SHOWING SOME LOVE for Jordun Love at New York Models

model: Jordun Love - @jordunlove

(New York Model Mgmt - Major Milan - Next Model Mgmt LA)

ph. Tarrice Love - @bytarricelove

the first time I noticed Trinidadian model/ dancer Jordun Love was in a video about fashion diversity on top model Shaun Ross's page. Shaun had tagged everyone in the video and I clicked on every tag until i found I found Jordun. I reached out to him about working together and we scheduled a day to make it happen. He came all the way from Philadelphia in the middle of a snow storm to work with me.

I didn't expect him to show up because of the weather...but he did...and he was on time. He was very professional and personable. That's rare for someone barely out of his teens. 

Love is his real name (like mine) but we are not related.

After shooting with me, he took the images and met with agencies seeking representation and got signed pretty quickly. He is currently represented by New York Model management, Next Model Mgmt in LA., and Major in Milan.

Jordun Love's dance background and slender frame lends itself perfectly to stomp the runways of major designers like Givenchy, Kenzo, Custo and many others.

He recently snagged the principal male lead in pop artist Kehlani's new music video for her single Distraction.

Kehlani - Distraction [music video]

Jordun Love principle lead

He's appeared in major campaigns for United Colors of Benetton and Esprit (see above) 

model: Jordun Love - @jordunlove

(New York Model Mgmt - Major Milan - Next Model Mgmt LA)

ph. Tarrice Love - @bytarricelove

ONNYS AHO @ Elite Paris & Independant Milan

model: Onnys Aho - @onnys_aho

(Elite Paris - Independent Milan)

ph. Tarrice Love - @bytarricelove

styling: Tarrice Love

model: Onnys Aho - @onnys_aho

(Elite Paris - Independent Milan)

ph. Tarrice Love - @bytarricelove

styling: Tarrice Love

From Paris, Onnys has a beauty that is awe inspiring. Of French and African (Senegalese/Beninese) heritage, Onnys was discovered on the streets of Paris and has walk the fashion runways of some of the biggest designers in the world.

 I was a big fan of Onnys' look and had been following him on social media for a long time. I took a meeting with his NY agent and set up a photo session with him. There were two things I noticed, one was that he had a great body and I felt my style of shooting complimented his body perfectly. The other thing I noticed was the fact that he had the same facial expression in every photo after i googled him. I knew I wanted to do killer body shots but I also wanted to do imagery that showed his personality because I couldn't find any photos of him smiling.

One of my strengths is shooting classic, clean, and timeless artistic nudes and body images. I worked really hard at shooting a style of images that feel like fashion. Models can always use a classy and  classic body image even when you don't have great clothes to work with. The morning of the shoot I received an email from his NY agent instructing me to do no nudes or body images. I was pissed that the things I do well was asked not to do. I didn't like that my creativity was restricted and limited to doing portraits. Not having access to great clothing makes creating cool fashion images extremely difficult. Its frustrating to constantly be expected to deliver awesome work that stands next to other photographers without having the same privileges and access. Its like being expected to win a race with my feet tied together. There is a negative stigma attached when a black photographer shoots body work. 

The advancement of  photographic technology has made being a photographer easy and has over flooded the industry with a bunch of GWC (goons with cameras). The agents no longer trust photographers artistic vision and attach limits to what they can do in order to protect the models from bad imagery that could damage their careers. 

I really wanted to work with Onnys, so I went through my closet and put some looks together. As usual, I made it work.

model: Onnys Aho - @onnys_aho

(Elite Paris - Independent Milan)

ph. Tarrice Love - @bytarricelove

styling: Tarrice Love

The agency gave him the wrong time and he was standing in the rain in front of my place when I arrived from #myclarkkent. Good thing it was light rain. I to a moment to dry off and collect myself. I immediately noticed he had a great smile and I knew that if nothing else we would get some great portraits.

Despite the creative limits, Onnys and I was able to great some really great images. They were classic, clean, and fashionable. He was great model to work with. Finally having him in front of my camera was a real joy. He has a great personality and I was able to capture that in my imagery with him. I really enjoyed my experience of working with him. I remember Onnys leaving the lab and I was wishing more models was like him.

model: Onnys Aho - @onnys_aho

(Elite Paris - Independent Milan)

ph. Tarrice Love - @bytarricelove

styling: Tarrice Love

Actor Torrey Laamar

photo by Tarrice Love (@bytarricelove)

actor: Torrey Laamar (instagram @torreylaamar)

https://soundcloud.com/torrey-laamar

photo by Tarrice Love (@bytarricelove)

actor: Torrey Laamar (instagram @torreylaamar)

https://soundcloud.com/torrey-laamar

This was my second time working with actor Torrey Laamar who was one of the co-stars in the movie Blackbird starring Oscar award winning actress Mo'Nique, Isaiah Washington and Julian Walker (whom i also photographed). In the movie “Blackbird” Torrey plays Todd, the straight guy the main character, Randy Rousseau, has a crush on and his tortured by his dreams about him.

  

Since the release of the film, he graduated from University of North Carolina and is ready to dive into his next acting project. The first time we shot together I focused on doing classic, clean headshot/compcard images to show his personality.

 

I also wanted to show other acting talents that I do exclusively work with fashion models.

...for headshot rates email me at tlove.photographer@gmail.com

photo by Tarrice Love (@bytarricelove)

actor: Torrey Laamar (instagram @torreylaamar)

https://soundcloud.com/torrey-laamar

He portrayed a "sexy" character in the movie Blackbird so this time I wanted to do imagery that showed side of him. He has a good body with great angles and lines....I wanted to take advantage of that.

photo by Tarrice Love (@bytarricelove)

actor: Torrey Laamar (instagram @torreylaamar)

https://soundcloud.com/torrey-laamar

photo by Tarrice Love (@bytarricelove)

actor: Torrey Laamar (instagram @torreylaamar)

https://soundcloud.com/torrey-laamar

Torrey is not only a talented actor, he's also a talented singer and musician. Check out his music on soundcloud .