Mason Nicklaus "The Loft" gifs

This GIFy Saturday features snippets from the very first video I ever created and is still one of my favorites. Mason (not his real name) has been a successful straight adult creator for a few years now but before he was "Mason Nicklaus" he was a very, very conservative fitness model in Dallas. We had known each other for a couple of years, working on a few swimwear and underwear shoots. He was quiet and noticeably uncomfortable being half dressed for the camera.

By our fourth shoot - a 12-month calendar all about Mason - he was more comfortable but still very stand offish. Then unexpectedly one day his manager asked if I would shoot nudes - including a full video.

This was a big surprise so I actually texted Mason directly just to be sure this was his idea - it was. He wanted to create a new modeling persona named "Luke Longwood". I rented a cabin in Dallas and spent the afternoon making "The Loft". This was a first for both of us and he had mellowed considerably. We talked and laughed before and after the video - something we had never done in past shoots.

He grew up a skinny math nerd in a small conservative Texas town and he now had this incredible body in an amazing city. I think he finally found the courage to express himself, let his walls come down, enjoy what he created in his body and let his sensual side come through. I love to see that in a man, especially for straight men who - despite their advantages - can be some of the most suppressed sexually.

Not long after this video was released "Luke Longwood" became and still is "Mason Nicklaus". I think Mason stopped making new content last year but you can still find him and his videos on just about every platform.

"The Loft" is available now on my JFF.