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