Interview in Tattoo Magazine that came out today....Here is just two of the pages, with the interview translated back to English for you. I also have a Podcast interview coming out on Thanksgiving day, so stay tuned for that!












Intro (Roughly Translated) The man behind the artistic name I Must Be Dead is the 24 year old McKay Jaffe from Phoenix, who's photos always catch the eyes of the viewers because in his works there are something special. For McKay it's important that his works must be conceptual works, and he can expresses perfectly his inner thoughts through his camera. He's a master in it.




- Mckay, thank you for your time to answer these questions. First question, please tell us about you and your earlier career before you got into photography.

I'm 24, and at the current moment I am just a poor waiter that works in a restaurant, pretty much my financial story since I was 17 actually. I went to college for three years for Graphic Design, but eventually dropped out because I felt like I was learning mostly nothing useful. I bought a shitty camera when I was 21 because I was scared to lose memories of me and my girlfriend, but when she left me, I started filling up my time by my sad pathetic self taking pictures around the house haha. Eventually it helped me get out of my house and explore socially and become a much happier person, so I'm very thankful to have mistakenly fell into it.


- What continues to inspire you?
Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth.... Waking up.....and sex.


- Could you give us a brief thematic introduction to your work?

The best way I can describe my conceptual work is that I try to represent themes and stories the portray common feelings and emotions that people have, like advertisements for life you could say. Basically my pictures are what happens when you have too much time sitting around lonely thinking about stuff. Yea so lately I am just throwing around my own term when people ask me what kind of photos I take, and that term is "life Conceptual"


- What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

I suppose since I'm a boy that I could say woman, but I am happiest when doing a meaningful photo, regardless of what subject matter is in it. Girls, Boys, Dogs, Trees, Boobs or no boobs, if I'm telling a story then that is my favorite subject to photograph. I want my photos to connect with people, I want my photos to grab someone and make them think about what is going on. I probably am producing less photos at a time then a normal photographer, but when it comes to photography in particular I believe quality over quantity is king. I would rather have one photo that someone puts on their desktop and feels strongly attached to, rather then a portfolio filled with 800 beautiful woman with perfect editing. I was sitting in a Cafe in Seattle one day surrounded by beautiful photography, that I was very jealous of, but I realized that although it was all gorgeous, I would forget about it soon, because I did not fall in love with them. In order to grow from infatuation into love, something has to have substance behind the beauty. So that is my main goal with my conceptual work, to be eye catching and pretty, but have substance after that, so you have a crush on it when you first look, but fall in love with it when you get to know it.


- Do you remember which was your favorite photo shot and why?

Well my most popular is "Casual Sex" Which I am very proud of and happy with the attention it has received. But the photo "Chai" is the only photo so far that I have ever done that made me feel like a real photographer. Most times I don't feel like a photographer to be honest, my technical knowledge is very lacking and I feel like I don't have lighting down at all like someone professional would. But I spent three days in Chicago getting up at 6am and going to the same spot for hours at a time just to get the perfect lighting and angle for "Chai" and it was very satisfying when I actually pulled off what I believe some of the more popular nature photographers dedicate themselves to for the majority of their work. I hope as the years go by I treat most of my picture taking like that, because although you produce way less work, you are producing quality other people can't touch or realize.


- Do you like tattoos? Which tattoo style do you like best?

I like tattoos, but mostly minimal on woman, and only a lot on guys if it is a very well designed scheme. I prefer more meaningful type of things rather then just hearts or stars and such.


- Are you tattooed?
Yes I have three, two on my arm that are poems, and falling leaves in a half collar around my neck.


- For you, what’s the importance of tattoo on your photos?

I like to put people in my pictures that have a tattoo that can be used as a prop in a picture. Very rarely do I find someone with a tattoo that is unique enough to be turned into a theme. These days tattoos are no longer an alternative underground thing, and just about everyone has one, from rich girls to business men, so I see quite a bit of shit as far as quality tattoo is concerned in my eyes. But everyone once in a blue moon while, I find a girl that has something I just have to take a picture of. A perfect example of this is my photo "Morning Sonata." I waited for a year to take that picture, a year is a very long time for an idea to be bubbling around in your head if you are not sure you will be able to have the opportunity for the girl to come to your area.



- What do you think about the new rise of tattoo?

I suppose most people would say on one hand it is bad since it's not uncommon anymore, therefor taking some of the novelty away, and on the other hand you could say it's good because they are more accepted and you can express yourself openly without ridicule anywhere you go. I switch back and forth between these and deal with both situations all the time, my tattoos are not huge or abrasive, but people always stop me and ask about them because I have writing in an open place that peaks curiosity out of people. It leads to good and bad problems haha.


- What would you say to other enthusiast photographers out there who aspires to what you’ve achieved?


To be honest I am in the infancy of my career. I have a lot to learn and feel no where near my capability level. When others photographers hear me say that it sometimes confuses them because I guess my work is not all that bad haha (even though I think otherwise sometimes) and they think they are so ridiculous far away from having presentable work that they are proud of that they are not sure what to do. The reality of photography is that everyone has a camera now, and the field is saturated. I would say not to worry, but that is incorrect, worry every day, practice everyday, go out and learn something every day, being satisfied is the enemy of success. I wish I could tell you what is like at the top of the hill, how it looks, how beautiful all the crummy photographers look down below trying to struggle up to my spot! But I'm not there yet! I bust my ass all the time to get to my level, and there is many more levels ahead, which will take annoyingly long and hard work to get to.




- Thanks for giving us some minutes for answering this exclusive interview. And finally, what’s coming up? Exhibits? Photo shoots? What.

Bigger and Better. Sex, Drugs, Alcohol, Love, and photos that make you cry. Substance....my friends....more Substance then you can handle.