Nick & the City

With Nick Sandell by Michael Hallenbeck

PnV Exclusive Interview & Photo Feature

New Yorkers have seen it all, but even they have to stop and gawk when Nick Sandell is walking the streets in his underwear posing for Michael Hallenbeck. “Nick & the City” marks the third time these two men have collaborated…and we are not complaining.

For this feature shoot, we get our first exclusive Q&A session with Nick. The 24 year old fitness model from New Hampshire now lives in Manhattan.He continues to grow with legions of fans watching him showcase his elite physique, and his admirers are always hungry for more.

At 5’10, the blue eyed brunette is signed with Wilhelmina Models in NYC. And his fitness business is growing fast as well.

Nick has also appeared on TV shows like “The Insider”, “Today”, “People Now” and “Watch What Happens Live.”NYC-based photographer Michael Hallenbeck says Nick is one of his favorite models to shoot.
He says Nick knows what he wants in a shoot, and is easy to consult with for ideas.

Hallenbeck also describes Nick as forward thinking and ambitious with a fun, warm personality. “He’s always polite to others, even interacting with the strangers who walk by our shoot.”“Nick & the City” was photographed in a most public way. Nick, often wearing underwear, posed on the streets of the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in Manhattan.

Like an experienced pro, Nick didn’t let that bother him one bit. And if you know the work of Michael Hallenbeck, he loves outdoor shoots in NYC.

For this shoot, he said, “I tried to use the city streets as a featured player.”

Sit back and enjoy our Nick Sandell interview with new exclusive images by Michael Hallenbeck.

Since last we spoke on Fashionably Male, you have really caught lightening on Instagram with about 400K followers, an OnlyFans account, and several TV appearances. How is life going and how are you dealing with all the attention? Does it have a negative side? Was there a moment when you fully grasped that you were “internet famous”? How does your family react to all your modeling work?

I’ve noticed as my exposure has increased, more opportunities came my way. I have been able to work with brands and companies I’ve always wanted to, propelling my modeling career. I have gotten the privilege to travel more, meet amazing people, and receive invitations to events that I feel wouldn’t have access to without the exposure or connections I build around social media. I haven’t experienced any negatives in regards to my online presence. I noticed that my internet fame was a reality when I had people recognizing me from all over the world, not just my immediate living radius.

See also Luke Severin by Fritz Yap

My family is super proud of me, and my Mom always reassured me from day 1 that I had potential; without her support I wouldn’t have invested the time needed in order to make it my career. Tell us all about your business, Model Trainers NYC?

Model Trainers NYC is a high end personal training company I developed with my best friend and business partner Sean Alexander. We both had so much intellect within the fitness realm and knew we could serve others with what we know. The rest of our team is composed of signed fitness models with unique but equally valuable information about health and wellness. Our company greatly excelled at our home base in Manhattan, and we now have expanded – allowing the ability to train nationwide with our team.

We are in high demand because of our training philosophy (which I won’t bore you with) but it’s all great life-changing stuff.

You have roomed with several of your fellow Model Trainers like Michael Dean and Sean Alexander. Which one of you is the highest maintenance? How did you meet them?

I met Sean & Michael at a Model house we all moved into a few years back-Sean coming from Texas, Michael coming from Tennessee, and myself from New Hampshire. We got along well, and had the same career goals. After about 6 months in the Model house we needed to get out of there for our own sanity. I’d say we are all medium maintenance, Sean being on the lower spectrum, Michael and I being a little bit higher on the spectrum!
Nick, how did you land an appearance on Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens Live”? What was that experience like on the show?

Sean met one of the producers on WWHL and started making appearances a few years back. Michael & I got introduced —now we appear on the show whenever they need a shirtless fitness model!

Are you interested in acting? Have you been approached by TV or gone to show castings?

Sean and Michael take acting classes every week—I put more of my energy in the modeling because I like it more.

We’ve been offered a few different TV opportunities. We cannot disclose more information than that but it’s a possibility!Nick, you have many adoring fans obviously. I’ve been showing your images since way back with those early shoots by Patrick Wentz and GP Imagery. How have you evolved as a model? What have you found to be your optimum physique size for the industry?

I focused way too much energy on building muscle—not listening to agencies or photographers saying I was too big for work. Once I dropped 30lbs (down to 185lbs) and embraced the more natural look, I got signed with Wilhelmina and started getting direct job bookings.

The current physical state I’m in now has proven to be most successful.
Over the years I’ve sharpened my abilities as a model to maximize in a photoshoot.

