In the golden era of unthrottled internet, some of the best friendships were forged on online. That was how photographer Ethan James Green and Interview Magazine Fashion Director, stylist, and model Dara described how the internet and modeling initially brought them together. Yet, an aligned work ethic and insatiable connection to fashion solidified their connection. The pair have collaborated in front of and behind the camera over the years, championing each other’s evolution in roles and consideration. “This relationship is the way it is because I think back home we were similar people,” Green says. “It took leaving fashion to really find the people who would become my collaborations in fashion, at least the foundational, beginning ones like Dara.”

As New York implants, the city has stood as their creative playground, where they can work together often. Born in the Midwest, Green would photograph friends and family before a modeling contract brought him to NYC’s fashion stronghold. Always with a camera, he soon developed a visual style renowned for intimate, compelling portraits that explore contemporary subculture. His work, galvanized both by a queer community overflowing with creativity and a devoted fashion community, has been in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Dazed, and WSJ Magazine. His creative focus is now shared with his Canal Street exhibition space, New York Life Gallery, which promotes emerging artists and 20th-century artworks​​.

As fashion director of Interview Magazine, Dara, now mononymously known, has grown into a unique styling vision that has been shot by Green, Collier Schorr, Roe Ethridge, and Cruz Valdez. Allen’s styling work extends beyond photography, notably styling for the past year actress Hunter Schafer, showcasing her penchant for deep-cut fashion. Together, Green and Allen’s collaborations have enriched the visual dialogue around fashion and identity, marking them as influential figures in their own right. Models.com spoke to the pair about how they first connected, how modeling has actually informed their creative work, and their love for New York City.