studio work, event appearance gigs, and accolades would be enough, but not for Serg. A self-described "workaholic," Serg's latest project is a showcase of his and his business partner Richard Rothstein's photography at the elite Soho Project Gallery in New York City. In yet another fascinating interview, Serg tells us all about yet another fascinating facet of his fascinating life.

*Photos courtesy of Serg Shepard*

How is 2026 going for Serg Shepard?

Hey There! It has started very exciting and busy. Everything from visiting Iceland in January to attending the Gaycn’s in Las Vegas. I have been filming the series "Drifters" for Ducati Studios, a Fetish Force scene, a couple of very exciting scenes with MenatPlay that are coming soon, and a few male wrestling scenes in Paris. I have so many big releases and debuts for me with Falcon, Head to Head, Raging Stallion's "In the Depths," and the most anticipated NakedSword movie, “Ashes Before Dawn” by Alter Sin. I'm also very excited for my Grabbys Europe and America nominations. Currently, I am in Lima, Peru, filming for Canino Latino production. So the year has been very, very busy. On top of all of this, I have my first photography gallery exhibit happening right now in New York City.

Tell us about your new photography exhibit. What is it? Where can people see it? For how long?

The exhibit is called “CITY MEN: The Photography of Sergey Sheptun and Richard Rothstein.” It is a show that is happening in New York City at the Soho Project Gallery space from March 12 to March 29, at 127B Prince Street. It is a perusal of the male nude in the city we all love. It is a celebration of the intergenerational art and friendship between me, Sergey Sheptun, and Richard Rothstein. In New York City’s vibrant photography scene, the celebration of the male nude can become a quiet dialogue between generations of artists. Imagine a young photographer and a seasoned image-maker meeting in a light-filled Manhattan studio or wandering a rooftop with city views towards the Hudson with a camera, discussing how the male body has been framed across decades of art. For older artists, the nude recalls the rebellious gallery culture of earlier eras—film cameras, improvised studios, and a push against censorship. For the younger one, it becomes a conversation about identity, consent, and modern body-positivity. As they photograph together, the male form becomes less about provocation and more about continuity: a shared study of light, muscle, gesture, and vulnerability that bridges age, experience, and artistic philosophy within the endlessly creative landscape of New York City.

How would you describe your photography? Style? Brand?

It took me a while to discover myself as a photographer and my style. My subjects are the beauty of gorgeous male physiques, the diversity of beauty, age, life, and identity. I love the depths of shadows and light in the body structures and in their movement. Capturing a nude image of yourself or someone else can always be a challenge because it threatens personal innocence. It makes us feel very vulnerable. But that’s the beauty of it, of who we truly are.

Do you have a process as a photographer? How do you work with the subjects you are photographing? Lenses? Cameras? Lights? Tell us everything!

I always prefer the model to make a choice rather than pose someone; this way, I can find out more about who the person is in front of my lens and what they are capable of. That’s why I also love working with dancers and performers, as they are very free with their movement and are very self-aware. Also, getting to know the model prior helps to make them feel comfortable and confident, and creates trust. I love working outdoors with beautiful coordination in the composition of landscapes. I switched between Canon and Nikon cameras, love working with powerful zoom lenses at a distance, and I love working in daylight.

How did you first become interested in photography?

Since I moved to New York, I started doing modeling and nude modeling for the drawing artists and photographers. At some point, I met my future good friend and mentor, Richard Rothstein. He was one of those photographers who had a good connection with me immediately. We did dozens of projects over the years. I could easily put on a show or a book just of his photos of me. During the pandemic, we became closer friends since we were also neighbors, and pre-pandemic, he had started having me make photos behind the scenes during his photo shoots. After a while, I got really into it, a slow transition from being in front of the camera to behind it myself. I truly love the camera as a tool and as a part of your personality and yourself.

How does this relate to your work as a porn star? Are they connected in any way?

Photography does help as an additional skill for working in front of any possible camera. You know both sides of the world, and in some way, it eases the process of being filmed. As a model, you know your angles. As a performer, you know your actions. As a photographer, you know the composition. You know how to place yourself, how to work the light, the side of the camera, and how to make the main focus with the lenses. So far, I have had only a couple of experiences working for the studios as a camera person, but who knows, maybe directing and filming will be my other future gig. Definitely being connected to so many creators helps me easily find models when I need to, and porn actors don’t have problems with being comfortable in front of a lens.

Obviously, these are very different lines of work and different art forms, but do you approach them in any similar way?

There is a strong connection between those two art forms, in my opinion. The success of both depends on the models enjoying being exposed, seen, celebrated, and knowing what they are doing with their bodies. Both celebrate the beauty of a human being. I see it in a way that models always need to experiment and try new things. I like to do that in my life of modeling or porn or both. I just do it. Our happiness in life comes from our environment, from the things and work we do. I think I found what I love, and I couldn’t be happier.

What do each of these, your photography and your porn, mean to you as a performer and as an expression of yourself as an artist?

The true creation of something, in my case, the images and videos I make, is the basis of the artistry. By making something new, capturing the beauty, passion, love, and artistry, I am satisfied as an artist. Porn is always a great stage for my performances to be seen, to be indulged. I love the variety of work I have done with different studios, and how different I can be in many scenarios. Photography is a moment, a perfectly captured second of the perfections and imperfections of a life. I think it’s very magical, and the discovery of what we can do with just a lens, light, and a human body is something that amazes me. And there are so many layers and possibilities of the work that I can do. I have so much more to accomplish.