Portraits in which the subject meets the photographer’s gaze are justifiably the norm, but there’s plenty to be said for shooting a profile view. You feel somehow that the photographer is letting you in on something—something that subjects themselves may not be aware of at the time…

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Photo by Hans Gissinger.

Denis Leary. Photo by Art Streiber.

Photo by Erik Madigan Heck.

Philip Seymour Hoffman. Photo by Matthias Clamer.

Photo by Kwaku Alston.

Photo by Jeff Lipsky.

Merce Cunningham. Photo by John Midgley.

Sarah Jessica Parker. Photo by Matthew Rolston.

Pharrell Williams. Photo by Michael Muller.

Photo by Rolph Gobits.

Maggie Gyllenhaal. Photo by Nino Munoz.

Photo by Liz Von Hoene.

Photo by Roxanne Lowit.

Photo by Kai Uwe Gundlach.

Kelly Slater. Photo by Walter Iooss.

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Nino Munoz.

It’s difficult to know whether Nino Munoz, who began his career in New York in the early 1990s, has led a charmed life or whether his charm has led his life in such positive directions. Maybe it’s a bit of both.

Nino’s first major fashion story, for instance—photographing Gisele Bundchen for British Vogue—sparked what has become a longtime artistic collaboration and (and friendship). The two have worked together on numerous shoots for magazines ranging from Muse to Rolling Stone. “I love fashion because it’s so colorful and emotional,” says Nino. “There’s a sexiness and a provocative nature to fashion photography that inspires me.”

Nino’s work is at once sophisticated and sexy, always polished but somehow also organic. It’s a tough balance to strike, but it seems to come naturally to him, probably because Nino is as attracted to the essence of a person as he is to the beauty of what they do and who they are. “I respect when people are devoted to their craft—whether you’re a designer or a housekeeper,” he says. “As long as you are expressing yourself, I respect you.”

Over the years, Nino has worked with some of Hollywood’s finest—Leonardo DiCaprio, Julianne Moore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tom Cruise, and many others. Celebrity portraiture can be a fraught process—there’s a lot at stake, the schedules are almost always really tight, and there can be trust issues—but Nino has his own way of keeping things in perspective.

“It’s really not that complicated to do, but so many people put on a front when dealing with high-profile figures that it becomes an obstacle,” he says. “I’ve noticed that people with a lot of fame are very sensitive to people who aren’t genuine. I just approach actors and models like I would anyone else—with respect and kindness.”

Here’s a look at Nino’s work.

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Tom Cruise and Amy Adams. Photos by Nino Munoz.

Ashton Kutcher and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Photos by Nino Munoz.

Anne Hathaway. Photos by Nino Munoz.

Ryan Kwanten (left) and Jake Gyllenhaal. Photos by Nino Munoz

Christina Hendricks for London Fog (left) and an ad from a recent campaign for Daffy's. Photo bys Nino Munoz.

From a series of True Religion ads. Photos by Nino Munoz.

Photos by Nino Munoz.

Photos by Nino Munoz.

Photos by Nino Munoz.

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We’re thrilled to welcome Nino Munoz to the Stockland Martel roster. Nino is a celebrity, fashion, and lifestyle photographer known for his sexy but sophisticated visual style and personal charm. His work has been published worldwide, including in The Face, InStyle, The New York Times Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and Arena.

Nino’s first-ever assignment was shooting a fashion story with Gisele Bundchen for British Vogue, and the two remain good friends to this day. In fact, below I’ve posted one of his more recent portraits of Gisele, along with his photos of some other people you might recognize. (To view Nino’s portfolio online, please visit stocklandmartel.com/talent/nino-munoz/photography.)

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Gisele Bundchen, photographed by Nino Munoz.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, photographed by Nino Munoz.

A Vogue cover, minus the type, photographed by Nino Munoz.

Beyonce, photographed by Nino Munoz.

Jennifer Lopez, photographed by Nino Munoz.

Ashton Kutcher, photographed by Nino Munoz.

Leonardo DiCaprio, photographed by Nino Munoz.

Matthew McConaughey, photographed by Nino Munoz.

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