In the mid-’70s, I became San Francisco’s first professional male hand model—a quirky yet profitable niche. For three or four years, I was the sole player in the field, building a solid reputation shooting hand images for diverse products and companies.
The Mysterious Mouse Shoot
Around April 1984, my favorite photographer, Dennis Gray, called me in for an hour-long session. I was asked to bring a selection of shirts, sport jackets, and a suit jacket. On arrival, a pale blue shirt was selected, and we began. My task? Hold a strange little plastic object in various poses.
Forty-five minutes in, Dennis was satisfied we had the shot. Curious, I asked, "What is this thing?" He shrugged, "Darned if I know—they call it a ‘mouse.’"
A Surprising Discovery
A year later, I bought my first Mac—a 512. Unboxing it, I noticed a familiar hand on nearly every surface of the packaging and manuals. Oddly, I didn’t recall the shot at first. Days later, it hit me: That was my hand!
A Lasting Legacy
This connection led to more hand modeling gigs for MacWorld, including the December 1984 cover. I was later told my hand was the only "live" element on MacWorld covers for its first five years.
Though I had no role in creating the Mac, I was proud to contribute to its iconic marketing.
Fun fact: The mouse shoot paid just $100. Steve, if you’re reading—any chance for residuals?
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