Although Versace is now a very accomplished photographer, he wasn't always behind the camera. Early in his life, Versace developed a love for acting. His formal drama studies fostered a remarkable mastery of expression, which dynamically shapes his work as he photographs actors. As a result, Versace does not follow the rules of conventional head-shot photography. In Los Angeles, where people feed off each other, you have to stand out among the crowd, and I believe my approach to head-shot photography accomplishes that.
Emotions are biomechanical.
Certain gestures actually evoke certain emotions. It's my job to elicit those emotions from the actor, which will help create the character they are trying to portray. Versace's professional evolution into digital photography began when he sent a portfolio of his work to Epson. They were looking for a way to market their new line of photographic printers, and Versace provided a photographer's viewpoint. The work he did with Epson earned him the Smithsonian Award for Excellence.