Looking back, tell us about a few personal highlights of your modeling career? Where do you want to be in 10 years?

I had the opportunity to shoot a swimsuit campaign for Aronik Swim in the Cayman Islands last fall, worked with Under Armour this past winter, and I just got done working with Peloton Cycle in Manhattan for their spring campaign! I have two more campaigns I’m going to be a part of this summer that I cannot disclose! I think traveling is one of the best parts of modeling.

In 10 years, I want to have Model Trainers a global company providing the top personal training in the world.Today’s feature shoot is from NYC photographer Michael Hallenbeck. You two have collaborated several times now? Why do you two click so well?

Michael Hallenbeck and I go way back. He was one of the first professional photographers I worked with in the industry and from day one we had good energy—it reflected in the images!

Once we shot for the second time around, we made it into People Magazine. Not to mention, his photos are a part of my modeling portfolio, so whenever I book a job, I need to thank him!

So one day you’re just this typical boy in southern New Hampshire. Then, the ripped body, brown hair, blue-eyed boy with the warm personality suddenly wakes up with a rabid fan base. Do you feel you’ve captured the quintessential All-American ideal of male beauty? Are you ever tempted to change your look…sometimes models do this with mixed results and alienate their long-standing fans?

The Nick Sandell on social media is the real me! If I were to deviate from my current look then I’d lose the genuine person I am. People can sense fake.

Women have long been sexually objectified by men. Today, men, too, appear in boundary-pushing imagery to satisfy the appetite of admiring fans. How do you feel about all of this and being seen by many as a sex idol? Do you enjoy posing for the provocative images that you know your fans most want to see? Does your popularity in the gay community surprise you?

I look at modeling as art, and when I get a great photo with a photographer we both high five each other like we scored a touchdown. Provocative images are hit or miss, and in my opinion are more rewarding when we get the right shot.
It does not surprise my popularity in the gay community because I have always worked with companies and photographers within that specific demographic, and surround my career within that community.

You wanna look just like Nick Sandell’s haircut? Well, here’s a tip he shared with us, go to: Daman Hairstyles and that’s it you’ll thank us later.

Describe the content and interactions your OnlyFans subscribers receive?

My Onlyfans account is an outlet for my more “provocative” images. I want my instagram to be PG-13, and not every single picture being of myself.
Because brands/companies look at IG, I have to monitor the type of images shared on that specific platform. With Onlyfans, I have privacy, and the ability to post images that I’ve taken both recently and over the years.

What are your hobbies? I recall you like taking images. What types of images do you enjoy shooting, landscape, portrait, etc?
I love photography because so many memories or feelings can be attached to a simple photo. Landscape images are my favorite because the way you capture the photo reflects on your physiology and how you can perceive life in that very moment in time.

Now, let’s play the PnV FLASH BULB ROUND….fast, short responses to random questions:

–Favorite cheat food?
Honey Nut Cheerios w/ vanilla almond milk.

–Two favorite exercises that you do?
1 Shoulder Side raises w free weight
2 Tricep rope pulldowns
3 Flatbench chest press
(sorry I know you said two).
–What % of your fans/followers are men/women?
75% are men.

–Favorite actor and actress? Fave TV show? Fave all-time movie?
Favorite actor is Ryan Reynolds
Favorite actress is Rachael McAdams
Favorite TV show: Vampire Diaries
Favorite Movie: Just Friends

–You’re wearing a black dress shirt and want to be sexy and seen. How many buttons from the neck down do you open?
I like to keep it classy, no more than 3 or 4.–What was your craziest fan encounter?
I had someone fly to Manhattan to meet me, which was really cool.

–Describe an Aronik brand swim shoot on those gorgeous beaches using 5 descriptive words?
Dream, paradise, surreal, fun, grateful.

–As a New Englander, you have that distinct Northeastern accent. Would you accept a challenge to do a thirty-second Instagram post doing your best southern accent and one doing a British accent?
I accept the challenge and would love to give my best southern and British accent.
–Favorite location where you’ve done a shoot?
Ibiza, Cayman Islands, and Puerto Rico is at a 3 way tie.

–What place would you love to shoot one day?
Hong Kong.

–What do you wear to bed?
Nothing at all. TMI?Nick Sandell on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nick_sandell/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SandellNick
OnlyFans: https://onlyfans.com/nicksandell
Model Trainers NYC: https://modeltrainersnyc.com/

Michael Hallenbeck on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhallenbeckphoto/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mhallenbeckphotography/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hallenbeckphoto
Tumblr: http://michaelhallenbeckphoto.tumblr.com/

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