UNB Model Profile featuring Cody Johnvin
It’s great to sit down with some of the newer models on the block to see how their career has taken off. Cody Johnvin tells us about his desire to start modeling, who his biggest target is in the photography industry, and how important the gym and a healthy lifestyle is to his being.
UNBKyle: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me. Let’s start from your beginning. What was your first modeling gig and how did you come to get it?
Cody: I guess my first real photo shoot was a few days after my birthday down in Chicago, Il for Jr Nationals. A friend of mine had put me into contact with Golden Czermark aka: Furious Fotog. Golden had a lot of shoots already lined up, but said he could fit me in, so I scraped up every penny and made the journey down there. At the time I was working night shift, so I left home late that night, headed down to Chicago, slept for about an hour in a parking garage and then went and did the photo shoot with Golden. From then on, I guess I was hooked!
Kyle: That is a great beginning. Saving every penny and taking a chance, sleeping in the car, and shooting after barely any sleep. What made you want to pursue modeling?
Cody: I guess I would have to say that it is extremely self-rewarding when something you have worked on your entire life begins to unfold. At this point, I don’t have college wrestling or other sports to train for (with the exception of men’s physique bodybuilding), so it has become another thing to keep me driven with my type of lifestyle in the gym.
Kyle: Well, we can tell the gym is definitely paying off. Which shoot do you consider your breakthrough in your career?
Cody: Well, that’s a bit of a toss-up. What ended up happening was, that night after the shoot with Golden, Allan Spiers contacted me and wanted to shoot with me while I was still in Chicago. I shot with Allan the very next morning and he recommended me to start up an athlete page on Facebook. After the first couple shots from Golden and Allan were posted, I couldn’t believe the opportunities that opened up for me. At times it was a bit overwhelming for a small town guy like myself!
Kyle: Wow. That ended up being quite a few days for you! I am sure that can be very overwhelming and feels like a dream. Which shoot has been your favorite? Why?
Cody: That is a difficult question because every photographer has different styles, looks, and ideas. I don’t know if I have a favorite, but I really enjoyed shooting with Golden because he answered so many of my questions and really made me feel comfortable for my first big shoot.
Kyle: Sounds like he was a good initial mentor. Hopefully that relationship has continued to grow. Which shoot has been your most challenging? Why?
Cody: I would have to say shooting for the cover of “Awakening the Willow’s Heart” was the most difficult because I really wanted to capture the image/moment the author had envisioned. I’ve also known Photography by Jane since I was a young boy, so it made for a lot of fun and some good laughs!
Kyle: I can see that challenge since you are turning a story into a vision. Are there any brands or photographers you would like to work with that you have not worked with yet?
Cody: One of my goals has always been to do a shoot with Pat Lee, so hopefully some doors with that will open up at some point. Otherwise, I think it would be a huge honor to be in Men’s Health Magazine someday. Dream big, achieve big.
Kyle: Well hopefully those big things will come your way! We can’t wait to see more from you! What is something that your fans don’t know about you outside of modeling that you want them to know?
Cody: I’m not a certified dietitian or trainer although it may be something I will work into in the future. As far as diet and exercise goes, I have taken bits and pieces from nutritionists, coaches, athletes, etc. and used them to find out what works best for my body. What I really love doing is motivating and inspiring people to show that anything can be achieved with the right mindset.
Kyle: I can see your passion in that. What kind of diet and exercise do you do to prepare for shoots?
Cody: I typically add an hour of fasted cardio sometime in the morning which usually involves a bit of interval training. I also begin to super-set more when lifting to increase the intensity of my workout. With my diet, I typically eat pretty healthy year round, so when it comes to prepping for a shoot or show, I break up my meals into smaller portions (6-8 per day) and increase my water intake even more until a few days before.
Check out more of Cody Johnvin below.
Interested in having your profile featured on Underwear News Briefs? Email me at kyle@underwearnewsbriefs.com